Denzel Washington’s ‘Inside Man’ Makes a Stunning Comeback in Max’s Top 10!

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Denzel Washington frequently teams up with some of the biggest names in movie-making, particularly Spike Lee. Although many are aware that they worked together on the Oscar-nominated film Malcolm X, a less recognized collaboration between them took place in a pulse-pounding heist movie. Released in 2006, this underrated gem, known as Inside Man, garnered critical praise and attracted huge crowds to the cinemas, ultimately grossing $186 million worldwide on a production budget of just $45 million. Nearly two decades later, it has found a new audience in the streaming era.

In this scenario, a tenacious detective, portrayed by Denzel Washington, goes head-to-head with a clever bank robber, played by Clive Owen. As a hostage standoff escalates, tensions rise. Then, a woman named Madaline (Jodie Foster) enters the fray, a secretive figure with ulterior motives who could potentially tip an already explosive situation over the edge.

Apart from Washington, the ensemble of Inside Man also includes Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kim Director, James Ransone, Carlos Andrés Gómez, and Bernie Rachelle. Some viewers might recognize that the hostages are portrayed by a few recognizable figures, such as Ken Leung, who was a star on Lost, and Waris Ahluwalia, who graced the screen in The Grand Budapest Hotel.

‘Inside Man’ Is Among Denzel Washington’s Best Thrillers

Denzel Washington has an exceptional knack for thrillers, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else in this genre. While he’s known for his action roles in “The Equalizer” series, his most captivating performances often come from thriller movies. Apart from “Inside Man,” other must-watch thrillers featuring Washington include “The Pelican Brief,” “Man on Fire,” “Safe House,” and “Training Day.” Interestingly, Spike Lee was his partner in “Inside Man,” but he also collaborated frequently with the late, great Tony Scott.

In collaboration with Tony Scott, Washington state gained prominence in the film industry, appearing in movies such as “Man on Fire”, “Déjà Vu”, “The Taking of Pelham 123”, “Unstoppable”, and “Crimson Tide”. Among these films, “Crimson Tide” and “Unstoppable” are often debated as their best work. “Crimson Tide”, starring Gene Hackman, was even nominated for three Academy Awards, making it a contender for their finest film. On the other hand, “Unstoppable”, a nail-biting thriller that showcased both directors at the peak of their cinematic skills, could also be considered their masterpiece. This would be Tony Scott’s last directorial project before his death in 2012, and it embodied his distinctive visual style and knack for exhilarating action sequences.

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2025-03-11 01:32