Denzel's Inside Man Delivers

When the film opens we are instructed to listen closely by Clive Owen's bank robbing Dalton Russell. Russell's intensity, quietness and stillness commands the audience's attention - and director Spike Lee along with an impressive cast lead by Denzel Washington rarely let's the viewer go. Inside Man is an entertaining, visceral thrill ride reviving the heist genre popularized in the 1970s. Yet this film is very contemporary in tone - though fortunately not in violence.

Russell and company calmly walk into a crowded Wall Street bank and cleverly dismantle the security cameras, literally, in a flash. Their announcement of the robbery is probably the last typical action these modern day Robin Hood's take. Russell clearly has put a lot of thought into this robbery, and at times you wonder if maybe he has indeed pulled off the perfect heist. Now come on, it is Denzel Washington's name at the top of the marquee isn't it - so we know there is a hitch in this ride somewhere coming.

Two time Academy Award winner, Washington is Detective Keith Frazier, a man with troubles of his own. His girlfriend is not unclear on what she wants - a wedding ring - and his bosses wonder if perhaps he has not helped himself to a little petty cash lying ($140,00+) around in the evidence room to buy it for her. So when his captain offers him the chance to get back on the streets to handle the hostage situation, Frazier leaps at it.

Lee's films, while understood by his fans who recognize their language of frustration, has been off putting to others because of their in your face approach to the racial difficulties of America. In Inside Man Lee does not abandon his challenge to status quo in exchange for a larger budget. But while Lee's mama clearly did not raise a fool - he still points a mirror to the audience, reminding them that just although we may play "nicer" together - America still has problems in this arena.

Inside Man's cast impressive cast includes Jodie Foster, a two time Academy Award winner also. Foster's Madeline White clearly has veins filled with ice, and can she work a pair of pumps. The only thing more impressive then her fashion, is the power she yields - for a price, of course. Det. Frazier may not like it, but when those who sign his paycheck say give Ms. White access to whatever she needs, she gets just that. Ms. White is accustom to handling delicate and difficult problems for her very wealthy clients. In this case, the bank founder and chairman Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer) wants her to ensure that his private business - remain just that, private.

William DeFoe matches wits with Frazier as the Emergency Services Unit Captain John Darius. ESU prefer the shoot first, ask questions later style of negotiation with bank robbers. Fans of HBO's series The Wire will recognize James Ransone playing Stevie-O, one of the hostages interviewed by Det. Frazier and his partner Bill Mitchell (Chiwetel Ejiofor). In his breakout 2002 film, Dirty Pretty Things, Ejiofor's performance and presence led to comparisons to co-star Washington. This is his second collaboration with Lee, they worked together in a 2004 hit-miss effort, She Hate Me.

Top director, top film producer in Brian Glazer (Flightplan), four star talent equals slam dunk success right? Well maybe not, I present Cinderlla Man as Exhibit A. Inside Man stands apart because of the aforementioned talent and screenwriting newcomer Russell Gewirtz. Maybe he does not dot all of his i's and cross all of his t's but he mixes enough cleverness, humor and tension to accomplish the mission - entertain the audience.

More importantly Gewirtz's story does not rely on violence and special effects to score. He relies on a good story. The cat and mouse game Washington and Owen and then Washington and Foster play, works because of their talent and the story Gewirtz has crafted. Meanwhile the audience stays on its toes as trying to figure out what lies behind the smoke and mirriors of Dalton's perfect crime and just who is the good guys.

Much has been made of the fact Inside Man is a more commercial film, with a much bigger budget than the usual Spike Joint. Yet, fans of Lee can rest assured the film includes plenty of familiar Lee traits ~ homage to New York City, humor, racial tension, composer Terence Blanchard, among others. Some purists may scream sellout - thankful they are just whistling dixie because Inside Man is a winner. Rated R for violence and language.