[Paper Pills]

Ok, I felt unsatisfied by this movie. It seems so interesting as a trailer, but immediately turns into a completely predictable movie.

Here are my critiques

1) Denzel Washington really is the same damn character in every movie (other than Training Day) because he just can't get passed that same attitude of "I'm an introspective and brilliant black man" thing he tries to portray.

2) Jodie Foster's role, from the trailer seems important and law related. She isn't that important and really is just annoying to watch.

3) The plot attempts to twist and wind, around its idea only revealing droplets of its main idea here and there, but for a keen observer, it immediately emerges. There are no surprises.

4) Spike Lee does that friggin "let's put an actor on a trolley and pull them around in a scene" thing. I hate that. Come up with a new technique, you ass.

5) There is no explanation given for why something still exists, why it is protected and why it is sought. There is also no evidence given to help the viewer figure it out. There is an attempt, but its not effective and again, very unsatisfying.

6) The end was so fucking cliché and I won't say anymore than that about it specifically except to say that it reminded me of LOTR:ROTK as it could have ended at several different points, but there was just another scene coming after that dragging it out. At least in ROTK it is done to offer closure for all the characters. With the inside man, it could have been achieved with a more creative approach to the ending.

i'd give it, a 2.5 of 5 stars. it was ok...but not terrible either. i'd say wait for the rental.

[Darth Slater]

Originally Posted by Paper Pills

Ok, I felt unsatisfied by this movie. It seems so interesting as a trailer, but immediately turns into a completely predictable movie..

I too was really interested in this film, but after seeing it today, even though at times it was predictable, it did have its moments



Here are my critiques

Originally Posted by Paper Pills

1) Denzel Washington really is the same damn character in every movie (other than Training Day) because he just can't get passed that same attitude of "I'm an introspective and brilliant black man" thing he tries to portray..

I can agree with that to some aspect, as he plays the same type over and over and over again, same guy different name

Originally Posted by Paper Pills

2) Jodie Foster's role, from the trailer seems important and law related. She isn't that important and really is just annoying to watch..

and her total screentime is a total of 6 minutes

Originally Posted by Paper Pills

3) The plot attempts to twist and wind, around its idea only revealing droplets of its main idea here and there, but for a keen observer, it immediately emerges. There are no surprises..

there were not many surprises i agree, and it really lacked suspence, like a film that has a "lot of twists usually has

Originally Posted by Paper Pills

4) Spike Lee does that friggin "let's put an actor on a trolley and pull them around in a scene" thing. I hate that. Come up with a new technique, you ass..

I actually like that, its one of his "trademarks" kinda like speilberg with the with eyed stare of amazement his characters have in films

Originally Posted by Paper Pills

5) There is no explanation given for why something still exists, why it is protected and why it is sought. There is also no evidence given to help the viewer figure it out. There is an attempt, but its not effective and again, very unsatisfying..

I think its there for the reason of having something, to hold over .............'s head, as he is a powerful man, and even though he failed at keeping his "secret" it is still out there as colladeral

Originally Posted by Paper Pills

6) The end was so fucking cliché and I won't say anymore than that about it specifically except to say that it reminded me of LOTR:ROTK as it could have ended at several different points, but there was just another scene coming after that dragging it out. At least in ROTK it is done to offer closure for all the characters. With the inside man, it could have been achieved with a more creative approach to the ending..

i feel a little empty about the ending also, as it didn't have true closure, but it did have "some" abiet weak, closure

Originally Posted by Paper Pills

i'd give it, a 2.5 of 5 stars. it was ok...but not terrible either. i'd say wait for the rental.

i'd give it a solid 3, only because i had free refills on my pop and popcorn, and it was my friends turn, to do the "refill run"

[philosophy101]

I was looking forward seeing this movie this weekend but you guys just kill that, great!!

[Paper Pills]

you aren't missing much.

here is the basic story without spoilers......clive owen is smart...denzel thinks he is smarter and in his usual way goes out trying to prove it. there is an old guy with something to hide and jodie foster is really unimportant to the story. her role in the end didn't need to be in the story.

i'll give you an example of why this is a weak movie. this does not ruin any of the movie at all so i feel safe saying it.

at the beginning, Jodie Foster is talking to some arab guy and says so you've not had any contact with your uncle? this is meant to allude to bin laden, but it doesn't directly mention it. then the story goes into developing foster as this high class clean up woman, sorta like harvey kietel in Point Of No Return, but with nail polish and a waterman pen, not hydrochloric acid. then at the end, it is revealed that the arab is bin laden's nephew...and serves to define foster's character. its completely obvious...and just a bad attempt to demonstrate pseudo-intelligent film making. it is a realization that you are supposed to reach at the end about Foster, but actually know 30 seconds into her introduction to the story.

spike lee has not had an excellent, thought provoking movie in years. I think he needs to rethink his approach.

it reminded me a bit of "usual suspects" only I would put "usual suspects" in aleage of its own. Still found the movie entertaining

[philosophy101]

I guess I just have to wait until it comes on DVD then...