The classic crime thriller that affected Denzel Washington’s inner man

2006 was a good year for Denzel Washington on the big screen, as he starred in two high-grossing, high-quality thrillers: “Deja Vu” and “Inside Man.” Just as “Deja Vu” was “Vertigo” as a time-traveling action movie, “Inside Man” was director Spike Lee’s 21st-century update on Sidney Lumet’s “Dog Day Afternoon.”

“Inside Man” was written by Richard Gerwitz and follows a hostage situation during a robbery of a bank in Manhattan. Washington plays the NYPD’s hostage negotiator, Detective Keith Frazier, in a battle against the robbers’ leader, Dalton Russell (Clive Owen). The story didn’t begin with Lee (Ron Howard was first in talks to direct “Inside Man”), but he made it his own. “Inside Man” is definitely more of a crowd pleaser than something like “Do The Right Thing,” as evidenced by the fact that it’s also Lee’s highest-grossing film to date, but it’s definitely a Spike Lee joint.

Lee’s range as a director comes in…