In the opening scene of Spike Lee's Inside Man, Dalton Russell (played by Clive Owen) sits in a small cell he made for himself. He's bragging about pulling off the perfect bank robbery. He hasn't left the bank yet; the cell is actually part of the wall of the bank's warehouse.

But he’s confident he’ll escape. In this dark space, he talks about the heist, sharing details about the who, what, where, when, and why. He insists that everything is going according to plan. Every great heist movie has a character like Dalton. He knows more than the audience does, which makes the genre exciting.

The thrill comes from following every twist and turn. But does Dalton really commit a victimless crime in Inside Man? Is it possible to commit a victimless crime? Discussions about stealing from the rich and giving their money to the poor are often central to these types of stories.

Later in the film, although the bank is surrounded by many armed NYPD officers, Dalton explains how he will escape when asked. When Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington), who has earned Dalton's grudging respect, asks why Dalton doesn't just walk out the front door, Dalton replies, "I will. I'll walk out that door when I'm good and ready."

Dalton is confident because he's thought of everything. So it's no surprise when he finally walks out of the bank with a bag full of blood diamonds. What is surprising is how few of the questions Dalton answers in his opening speech. When he escapes, the details of the heist—who, what, where, when, and why—are all revealed, leaving Detective Frazier and the audience with many new questions.

The ending of the film is very stylish and sets Inside Man apart from other heist movies. Many people believe that Dalton Russell has a “Robin Hood” quality. To say that his actions are “victimless” is a stretch and difficult to define. Even if Dalton had good reasons, he put many lives at risk.

His arrogance makes him an interesting character, but it doesn't change the fact that he put innocent people in danger. The hostage interviews conducted by Frazier and Mitchell give viewers more insight into their experiences.

Dalton's actions weren't necessary, even though they made for a great film with excellent performances from Washington and Owen. Chiwetel Ejiofor's solid performance as Frazier's partner, Detective Bill Mitchell, is also worth noting. Foster and Plummer also do well.

The Who: Main Characters in Inside Man

Detective Keith Frazier needs this job to succeed. After being falsely accused of stealing money from a previous crime scene, he wants to prove he deserves a promotion. With his boss away, Frazier is assigned to negotiate Dalton's arrest and the safe release of the hostages.

Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), the wealthy bank owner, is worried about the robbery. It's the first bank he's ever opened, and he keeps his biggest secrets there. Madeline White (Jodie Foster) is a powerful fixer in New York who deals with sensitive and secret matters. White receives a call from Case about a very sensitive and valuable situation. Her job is to keep the contents of vault 392 hidden.

Only Frazier and his partner Bill Mitchell have clear goals: keep the hostages safe and capture Dalton. Russell, Case, and White have ulterior motives, and their true intentions are slowly revealed. Lee skillfully builds suspense and intrigue throughout the film. Inside Man features a talented cast and is one of the best heist films ever made.

What: There really was no crime?

When they finally enter the bank after the robbery, Frazier and his team (including Ejiofor and Willem Dafoe) find no suspects (they left with the hostages), no victims (the staged hostage murder was faked), no real weapons (they were toys), and nothing stolen from the bank. The safe is opened, but all the valuables are still there. The police leave with no leads, raising the question of why the robbers were there.

Soon, Frazier discovers a clue: safety deposit box 392. Oddly, the box is not listed in the bank's records dating back to the 1940s. Frazier believes the box is important and must belong to someone who has been with the bank since it opened, which leads him to Case. Frazier and Mitchell return to search for the box and find some Juicy Fruit (a joke on Russell), a large diamond ring, and a note from Russell saying, "Follow the ring."

Where and when: the origin of diamonds

The focus is less on the heist itself and more on where the diamonds came from. Madeline White, who has connections to the mayor and believes she has influence over Frazier, is given the chance to negotiate with Russell.

She offers him a lighter sentence and money to keep the contents of the box secret, but Russell rejects her offer. Russell has evidence of Case's dealings with Nazis. Case later admits to White that he became rich by working with Nazis and betraying a Jewish friend during World War II.

Case regrets his actions, but the question is whether his past mistakes should still label him as a “bad guy.” He has tried to make up for his past, but some mistakes may be too big to forgive. Dalton Russell’s elaborate plan exposes Case’s secret and makes the audience consider whether Case can be forgiven.

White receives promises from Russell that he will not reveal what he knows about Case. In return, Russell demands that if he goes to trial, Case's wealth will support him. White overestimates her influence. She thinks she can control Frazier by offering to clear his record, but Frazier records his corruption as a backup.

This leads to White's second mistake. Russell no longer needs anything from Case or White after the robbery, so he leaves the ring in the box for Frazier to find before leaving the bank.

The Why: Moral Choices and Cover-Ups

Case and White have clear reasons for covering up their pasts. Case has spent years trying to make amends for his actions, and his reputation would be ruined if people found out about his Nazi ties. White is concerned about her own reputation. As one of New York’s top fixers, a failure like this would damage her standing.

Russell's motives, however, seem more righteous. After leaving the bank, Russell's partner asks why he left the ring behind, suggesting it wasn't just to expose Case's secrets. Russell says in his closing narration, "[it's] worth much if you can't look yourself in the mirror."

The Final Scene: The Triumph of Denzel Washington

Frazier returns home with his detective first class certificate to find his girlfriend's brother drunk on his couch. He and his girlfriend (Cassandra Freeman) want to move to a bigger place and get engaged, but Frazier has been waiting for the promotion.

As he unpacks his belongings, he discovers a diamond—perfect for an engagement ring—that Russell had slipped into his coat as he left the bank. This concludes a Robin Hood-style heist that Dalton claims was flawless.

Although the heist was perfectly executed and no one was killed, that does not mean it was victimless. From Frazier's perspective, Dalton's heist was not only victimless, but it also led to the restoration of his reputation, a promotion, and a new fiancée.

However, for those who have been threatened, beaten, and held hostage, the psychological trauma can lead to PTSD. Case and White, while not typical victims, suffer as a result of Dalton's complex scheme. Inside Man shows that there are many forms of victimization, and it is not always clear who the real victims are.

Inside Man is available to stream on Netflix in the US