Inside Man

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"Inside Man" (2006). Directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen & Jodie Foster, this title is released by Universal Studios in Australia.



My review

"Inside Man" represents Denzel Washington's and Spike Lee's fourth collaboration together and in this case it's their best yet. The film succeeds on many levels by offering interesting characters, smartly written dialogue, a solid story and exceptional production values. The film is excellent in it's use of revealing twists whilst also incorporating shorter non-linear elements in a style not dissimilar to that used by Christopher Nolan in "Memento" for example. The film's pace varies at times with scenes of intense action populating the opening which then give way to the mystery, psychological and thriller elements. The film then successfully resolves by drawing all these elements into a satisfying revelation. 4.5/5

Video
The quality of "Inside Man" on Blu-ray is extremely impressive. Colours are nice and vibrant, detail is exceptional and blacks are strong. The whole film is fairly natural however this doesn't detract from the wonderful production design and photography. Many of the establishing shots feature Lee's penchant for sweeping vistas which successfully set the scene. Lee also readily makes use of hand held camera work so this can have a slight effect on the clarity of some shots but within context they are exceptionally well-rendered and Lee's method of shooting only serves to further develop the very natural feeling of the film and to draw the viewer in. The afore-mentioned non-linear moments feature highly stylised visuals with overblown contrast, colour desaturation and a green push. All in all this film is an extremely enjoyable viewing experience. 4.5/5

Audio
"Inside Man" features a spectacular soundtrack. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track features some of the best clarity I've heard in a mix. Even at it's most bustling moments the mix is still well defined and the various effects and dialogue have clear separation. All dialogue and effects also have a great natural quality to them. The score takes an interesting approach by blending a modern thriller score with motifs and instrumentation harking back to noir scores. It's a great score and like the rest of the mix it's well incorporated. Surround use is very well done with plenty of moments that offer exceptional directionality which is both accurate and natural. The score also makes effective use of the surrounds with certain instrumentation either occupying or panning to the rear channels at times for a more immersive experience. The LFE content is quite potent with the song accompanying the opening credits featuring some solid low end. The subwoofer also gets are workout throughout the film when supporting weapons fire and the like. The engineering on this mix is extremely impressive in every way. 5/5

Extras
Universal brings a few special features to the table with the release of "Inside Man". First up is an audio commentary with Spike Lee. For the most part it's informing and entertaining. Lee has a listenable quality and imparts some relevant information along the way. Next up is about 20 minutes or so of deleted scenes. Some are nice, but most play out as quite unnecessary and all the cuts seem to have been wise decisions and the film functions well without their inclusion. Lastly there are two brief features both lasting approximately 10 minutes. The first is a standard making of which has some substance which elevates it above standard EPK fare whilst the second is a conversation with Denzel Washington and Lee where they discuss their collaborations. You can clearly see the camaraderie between the two and why they continue to work on films together. 3.5/5

Overall
"Inside Man" is a taught thriller representing Spike Lee's best work. All the actors are at the top of their game and they deliver the smartly written script with expertise and ease. Production values are extremely high and the disc replicates the intended look and sound expertly. Very highly recommended. 4.5/5

Please note: Title is region free.