‘Inside Man’ good flick, but lacks Spike’s spark

By Chelsea Parker

Recently I saw Spike Lee’s newest movie Inside Man — starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster — is about the perfect bank robbery and the people involved. The powerhouse actors play tough New Yorkers who must outwit one another to protect competing interests. This movie was really entertaining from beginning to surprise ending. Inside Man was an amazing movie, although it lacked Spike Lee’s usual political and cultural observations.

Lee was born in Atlanta on March 20, 1957. His family moved to Brooklyn in 1959. After high school, Lee returned to Atlanta to attend college. NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts was Lee’s next stop, where he earned his Master’s in Filmmaking. After directing a few movies Lee hit it big 1986’s She’s Gotta Have It and eventually 1989’s Do The Right Thing. This controversial movie portrays racial tensions between Italians and African-Americans in Brooklyn that erupt when a white police officer kills a black man. Lee has said the film does not advocate violence, but is intended to provoke discussion. In 1992 Lee released an even more controversial film, Malcolm X. Lee wanted to create a movie of “epic proportions,” but Warner Bros. refused to give him as much money as he requested. It was then Lee received funds from famous black celebrities such as Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan.

Spike Lee has been making amazing and provocative films ever since, including the edgy satire Bamboozled (2000) and the first movie to be released after 9/11 25th Hour (2002). Lee has always had an opinion on everything does not hesitate to put it out there in his films. In a recent interview in Complex magazine Lee speaks out about racism and unfair in the U.S. He even bashes other black celebrities such as 50 Cent for making “Get Rich or Die Trying” the choice motto for many aspiring young people. He notes that too many will take it to heart.

To educate yourself about an awesome and influential flimmaker just go out and see Inside Man or rent one of his other amazing films.