Collateral (2004):

Starring:

Tom Cruise - Vincent

Jamie Foxx - Max Durocher

Jada Pinkett Smith - Annie Farrell

Mark Ruffalo - Ray Fanning

Javier Bardem - Felix Reyes-Torrena

Peter Berg - Richard Weidner

Bruce McGill - Frank Pedrosa

Irma P. Hall - Ida Durocher

Barry Shabak Henley - Daniel Baker

Emilio Rivera - Paco

Jason Statham - Airport Man (Cameo)

Director:

Michael Mann (Public Enemies; Ali; Heat)

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%

Flixster: 79%

Synopsis:

Max has lived a mundane life as a cab driver for twelve years. The faces have come and gone from his rear-view mirror: people and places he's long since forgotten--until tonight. Vincent is a contract killer. When an offshore narco-trafficking cartel learns that they're about to be indicted by a federal grand jury, they mount an operation to identify and kill the key witness, and the last stage is tonight. It is on this very night that Vincent has arrived--and five bodies are supposed to fall. Circumstances cause Vincent to hijack Max' taxicab, and Max becomes collateral--an expendable person who's in the wrong place at the wrong time. Through the night, Vincent forces Max to drive him to each assigned destination. And as the L.A.P.D. and F.B.I. race to intercept them, Max and Vincent's survival become dependent on each other, in ways neither would have imagined.

Review:

I'm going to right ahead & say that this might be the most underrated Tom Cruise movie of all time. His performance is so much different than every other leading role that he has ever had. Usually he is the slightly flawed or sometimes damaged protagonist lead. However in this he is the cold, cruel & ruthless antagonist who is completely & utterly the most bad ass man. He is a ruthless killer gunning down anyone who gets in his way. He can pass flawlessly as an evil villain just as much as he can a hero. He does however have a HORRIBLE wig that looks almost cartoonish & a poorly grown beard that rivals a high schooler. Jamie Foxx does a great job as the cab driver hostage taken by Cruise & forced into his deadly game. He has great range in this role playing it scared, panicked but also at times heroic & in control. They really feed off each other throughout as Cruise exposes Foxx's past & his failure to commit to anything in his life. Great supporting cast featuring Mark Ruffalo, Bruce McGill & an earlier role (pre-No Country For Old Men & Vicky Christina Barcelona) from Javier Bardem. Also the interesting & sometimes rare role of a director acting by Director Peter Berg (Hancock; The Kingdom; Friday Night Lights). Also a cameo appearance early in the film by Jason Statham. At points it is slightly slow moving, incoherent rambling by Foxx at times is hard to understand. The ending is the slightest of underwhelming but is foreshadowed earlier in the film. A great musical sequence done as the actors all converge on a night club from all of the city once they figure out all the details set to a great song: Audioslave - Shadow Of The Sun. Overall great acting, great plot, awesome action. Tom Cruise is a total bad ass. Earned Jamie Foxx an Academy Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actor.

84%

Lead Acting: 15/15

Supporting Cast: 10/15

Plot: 10/10

Compared To The Genre: 9/10

Cinematography: 14/20

Intrigue: 17/20

Extra: 9/10