Denzel Washington's Inside Man: A Modern Take on Classic Crime Thrillers

In 2006, Denzel Washington shined in two hit thrillers: "Deja Vu" and "Inside Man. " "Inside Man, " directed by Spike Lee, was a 21st-century update of Sidney Lumet's classic "Dog Day Afternoon. " Written by Richard Wesley, the story revolves around a tense hostage situation during a bank robbery in Manhattan. Denzel Washington plays NYPD hostage negotiator Detective Keith Frazier, who faces off against the robbers' leader, Dalton Russell, portrayed by Clive Owen. Spike Lee, known for his diverse directorial range, brought his own twist to the film. He drew inspiration from Lumet, one of his filmmaking heroes, and transformed "Inside Man" into a crowd-pleaser. The movie is based on a true event from 1972: a Brooklyn bank robbery turned hostage situation. The real-life event involved John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile, who attempted to rob a Chase Manhattan bank to fund Wojtowicz's wife's gender-affirming surgery. The film "Dog Day Afternoon, " released in 1975, captures the essence of this event. Starring Al Pacino as Sonny Wortzik (renamed from John Wojtowicz), the movie highlights Sonny's efforts to secure funds for his wife's surgery. The film's tagline emphasizes the true story behind it: "The robbery should have taken 10 minutes. 4 hours later, the bank was like a circus sideshow. 8 hours later, it was the hottest thing on live TV. 12 hours later, it was all history. And it's all true. " "Inside Man" may not be a true story, but it stands out as a remarkable piece of filmmaking. Unlike "Dog Day Afternoon, " it's more of a fictional thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Spike Lee's direction successfully updates the classic crime thriller for a modern audience.