Spoiler alert the “x meets y“ summary I offer at the end of this review might constitute a spoiler, but the very existence of Christopher Plummer’s character in the screenplay kinda gave it away to me anyway – anyway, just a little heads up to whom it may concern …

I have to give this movie 4 stars, ‘cos I really can’t think of any reason why I shouldn’t. But like a handful of slick thrillers that manage to sneak their way around my kooky ratings system without being anything particularly special, this one won’t be knocking around my memory for long. This is one of those movies that convinces you it’s about a lot of things, is confusing, etc, while really, it isn’t. But you have to admire the cast Spike Lee has assembled, the age-old cinematic beauty of watching the perfect crime unfold, and Terence Blanchard’s score is a stunner (side-note: I’d love to hear this guy do a Bond score … move aside David Arnold! That’s two composers I have to replace you now!)

It’s a little misleading for me to point out that this is the best film I’ve seen so far this year, because it’s only the third 2006 release I’ve seen, lol, for shame; but I imagine it’ll be staying high up on my list to the end. It’s pretty much Dog Day Afternoon meets a little Marathon Man with the unmistakable Spike Lee edge, and I’ll likely watch it again, but, like I said, altogether a fast food movie experience.