From a cell, a man tells us he has planned the perfect bank robbery; he invites us to watch. An efficient gang enters a Manhattan bank, locks the doors, and takes hostages. They work deliberately, without haste. A snarky detective facing corruption charges is assigned to negotiate. The bank's president has something to protect in a safe deposit box, so he brings in a high-powered fixer. With an army of police surrounding the bank, the thief, the cop, and the plutocrat's fixer enter high-stakes negotiations. Why are the robbers asking for a plane - they know they won't get one. Why aren't they in more of a hurry? If the job's perfect, why is the thieves' leader in a cell?

Shot in 39 days.

[first lines]


Dalton Russell:
My name is Dalton Russell. Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and I never repeat myself. I've told you my name: that's the Who. The Where could most readily be described as a prison cell. But there's a vast difference between being stuck in a tiny cell and being in prison. The What is easy: recently I planned and set in motion events to execute the perfect bank robbery. That's also the When. As for the Why: beyond the obvious financial motivation, it's exceedingly simple... because I can. Which leaves us only with the How; and therein, as the Bard would tell us, lies the rub.

Continuity: Outside cage door to the vault switches from open to closed and back as camera angle switches as the cops are searching the bank.

Written by Kanye West (as Kanye Omari West), Ray Charles, Renald Richard
Performed by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
Courtesy of Roc-A-Fella Records, L.L.C.
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
Contains a sample of "I Got a Woman"
Performed by Ray Charles
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing