(Image credit: Alamy)
The Tom's Guide verdict: 'Inside Man' (2004)Rating: 3.5/5 starsVerdict: This movie is well-made. There's no denying that. And it feels like a Spike Lee movie both in its polish and its near-constant use of score. But while "Inside Man" manages to be an enjoyable, twisted heist thriller to watch, it could get to its climax quicker. It also features a star-studded cast, but fails to use it to full effect. A few more scenes between Denzel Washington and Clive Owen, or a bit more Jodie Foster, and this movie could be great rather than just really good.Where to watch: Stream "Inside Man" on Netflix nowWith "Inside Man," we're now 33 movies into the Denzel Watchathon. This marks the fourth team-up between Denzel and director Spike Lee, and having seen the previous three (as well as "Highest 2 Lowest," their fifth and most recent movie together), there's no mistaking this movie for anything other than a Spike Lee joint.This heist thriller is incredibly well-made. It looks polished. It features a great Denzel performance. There's a constant score throughout the near 129-minute runtime, for better and worse. And, like many of Spike's films, it runs just a bit too long.That's probably the biggest knock against this movie. For as twisted as the movie is, by the end, it's a straightforward story. So it's a bit frustrating that it takes so long for us to get to the end of it.If I had another fault for this movie, though, it'd be that it fails to use its cast to its fullest. That's not to say it uses its cast poorly; it doesn't. But there are a few people I'd have loved to have seen more from. Specifically, I'd have loved to have gotten more time with Jodie Foster, and a few more interactions between Denzel and Clive Owen, who is ostensibly the bad guy in this crime drama.If you want to watch this movie before you read on, I have some good news. "Inside Man" is currently streaming on Netflix, one of the best streaming services out there.
