When an armed, masked gang enter a Manhattan bank, lock the doors and take hostages, the detective assigned to effect their release enters negotiations preoccupied with corruption charges he is facing.
Direction
Spike's floating crane shots that turn a bank into theater.
Writing
Dialogue so sharp it cuts—Dalton's opening monologue alone.
Score
Bollywood bangers and classic soul, pure Spike energy.
Director
Spike Lee
Denzel Washington
Keith Frazier
Clive Owen
Dalton Russell
Jodie Foster
Madeleine White
Christopher Plummer
Arthur Case
Willem Dafoe
John Darius
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Bill Mitchell
Carlos Andrés Gómez
Steve
Kim Director
Stevie
James Ransone
Steve-O
Bernie Rachelle
Chaim
Peter Gerety
Captain Coughlin
Victor Colicchio
Sergeant Collins
Cassandra Freeman
Sylvia
Peter Frechette
Peter Hammond
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Bollywood song 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' during the opening was Spike's idea—he fought the studio for it.
The non-linear structure with witness interviews was added late; originally linear, it felt too conventional for Spike.
US
