'Inside Man' is a smart thriller

Denzel Washington vs. Clive Owen vs. Jodie Foster. That's just a good thing. You could watch them play dominoes and still be entertained.

The face-offs among these acting pros are at the heart of Spike Lee's brainy, satisfying thriller "Inside Man." Owen is Dalton Ross, the leader of a band of robbers who take hostages at a Manhattan bank. Washington is Keith Frazier, the cop in charge of defusing the crisis.

Universal Pictures 'Inside Man' 3 out of 5 stars The verdict: Washington, Owen and Foster keep you guessing in Spike Lee's heist film. Director: Spike Lee Starring: Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Clive Owen, Willem Dafoe, Christopher Plummer, Chiwetel Ejiofor Run time: 129 minutes Release date: March 24, 2006 Rating: R for language and some violent images. See showtimes Inside Spike Lee "Flick Chick" Leslie Streeter offers five special films from the director's catalog. On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'Inside Man'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

Frazier suspects that this is hardly a routine crime, an instinct that's confirmed when Madeline White (Foster), a power broker with ties to New York's elite, shows up to protect certain "interests" inside the bank.

The three leads are on familiar ground Ñ how many times have you seen Washington as a heroic everyman, Owen as a charismatic ne'er do well and Foster as a steely, take-charge woman? But there's no denying how well they do what they do. As the underestimated Frazier (he's overdue for a promotion, and sore about it), Washington is easy to cheer for. And Owen exudes menacing appeal even when his face is hidden behind a robber's mask. Foster has less to do than the other two leads, but she makes every gesture work, fleshing out what could have been a one-note character.

The large, rambunctious supporting cast also excels. Everyone from the mayor to a construction worker is brazen, mouthy and tough. Lee's affection for incorrigible New Yorkers shines.

The bank hostages are terrified, of course, but also cranky and defiant. They also are suspicious. To say much more would veer into spoiler territory, but it's one of the best twists of the movie.

Like many other heist films (look no further than last year's odious "Domino"), "Inside Man" eventually bogs down with convolutions and implausibilities. The surprise is not that this happens but that the movie holds together as long as it does and makes as much sense as it does. Its "perfect bank robbery" is far out, but it's more realistic than anything Danny Ocean ever cooked up.

Like its three main characters, "Inside Man" survives by smarts and nerve, a thriller for viewers who prefer battles of brainpower to battles of firepower.