INSIDE MAN
Director Spike Lee has made his most commercial movie to date, packed with stars ranging from pals like Denzel Washington to Clive Owen to megastar Jodie Foster (in a supporting role), but he still sneaks in his political agenda like a thief in the night (to the ire of Nazi's everywhere)!
3-1/2 stars [(2006)USA/Universal/Rated R] - (2 hrs. 8 min.)
Directed by Spike Lee
Screenplay by Russell Gewirtz
The players
Jodie Foster (Miss Madeline White, the 'magnificent c*nt')
Christopher Plummer (Arthur Case, the Bank Chairman of the Board)
Peter Kybart (Mayor of New York City)
The cops
Denzel Washington (Det. Keith Frazier, negotiator)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Det. Bill Mitchell, Frazier's partner)
Willem Dafoe (Capt. John Darius, Mobile commander)
Peter Gerety (Captain Coughlin, Frazier's boss)
Victor Colicchio (Sgt. Collins, first officer on the scene)
Cassandra Freeman (Sylvia, Frazier's fiance/uniform police officer)
The robbers
Clive Owen (Dalton Russell, the mastermind)
Kim Director ('Stevie')
Carlos Andrés Gómez ('Steve')
James Ransone ('Steve-O')
Review:
For years Spike Lee ("Do the Right Thing") has been promising his long-suffering loyal audience a 'commercial' film. Not that his fans haven't appreciated some his more provocative works in recent years, it's just that this type of movie was long overdo. Spike was becoming his own niche and by doing so found himself 'preaching to the choir' with his opinions on racism, media manipulation, and sexist double-standards.
Of course, Spike does score some points in some of the same areas within the context of this 'bank robbery' genre film, but he does it in subtle ways that contrast greatly with the grandstanding of the past. Yes, he does take an established 'formula' and tilt it through the prism of his imagination, but he doesn't do it at the expense of the audience or the characters. In this way, you can read between the lines if you want to, but if not, you can still enjoy the action and suspense for what it is.
This also probably the highest caliber cast that Spike has EVER had before and he wisely stays behind the camera so as not to force himself to stretch his own acting talents beyond their capabilities. But seriously, even if this film has zero plot how could anyone stay away from an ensemble featuring mega-stars like Denzel Washington ("Malcolm X"), Jodie Foster ("Flightplan"), Christopher Plummer ("Good Night. And Good Luck"), Clive Owen ("Sin City"), and Chiwetel Ejiofor ("Kinky Boots").
It's a cast to die for and though I waited way-too-long to check out this film, those of you in the hinterlands can still catch it at a second-run theater on the BIG SCREEN and soak up some of this star wattage before it goes to DVD.
Run, don't walk, Spike Lee is rarely this entertaining or relevant at the same time. Check it out!
CREW:
Cinematography (widescreen): Matthew Libatique
Editor: Barry Alexander Brown
Music: Terence Blanchard
More characters - The hostages
Peter Frechette (Peter Hammond)
Gerry Vichi (Herman Gluck)
Waris Ahluwalia (Vikram Walia, the Sikh)
Ken Leung (Wing)
Marcia Jean Kurtz (Miriam Douglas, the Jewish lady who refuses to strip)
Ed Onipede Blunt (Ray Robinson, Brian's father)
Amir Ali Said (Brian, the kid w/ the game)
Lemon Andersen (Paul Guitierez)
Samantha Ivers (Nancy Mann)
Craig Marcus Spitzer (Seth Greenblatt)
Lily Agosto (Gladys Perez)
Patrick Illig (Brad Stone)
Frank Composto (Eric Dodge)
Bernard Rachelle (Chaim)
Rachelle Matthews Black (Katherine)
Additional cast
Shon Gables (CBS News Reporter)
Daryl 'Chill' Mitchell (Rourke, Mobile Command Officer)
Ashlie Atkinson (Berk, Mobile Command Officer)
David Brown (Carnow, Mobile Command Officer)
Robert C. Kirk (Borinsky, Mobile Command Officer
Frank Stellato (Mobile Command Detective)
MOVIE website-http://theinsideman.net/index.php
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