Inside Man (2006) - Honest Review

Read Time: 4 minutes

Year of release: 2006
Run time: 2 hr. 9 mins. | Rated: R | Genre: Action / Suspense / Crime | Language: English

Inside Man: A police detective, a bank robber, and a high-power broker enter high-stakes negotiations after the criminal’s brilliant heist spirals into a hostage situation.

Synopsis

A tough detective (Denzel Washington) matches wits with a cunning bank robber (Clive Owen), as a tense hostage crisis is unfolding. Into the volatile situation comes a woman named Madaline (Jodie Foster), a mysterious power broker who has a hidden agenda and threatens to push a tense situation past the breaking point.

Introduction

This is probably one of the best planned heist films of all time. It stands alongside The Town (2010), The Bank Job (2008), and Heat (1995). Directed by Spike Lee. This film is probably his highest grossing yet in his whole filmography. The setting reminded me of The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009), with Washington on the other end of the line and a great actor opposing him on the other end.

The introduction is one of the best I’ve seen and how they put it together and fit the ending scene. Its an introduction to the end without spoiling anything prior. The planning was flawless, given that all the hostages co-operate as they did in the film. Its always a pleasure to watch a heist wherein the criminal gets away with it, and he really gets away with everything that he went in for.

Characters

Denzel Washington was great, as always. He speaks very clearly and concise and the way he acts is very authentic. His actions, and the tone of his voice was just right. It never felt like he was doing too much or too little. A stellar performance from him.
Clive Owen opposite to Washington’s character was great. Through and through, he acted as he had since the introduction of the film. Calm and collected. He has a plan and he stuck with it. I honestly don’t know why Owen isn’t as big an actor as Brad Pitt or George Clooney. He’s been in a number of productions yet still haven’t made it yet. He was in Sin City and Children of Men.
Jodie Foster’s role seemed important at first. Kind of like an ultimatum option for people with big names. But if you really think about it, she really didn’t do anything. She wasn’t able to get what Arthur Case wanted from the safety deposit box. She also wasn’t helpful to anyone handling the situation. Her character was supposed to up the ante. It was meant to even stop the whole bank robbery. Instead, she failed miserably to do so. In some ways, it showed us the importance to Arthur Case. It showed us the value it had for him. But that’s just about it. Even if she was there or not, the result would’ve been the same.
The minimal role of Willem Dafoe was just that, minimal. He wasn’t a necessary character but its always a pleasure seeing him on the big screen. Regardless of his importance.

My name is Dalton Russell. Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and I never repeat myself. I’ve told you my name: that’s the Who. The Where could most readily be described as a prison cell. But there’s a vast difference between being stuck in a tiny cell and being in prison. The What is easy: recently I planned and set in motion events to execute the perfect bank robbery. That’s also the When. As for the Why: beyond the obvious financial motivation, it’s exceedingly simple… because I can. Which leaves us only with the How; and therein, as the Bard would tell us, lies the rub.

— Dalton Russell

Intricacy of the plan

The intricacy of their plan from someone outside their loop would look simple. Have everyone dressed up as them to confused the cops when they all go out together. But the cops didn’t know one clever trick. The gang uses one of their own. They place them inside with the hostages for some time. This lets them get familiar with the hostages, including each other’s hair, body type, and voice. So when they go out, and they are asked one by one, there is always someone who will recognize them. This person will vouch for them, claiming that they are also victims.

The only obvious flaw in their plan is inside the storage room where Owen hid. Aside from better police and investigative work, the back part would have moved forward. Those that worked there would definitely have noticed that difference. It was more than a meter of adjustment.

Conclusion

If you like Denzel, this is it. If you like Clive Owen, this is it. If you like bank heists wherein you think you could pull it off in real life, this is it. Some say the pacing of Inside Man was rushed, but I think it was well orchestrated. Inside Man will stand the test of time and remain one of the best heist films.