Limp Thriller

Rating: 3/10 (27 September 2006)

With Inside Man, Spike Lee manages to make a film about a bank robbery seem fresh and new.
A gang of thieves led by English actor Clive Owen sneak into a NYC bank and procede to hold everyone hostage, for reasons that are unclear and intriguing, leaving you trying to figure out what in the blazes is really going on. Denzel Washington plays a Detective brought in to negotiate with Owen. Willem Dafoe plays a small role, and is great as always, and Jodie Foster also has a role.
Even though Lee did manage to breathe life into this dead genre, the film comes off as seeming like it was too clever for its own good.
The end twist is the biggest one I've seen in years. Nevertheless, when it's finally revealed you are left feeling that you got duped by a director trying to outsmart you.
As far as the acting goes Denzel, walked through his role & the secondary story lines about Denzels character were unnecessary. There wasn't much for any of the actors to work with since the whole movie is a buildup to an end.
While fresh and clever it just isn't good.