Rated R for language and some violent images.
Directed by Spike Lee (Summer of Sam, Malcolm X, Jungle Fever, Do The Right Thing…)
Starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster…
This film is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time.
Maybe it’s just because I like “heist” films. Maybe it’s because Denzel and Clive Owen were both phenomenal. I don’t know… but I know this film rocked!
The story is about a police negotiator (Denzel) who has to talk down a bank robber (Clive) after the criminal's perfect heist spirals into a hostage situation.
Inside Man is Spike Lee’s best yet. And that’s saying a lot… because Do The Right Thing is on my list of the top 50 films ever made. Inside Man is suspenseful, original, and even delivers a few good laughs. The performances were off the charts. The dialogue was fresh and real.
Don’t wait for DVD for this one. Catch it in the theatre… and then buy the DVD when it comes out.
This one’s going on my shelf right next to Heat.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Probably not. Its language is typical of people holding guns, robbing banks and being held hostage. That, combined with this type of violence, is enough to keep my kids from seeing it.
Side Note:
As said above, we don’t recommend your kids see this film. But on the occasion that they actually have already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
