Skip to main content

Inside Man(2006)- Review

Inside Man(2006)- Review


Inside Man is heist thriller movie by director Spike Lee. It takes us through the 24-hour heist on a Wall Street bank. The mastermind and the executor of the heist Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) devises a plan for a “Perfect Bank Robbery” which includes taking control of the bank and in turn everyone inside the bank as hostages. Though it’s a minutely crafted strategy everything should go as planned to the letter, and the authorities need to be kept at bay. This won’t be the easiest thing with Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) assigned to negotiate. He is highly motivated official hoping to make Detective First Grade and to swipe the tarnish of his scandalous past. Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer) the chairman of the board of directors and founder of the fictional Manhattan Trust bank, has his own set of skeletons in the closet that he wishes were not revealed to the world. To make sure of this he hires Madeleine White (Jodie Foster) as a powerbroker fixer. The film wholly depicts Russell’s plan unravelling and Fraizer & White trying all they can to stop him.

An exceptionally thought of story that makes sure to hold the viewer’s attention till the very end. The well thought of story wouldn’t not have without the directorial effort of Spike Lee and ultimately without good performances from Owen & Washington. The partially narrative style initially unconvincing but by the end seems to have helped keep the suspense going and the viewer’s guessing. Most heist movies are a bit pacey through the heist part of it and focus more on whatever comes next. But Inside Man maintains its pace throughout trying to distance itself from traditional heist movies. The camerawork also needs to be appreciated considering the authenticity and preciseness the movie tries to display.

There are a few let downs in the movie. Having lauded the story above it may have been well curated but all viewers may not appreciate the smallest of kinks being sown in the movie. Few parts may have been important but they could have tried to shorten it a bit. While others shined in their roles Foster seemed casual in her portrayal, maybe it was demanded by the character but it did not match the performances of Owen & Washington. Lastly, these type of movies work both ways with an expansive soundtrack or limited to none at all. Inside Man can be characterized in the latter but the inclusion of an Indian song in the opening credits seems a bit odd. Don’t get me wrong it always good to see A.R Rahman’s work featuring in Hollywood movies, but the without much connection or context a lyrical song feels abnormally placed.

In conclusion the movie has some overt shortfalls but it is still worth watching. It succeeds in keeping the viewer at the edge of their seats and gives good unexpected surprises.

Acting- 8

Casting- 8.5

Cinematography- 9

Dialogue- 9

Directing- 9.5

Editing & Effects- 7.5

Sound & Music- 7

Story/Plausibility- 8

Storytelling- 8.5

Rating- 8


Available on: Netflix 


Also Read On: Medium—Vocal—Substack


Tags:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Mumbai Saga(2021)- Review

Mumbai Saga(2021)- Review  “Aaj se Mumbai tera ja Raaj kar” Mumbai Saga is a Hindi action crime film by director Sanjay Gupta. As the name suggests the movie takes us through the saga that unfolded in the ’80s and early ’90s in Mumbai or what it was called then Bombay. The movie primarily focuses on Amartya Rao (John Abraham). Amartya lives a simple life and earns his living as a fruit and vegetable vendor. Vendors like him are often extorted by the local mob, choosing not to engage with the miscreants Amartya usually turns a blind eye and obliges with their demands. However, he is forced to take action against them when his younger brother is victimized by their harmful acts. After fending off a high-powered gangster and his goons, Amartya finds himself in power with the support of a local leader Bhau (Mahesh Manjrekar) who in his own words tells Amratya “Aaj se Mumbai tera ja Raaj kar” (From today Mumbai is yours, go rule). With Bhau’s blessings he does go on to rule Mumbai ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Lift Boy(2019)- Review

The Lift Boy(2019)- Review The Lift Boy is a drama film taking us through a period of 24-year-old Raju Tawde’s (Moin Khan) life. Raju is a happy-go-lucky young adult without much worry and no plans for the future. With this carefree attitude, Raju has flunked his exams a few times and so is yet to graduate. On a normal day, he finds himself in an unsavory situation after his father suffers a heart attack. His father works as a lift operator in a building. With him not being in a state to fulfill his duties, Raju is told to be the proxy and fill-in for his ill father for the near future. Raju reluctantly goes to ‘work’ without much any worry or concern. While working as the Lift boy, he comes across many people living in the building and even befriends a few. Among the residents of the building resides Maureen D’Souza (Nyla Masood) who is also the owner of the building. In the coming few weeks the two form an uncommon friendship which further flourishes when Maureen assists Raju wit...
Post a Comment
Read more

We can be Heroes(2020)- Review

We can be Heroes(2020)- Review We can be Heroes is a superhero film, a standalone sequel to   The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl   (2005).   In a world that is protected by superheroes ‘Heroics Program’, Missy Moreno (YaYa Gosselin) is a quiet & introvert girl who likes to be in the shadows, her father Marcus Moreno (Pedro Pascal) once the leader of all the heroes, now stays low and away from being a hero as he has promised to Missy to do so. On a dreary morning earth is attacked by aliens much powerful than all the heroes combined. To fight them Marcus has to break his promise and pick up his sword once again. But to no avail he along with all the heroes are captured by the aliens. Meanwhile before Marcus goes to the battleground Missy is transported to the Heroics Headquarters where she is kept with children of other heroes, they are children but all with their own set of superpowers, unlike Missy who doesn’t have any. The Heroics program is headed by Ms. G...
Post a Comment
Read more