INSIDE MAN: MOST WANTED

US, 2019, 105 minutes, Colour.

Aml Ameen, Rhea Seehorn, Roxanne McKee, Akshay Kumar, Andre Jacobs.

Directed by M.J.Bassett.

Inside Man was a very successful thriller in 1996, directed, unexpectedly, because of his social comedies and critiques, by Spike Lee. And it had a star cast, a very clever screenplay, the bank robbery, negotiations, and sleight of hand in deceptions.

This film takes up the same story, with particular references to the original characters, a photo of Denzel Washington, some of Clive Owen, the Nazi gold, robberies, planning, deceptions. The film is a star vehicle for British actor, Aml Ameen, and for Rhea Seehorn (from Better Call Saul). They are the two negotiators odd couple, she very serious, he with continual patter, when the Federal Reserve is being robbed, the Nazi gold, and complex motivation is.

The film as enjoyable as a heist film even without reference to the original film (many bloggers finding this sequel an insult to their revered original).

Direction is by M.J.Bassett, English director. She moved to the US and directed a number of films and television series.

1. The status of the original? This film is sequel, references to the original robbery, negotiation, planning and success? A repeat of the process?
2. The prologue, World War II, the Americans, the discovery of the Nazi gold? Audience knowledge of the gold and the robbery from the previous film?
3. The New York settings, the city, police precincts, the University lecturer, the Federal Reserve, the interiors, the gold? The surveillance? The musical score?
4. Remi, in action, the patient at the hospital, sweet-talking him, success? His record? Breezy character, talking, New Orleans background?
5. Brynn, her lecture, the students, the interruption, task? Her principles, saving hostages? The authorities, issue of promotion? And she has her assistant, research?
6. The focus on Arielle, to the bank, the planting of the team, the customers, the takeover, the guns, letting the staff go, the hostages, putting on red gear and masks, indistinguishable? The plan, her command, the gold, military, the bars like brass, the drilling for the escape, Joseph, his brutality, killings? Josie and her assisting Arielle? The later revelation of the motivation, the connection with the original film, her brother and the planning, his being captured, killed? The sister as student in New York, her relationship with Bobby, giving the information, the underground, her pretending to be beaten, her disappearance?
7. Brynn, Remi, together, becoming a team, the staff, technology, surveillance, the phones? The different personalities, working together? The contact from Arielle, wanting Brynn? The conversations, the water and the hostages getting it, Jimmy and his patter, discerning the story, interpreting Arielle? Brynn, the hostages, her decision to go in, in the cage, the conversation with Arielle?
8. The plan, the timing, the threats, the arguments, the plane and the vehicles, the escape plan? Drilling through the wall? Joseph killing the driller?
9. The SWAT team, the attack without authorisation, being rejected? Their being ready, snipers?
10. The character of Sam, the police, collaboration with the Ruby?
11. The explosions, the water coming in, Arielle under the water, then on the roof, Joseph being trapped, getting out, the attack on bringing, Remi and the rescue? Her getting out?
12. The cleaning up, the realisation that the gold was turned into bars, the information about the contents of the draw in the bank, Hamlet, Ava’s disappearance?
13. The setup, the background of the neo-Nazis, the club in Berlin, Chase, her brother as prisoner, the rendezvous with Brynn? The discussions, the arguments, the arrival of the police, her success, at first refuse promotion, possible promotion? And going off for a coffee with Remi?
14. The finale, Arielle, going to the club in Berlin…?