By Victoria Lindrea BBC News entertainment reporter

Lee is best known for films Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X

Heist drama Inside Man, released in the UK on Friday, marks a rare move toward mainstream Hollywood for director Spike Lee.

With a budget exceeding $50m (�28m) and a cast including Jodie Foster, Denzel Washington and Clive Owen, the film has the hallmarks of a studio blockbuster.

But what distinguishes Inside Man is Lee's stylish direction and rapid-fire dialogue from debut screenwriter Russell Gewirtz.

"Russell respects the audience's intelligence, in not wanting to 'dumbify' or lower the common denominator," says Lee, 49, who has criticised Hollywood films for their lack of originality.

Homage

Inside Man sees police detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) trying to outwit a gang of robbers holed up inside a Manhattan bank with 50 hostages.

Jodie Foster plays a Manhattan power-broker who must infiltrate the investigation to ensure the contents of a bank vault remain unknown.

British star Owen spends much of the film with his face covered

The film pays homage to classic 1970s heist movies such as Dog Day Afternoon and Serpico with Lee's daring camerawork and plot twists.

The dialogue plays on issues of race and violence, dominant themes in Lee's previous work.

"It was a way of trying to make something contemporary, but at the same time being respectful to the films that I liked growing up," says Lee.

"The film came together quick, because Denzel had a specific window," he adds. "If Denzel wasn't doing this film, it wasn't getting made."

Inside Man marks his fourth collaboration with 51-year-old Washington, Oscar-nominated for his role in Lee's 1992 film Malcolm X.

I'd have to go to Industrial Light & Magic to cut him out of this film! Spike Lee on Inside Man star Chiwetel Ejiofor

Rising British star Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Washington's police sidekick Bill Mitchell.

"He's a wonderful actor - and smart," says Lee, who jokes that Ejiofor guaranteed that he would not end up on the cutting room floor.

"While we were shooting the film, I noticed that in every scene he stood real close to Denzel - almost attached to him.

"I'd have to go to Industrial Light & Magic to cut him out of this film!"

'Artistry and class'

Lee persuaded Briton Clive Owen to play mastermind robber Dalton Russell, despite the actor's misgivings about spending most of the film with his face hidden.

"I like working with talented people, and Clive Owen is someone with talent," says Lee.

"In order to make this cat-and-mouse game work, you needed someone who could plant their feet in the ground, stand toe to toe with Denzel and not get blown off the screen."

Foster is joined by veteran star Christopher Plummer on screen

Jodie Foster, who plays smooth-talking businesswoman Madeline White, did not want to dominate the picture.

"Jodie didn't want to carry a whole film - she wanted a supporting role," says Lee, who wanted to work with the actress for some time.

"She wanted a role where she could get dressed up and look glamorous," says Lee, who credits the actress with bringing "artistry and class" to the film.

Plans for film-maker Ron Howard to direct fell through when Russell Crowe approached the Oscar-winning director of A Beautiful Mind with the script for Cinderella Man.

The script for Inside Man sparked a Hollywood bidding war

Lee appears to be emulating Howard with his next project, a film about 1930s boxer Joe Louis.

Save us, Joe Louis is scheduled to start shooting in the autumn with Oscar nominee Terrence Howard playing the lead.

"We've been trying to make it for six years," says Lee, adding that after the poor performance of Ali and Cinderella Man, studios have been reluctant to back another boxing film.