Weakly directed and predictable

Rating: 5/10 (25 March 2006)

You already know what it's about so here's what I did and didn't like about it.
Sorry, but this was not some 'whodunnit' or how. It was predictable from the beginning. The only thing I didn't figure out was the 'very' ending however by that time I didn't try because I didn't care.
The directing of this film was horrible in my opinion. It was like some great actors and a big budget was given to someone doing they're first film school piece. Trying to throw in something cool from this film and that, that just didn't work. Like the 'Hitchcock' style or the 'move Denzel on the dolly toward the emergency' thing. It just didn't work at all. (you'll know when you see it) Love Jodie Foster however her performance was out of touch, too snitty, and I believe that was from direction. Same with Power House Denzel. This guy can blink and eye lid to convey message however Spike wasted this actors talents along with the others.
There were a 'couple' of funny lines here and there yet other than that, I didn't believe the characters... I wasn't on the edge of my seat... I wasn't confused or thrilled by a thing. It was a blasé experience through out.
And what's up with the racial stints? I've heard read and seen Spike personally be a racist through the years but why does he have to find it a need to speckle or drown his projects with it? It's like every N.Y. cop is a racist? Come on! I'm so sick of it and it takes away from films when it's a distraction and not a part of the story. In fact, Spike's direction with this film was just like a said, a film student in first year on his first project.
And whats with the face masks? Clive Owens is tightly stretched accenting his meaty lips while everyone else's is not. There there are times you see his mask not as perfect as other times. It became so distracting from the film itself.
And who is this writer anyway? Not a single credit... not a single thing on biography? Makes me wonder who, if anyone this was that wrote this thing. And smart? Maybe the idea was but from there to paper, weak. Then given to the hands of Spike... even weaker.
To me, this was a waste of talented actors and an idea that could have been good yet went south. If there was someone there that could actually have a limber ability toward directing, this could have been a far better film. Instead we get hype and an adolescently helmed film that was a waste of my time.