Inside Man

Inside Man has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus, and in the US on Netflix. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. With 6,423 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch Denzel Washington work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

There is a reason Inside Man keeps coming up in conversation. The plotting in Inside Man is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. 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. The writing gets a boost from Denzel Washington and Clive Owen, who sell every scene they're in. It hit screens in 2006. Inside Man is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Inside Man proves them wrong. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Denzel Washington's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.