Kimberly Soong: Inside Man

Kimberly Soong

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APLAC

12 February 2012                  

Inside Man: Character Analysis

          The movie, Inside Man captures the hysteria, when a very cleaver and witty robber, Dalton Russell, “sets in motion the perfect bank robbery,” (www.imbd.com). At first Russell seems to have the average agenda of a perpetrator: shut down the security cameras, hold a few hostages, and impose demands from the NYPD. However, as the plot unfolds, we come to learn this is not your typical robbery. The chief detective on the case, Keith Frazier (played by Denzel Washington) begins to realize that Russell's demands are not his true motive; they were simply a covert operation to keep the NYPD running in circles. But why keep the police stalling? Through these beautifully crafted characters, the audience is taken on a roller coaster ride, full of twists and turns, in the most thrilling bank robbery known to man.

                 

          The true Inside Man, the head robber, the ingenious Dalton Russell, is undoubtedly the best character in movie making history. What makes Russell stand out from the rest are two elements: his ability to keep the audience entertained and the valuable life lesson he sends to the audience. These two key components, along with a sprinkle of ethos, pathos, logos establish the perfect criteria for judging any “quality” character.

          Russell is able to mesmerize the audience from the very beginning, captivating them through his witty and methodical tactics; the way he dresses all the hostages up as robbers to confuse police or never actually flees from the bank but instead camps out behind the walls of a storage room. As the movie progresses you learn that Russell has not killed anyone or taken one cent from the vault. This not only allows the reviewer to admire Russell’s originality but keeps them hungry to dissect the real motive behind his robbery. Russell offers a clever way to appeal to the audience’s emotion of curiosity (pathos). In the end, we learn Russell’s main objective was to reveal the bank owner as a former Nazi, who became rich for organizing the Jewish extermination camps in Poland. Russell’s heroic deed not only makes him the true protagonist, tempting ethos within the viewer.

          This idea of Russell being the true protagonist is solidified by the message he sends to the audience. What is unique about this robber is the stance he takes within society. At first glance he seems to be a malicious and poor bank robber. However once the movie is over Russell becomes the hero of the movie. He proves that just because someone is rich and well liked by the public doesn’t mean they are a great person, (proven when the bank owner is revealed a Nazi). The audience finds themselves ignoring society’s normal routine to bestow respect. The connotations of a man’s job title or the price tag of his suit no longer mater, instead Russell proves that respect is earned purely off of human actions. The way Russell teaches this life lesson captures the audiences’ attention, bringing his character to a new level of sophistication. Inside Man shows “respect is the ultimate currency,” (www.imbd.com)

          Even with a great message, some may say Inside Man is too hard to believe: that a robber would never go through all the trouble to just expose a former Nazi (www.rottentomatoes.com). However a true critic would know that this is exactly what makes this movie worthwhile. Dalton Russell is no “average” criminal, his ability to be unpredictable, and slightly unbelievable makes him so refreshing. No one wants to see something that is completely realistic and normal, people want characters that pursue incredible feats. My blog can do no justice to prove Inside Man is the best drama movie in history. So, I strongly advise you throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave, snuggle up on the couch, and watch the brilliant work of Dalton Russell; to truly witness the best character known to man.

Works Cited

"Inside Man (2006) - Memorable Quotes." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). 

         Jan. 1990. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.  <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454848/quotes>.

"Inside Man - Movie Reviews - Rotten Tomatoes." Movies | Movie Trailers | Reviews - Rotten  

        Tomatoes. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inside_man/reviews/?typep>