Inside Man
Director: Spike Lee Run Time: 129 min. Format: 35mm Rating: R Release Year: 2006
Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor
Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s fourth and final collaboration to date is a heist thriller that takes us to the Financial District. This time, Spike and Denzel are joined by an all-star cast that includes Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
In some ways a tribute to one of Spike’s favorite movies, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, INSIDE MAN is another one of his films that feels like a bit of a departure from his previous work, and yet still retains his distinct visual language.
This taut film presents us with morally ambiguous characters, a bevy of twists and turns, and Easter Egg returns of Sal’s Pizza from DO THE RIGHT THING and “Da Bomb” Malt Liquor from CLOCKERS and BAMBOOZLED. INSIDE MAN is one of the few Spike Lee films shot in Scope format, and went on to surpass MALCOLM X as Lee’s highest grossing film at the box office.