An action drama about a bank hold up involving a prestigious bank in New York City.

Clive Owen plays Dalton, a robber who seizes a Manhattan bank and takes some hostages. Denzel Washington plays Keith Frazier, the detective in charge of the hostage negotiation together with his deputy Bill Mitchell (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Madeline White (Jodie Foster) is a power broker who has been brought in by the bank chairman Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer) to negotiate with the robbers.

From the very beginning detective Frazier knew that the robbers have some hidden agenda behind this robbery and hold up at this particular branch of the bank. Once Madeline got involved with the negotiations Frazier definitely suspected some foul play. Dalton's unusual demands for the access to a secret safe deposit box made the situations much worse. Find out more about this complicated crime story.

Talented director Spike Lee skillfully narrates a thrilling crime story with great charm and wit. With a bank hold up as the central plot, he builds up an interesting tale with a twist in it. He successfully assembles a decent cast and draws good performance out of them.

Denzel Washington and Clive Owen present good performances but Jodie Foster as Madeline White steals the show. She very well portray all the evil qualities of a power hungry modern day American woman. Some of the supporting actors are also very good.

It is a big budget film with high powered stars and an equally good director. Movie deals with ethics, power, amorality as well as wheeling and dealings of people in high places. Even though the film has violence, sexual humor and crude language, as an entertainer it is good.

We rate this movie GOOD.