The fact that the "Inside Man" is a fabulously entertaining thrill ride is hardly as surprising as the film's head-spinning conclusion. After all, this bank-robbery-that's-much-more-than-it-seems tale is brought to the screen by a Dream Team cast and crew: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster play the principal roles, Spike Lee is the director, Matthew Libatique ("Requiem for a Dream") is the cinematographer and Brian Grazer ("Beautiful Mind") is the producer.
Does a Dream Team always live up to its potential? Of course not. But when all the elements come together, as they do in "Inside Man", the results are dazzling.
This thinking man's thriller stars Denzel as New York Detective Keith Frazier. Det. Frazier is in poor favor with his department because $140,000 is missing from a recent bust and he's the chief suspect. When Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) and gang, disguised as painters, take control of a Manhattan bank -- including over 20 hostages -- Det. Frazier is called in as the lead detective on the scene.
He passes on the assignment until his partner Bill (Chiwetel Ejiofor) reminds him that this could be his big shot at redemption. Shortly after he arrives and Captain Darius (Willem Dafoe) briefs him on the situation -- all the bank cameras are disabled and the hostages are dressed in the same suits as the robbers -- Det. Frazier realizes that this is going to be one hell of a long day.
Enter Madeliene White (Jodie Foster), who's hired by the bank's Chairman, Mr. Case (Christopher Plummer), to "keep an eye on the situation"; there's something inside the bank more valuable -- and more dangerous -- than money. Ms. White's escorted to the scene by the mayor of New York, who informs Det. Frazier that Ms. White's entitled to full access -- despite her civilian status. Apparently, the mayor owes her a big favor. Det. Frazier is further convinced this is anything but an ordinary bank robbery.
From here on, the film becomes a three-player chess game -- Det. Frazier vs. Ms. White vs. Dalton Russell -- in which each player faces off alternately against the others, and Dalton proves to be the only player that knows all the pieces on the board.
Spike Lee's New York sense of humor compliments the intensity of the film perfectly: nobody trusts the cops or other races, and they're not afraid to say so. Denzel nails Det. Frazier's laid-back wit, including a hilarious re-occurring bit in which he interrogates the hostages after they're released (trust me: that's not a spoiler), accusing even the most unlikely characters of being accomplices. Owen's Dalton is so cool and so confident that it's hard not to believe everything will go exactly as he says.
It's a thrill to watch this airtight plot unravel. If you liked "The Usual Suspects," this is a film for you.
"Inside Man", Rated R for language and some violent images, opens everywhere Friday, March 24.
