Inside Man MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -2

Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe. Written by Russell Gewirtz. Directed by Spike Lee.

This clever cat-and-mouse crime caper has a tough detective matching wits with a dangerous bank robber. Suddenly the volatile situation becomes even more complex when a power broker surfaces with a hidden agenda.

Finally, a smart heist-caper movie. I mean, this is one you have to pay attention to and think over after leaving the theater. With a jaunty score, lively direction and solid performances from the leads and supporters, this is one of the best suspense dramas Ive seen in years. Whats more, its about something more than a good cop up against a bad bank robber. It has a theme about justice ultimately prevailing and your sins finding you out. The front story is deceptive, with a satisfying conclusion. Alas, there is one problem: there are nearly one hundred obscenities, mostly the f-word emanating from the cast. And no one in the film seems immune from such usage, including Mr. Washington, who professes to be a Christian in real life. Though I am glad to report the actor did not misuse the name of God, he was quite liberal with the use of other foul vocabulary. A story this smart, with otherwise sparkling dialogue, deserved better than the constant and desensitizing use of the f-word as a means to express frustration, fear, and even comic relief.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Universal