Spike Lee talks about what we see and (especially) about we don't see

Rating: 9/10 (18 March 2006)

INSIDE MAN is a two-way experience, working on very different levels that complete each other. First, it is a heist movie in its classical form, with the bank robber wanting to execute the perfect crime whereas the hard-working policeman tries to catch him. However, there's more in this excellent film from Spike Lee than meets the eye.
Lee and the extremely well-written screenplay fill the bank robbery with clever metaphors and comments on the situation of American society right now, moving from Sept 11th (which was also very present in the previous film by the director, the spectacular THE 25TH HOUR) to the quality of 50cent songs. Enter Jodie Foster, in a little but shining role that has the juiciest part of the cunning remarks Lee and the script make on the situation of America nowadays.
However, there's no better symbol used by the director than the one of the bank robbery itself, which makes us harder to see who the bad guy really is, and watching the scenes in which it is hard to tell who the thieves are and who the hostages are, it is hard not to think of the search for people to blame.
Thematically rich, INSIDE MAN reminds me of the also brilliant A HISTORY VIOLENCE, since it seems to be talking about one thing when in fact has other plans for the audience. At least those who want to read between the lines. And having a cast of such quality (Jodie, Denzel, Clive Owen - even if he wears a mask almost the whole film, Christopher Plummer throwing in the mud his THE SOUND OF MUSIC days - you'll see why - Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor) certainly doesn't hurt.
INSIDE MAN is a two-way experience. But no matter if you see it as a simple 'bank robbery movie' or as more than that, it is a very rewarding experience.