The Inside Man

Spike Lee's latest film finds Clive Owen staring straight at the camera, narrating about how he planned and executed the perfect crime. The trailer cuts to Owen and his crew robbing a bank, dressing the hostages up to match the robbers, and Denzel Washington being called in to negotiate. Jodie Foster shows up to be the evil political bitch working for the mayor, or the governer, or somebody who will do something bad to Washington if he screws up. Owen and Washington battle wits, Foster says condescending things, and blah blah blah.

The Inside Man looks like one of those "clever" movies, where the entire film hangs on the twists and turns of the plot, completely ignoring the characters caught up in it. There will undoubtedly be a few scenes that attempt some basic stab at humanity, but those will be swallowed up along with everything else just as soon as another clever plot twist is unleashed.

Nothing about the trailer made me think the movie would do anything other than manipulate me. It would not involve me, not arouse my caring or concern for anyone or anything, just jerk me around until I'm not even sure I should trust the credits. I already own the Basic DVD, so I can stay at home and feel that way.