Who's the Man?

Don't worry your pretty little termite heads. I'm leaving ample crit space for those who wish to wax candlesticks or poetics re: Spike's new jernt (Sorry all -- saw it this afternoon and couldn't wait to post). Es ist gut, sehr gut is alls I gots to say. And maybe this: When can we get a review copy of "Kill Dat Ni**a"? Akiva, can you get on that right away?

Just wanted to point out a popular IM reviewing trope -- one which I can't say I wouldn't have employed myself given its appropriateness -- offered in three different guises. The irresistible urge in question? Playing with Spike Lee's insider/outsider status re: Hollywood/genre fare. Three such examples, from Salon's Stephanie Zacharek, the Times's Manohla Dargis, and the Voice's own J. Hoba (shouts to all, b/t/w; click on each for context):

Steph Lova: "He is the inside man."

Manoh, Lawd: "For most of his career, the great and maddeningly unreliable Spike Lee has been anything but — to borrow the title of his diverting new film — an inside man."

J. Hoba: "I wouldn't say that he exactly robbed the bank, but in this joint at least, he's his own inside man."