(Crime/Drama: 2 hours, 9 minutes); Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer and Willem Dafoe; Director: Spike Lee; Rated: R (Profanity, violence and sexual innuendo)
Movie Review: While facing an internal police investigation, Detective Keith Frazier (Washington) is sent to head up a bank robbery turned hostage situation. Frazier is out to prove he is a good cop and can handle the situation. Four masked assailants led by Dalton Russell (Owen) hold bank employees and customers hostage in Manhattan. Enter Madeline White (Jodie Foster). Russell wants to prove he can pull off the perfect crime. She wants to protect an item hidden in one of the safety-deposit boxes inside the bank. White does not know what is in the box, only that her employer, Chairman Arthur Case (Plummer) of the bank’s board, desperately wants the item. White thinks her cunning will prevail with both the bank robbers and the police. They all have something to prove, and everything to lose if there is the slightest problem.
“Inside Man” is a different type of Spike Lee joint. Sure, the usual topics of socialism — America’s ongoing struggle with racism, sexism, and classism — are present, but the story is an intriguing and energetic tale which makes you laugh, keeps you tensed and never becomes uninteresting. Lee also uses moments of humor to move the film along, juxtaposing a few non-sequential colorful scenes to break-up the conformity of what would be an otherwise cut-and-dry formula crime caper.
The film’s drawbacks are some candid moments which seem all to fake. Take a scene where some people are asked to remove some of their clothing, the women and men all look like Victoria Secret and A&F; models, young and cute with well-built bodies. As an acquaintance put it, if banks were really filled people like this, they would be called clubs and gyms and filled to capacity. Still, this dramatic film is a must-see for those who like an entertaining movie.
During a potent moment, Owen’s Dalton Russell informs the police he wants a bus and airplane to escape. Washington’s character responds, “C’mon! You’ve seen ‘Dog Day Afternoon!’” For those who have not seen “Dog Day Afternoon” (Director Sidney Lumet, 1975), bank robbers try to escape by aviation. No airplane exists in “Inside Man.” Instead, viewers are treated with great actors in an intense drama which is funny and as thought-provoking as it is intense.
Grade: B (Inside the good side of film.)
Movies
Movie Review: Inside Man
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No need to ‘Switch’ theaters
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Find some Other movie, Guys
“The Other Guys” (Comedy/Action: 1 hour, 47 minutes); Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, and Dwayne Johnson; Director: Adam McKay; Rated: PG-13 (Violence, profanity, sexual innuendo and mature themes)
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Like ‘Salt’ in a wound
“Salt” (Action/Thriller: 1 hour, 30 minutes); Starring: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor; Director: Phillip Noyce; Rated: PG-13 (Intense sequences of violence and action including brief torture and profanity)
Movie Review: The Cold War officially ceased about 20 years ago. Too bad, “Salt” would have been a hit at its height. -
Movie reviews: "Knight and Day," "Grown Ups"
“Knight and Day” (Action: 1 hour, 50 minutes); Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano and Viola Davis; Director: James Mangold; Rated: PG-13 (Violence and profanity)
“Grown Ups” (Comedy: 1 hour, 42 minutes); Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider; Director: Dennis Dugan; Rated: PG-13 (Thematic elements, sexual innuendo and strong language)
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‘Toy Story 3’: Third time still charmed
“Toy Story 3” (Animation/Adventure/Family: 1 hour, 43 minutes); Starring Voices: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty and Don Rickles; Director: Lee Unkrich; Rated: G (Violence and some suggestive humor)
Movie Review: Woody (voice of Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Allen), and the rest have not been played with in sometime. Their owner, Andy (John Morris), is now a young man, heading to college. Andy’s mother donates his toys to Sunnyside Daycare Center. Woody, Buzz and the gang of toys just want some human to play with them, so the toys are thrilled to be at a daycare center where they will bring joy to several children. -
The 1980s are back
“The Karate Kid” (Drama/Martial Arts: 2 hours, 20 minutes); Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan and Taraji P. Henson; Director: Harald Zwart; Rated: PG (Violence, including bullying, and strong language)
Movie Review: Dre Parker (Smith) and his mother, Sherry (Henson), move to Beijing, China. Dre does not like China, but his mother’s job is an improvement for their lives. As Dre adapts to a new culture, he is bullied by martial arts students at his school. Enter Mr. Hun (Chan), the maintenance supervisor at Dre’s apartment complex. Dre becomes Mr. Hun’s padewan, training Dre kung-fu. -
What a pity, new ‘Sex and the City’
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Seek a different ‘Back-up Plan’
“The Back-up Plan” (Romantic Comedy: 1 hour, 38 minutes); Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin and Anthony Anderson; Director: Alan Poul; Rated: PG-13 (Profanity, mature themes, and sexual innuendo and some crude mature themes)
Movie Review: While this may be Jennifer Lopez at her best, the plot for this romantic comedy is one mess. Lopez stars as Zoe, a lady thinking she will never find “Mr. Right” with whom to have children and live happily ever after. As fate should prescribe, Zoe meets Stan (Australian actor O’Loughlin), a cheese farmer. -
Visit ‘Shutter Island’
“Shutter Island” (Thriller/Mystery: 2 hours, 18 minutes); Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams and Max von Sydow; Director: Martin Scorsese; Rated: R (Violence, profanity, disturbing imagery and nudity)
- A movie as endearing, and as flimsy, as a ‘Valentine’s Day’ card
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