Inside Man

A perfect way to fool the viewer, after all, it's not about the robbery. Spike Lee excels in his typical side aspects: political incorrectness and lots of smaller or larger race references in all possible forms, so no one should be surprised that the robbery, so tempting and full of ideas at first glance, is ultimately incredibly simple. This thematic mix had to have some structure. The cast is excellent – especially Denzel Washington and Christopher Plummer. In essence, there’s nothing breathtaking, but the dialogues are so fierce and current that you will gladly watch it again. This is how a multi-thematic film without a proper theme is made. (22/07/2007)

The perfect heist? Yeah, right! Rather, in terms of logic, a perfectly haphazard xth variation on the bank robbery. Logically leaky both in the point of the action of the robbers, however spectacular, and in the actions of the bank boss (who was he saving the compromising materials for?). The fact that Spike Lee once again stood his ground is a poor excuse. I was pleased with his subtle political allusions, although they were not nearly as strong as Norton's confession in 25th Hour, I was pleased with his sense of black humour, and although the film moves along briskly and doesn't get boring, I definitely expected more from a filmmaker with such a big name than just a wannabe spectacular and contrived story. (24/09/2006)

Spike Lee is a genius! A genre film thought out to the last detail, shot with clarity (Matthew Libatique's amazing cinematography, editing, the scene composition) and insight (wit, great allusions to the atmosphere of New York 5 years after 9/11). Thanks to the artfully inserted details, cuts, and masterful work with fabrication, the film is above all known standards. For the majority of the viewing public, it is an overly verbose and desperately inactive affair, but for those who can read between the lines of this most distinctive African-American in Hollywood's director's chair, they will understand that there is no robbery like a robbery and the sins of youth are not forgotten even after sixty years. Thanks, Spike! (25/08/2006)

I wouldn’t have thought that a film about a bank heist could include humorous elements, but Spike Lee proved me wrong. The main strength of the film is that something is always happening. The actual bank invasion occurs right at the beginning, and the pace truly doesn’t let up. The cast also contributed significantly, especially the charismatic and cunning thief Clive Owen and Denzel Washington as the detective, who is clever and has some great lines. I also can’t forget to mention Jodie Foster, who delivered an outstanding performance. Don’t expect over-the-top action here, but rather clever dialogues with a really well-crafted story. The music fit the film perfectly (though I should note that I wouldn’t listen to it on its own under normal circumstances). The ending really caught me off guard, as it was original and completely unpredictable. It’s clear that true professionals were involved in this film, which is reflected in its overall quality. I give it 80%. (08/02/2017)

An elegant stylish crime film with an intelligent script, likable characters, several twists, and an unexpected ending. That's exactly the kind of movie I like - it keeps me in suspense throughout the duration and pleases me at the end. It has a very decent cast, where Clive Owen and Jodie Foster naturally dominate. Overall impression: 90%. Spike Lee doesn't need almost any action to create an atmosphere, as he relies on perspective and the cleverness of his heroes. (02/06/2010)