Flawed, but rewarding.

Rating: 7/10 (18 August 2004)

"Collateral" is basically a strong movie. The action sizzles, particularly in a wild showdown scene in a dance club. The acting among the film's two leads is top-notch, and the dialogue is thoughtful, original, and often thought-provoking. Why then, was there just a hint of disappointment lurking in my head while watching it?
One issue might be that the other Mann-directed films I've seen are near perfect, particularly "Heat". Yeah, speaking of "Heat", "Collateral" has very much the same feel as that masterwork (Cops and criminals in L.A., lots or aerial shots, villains who demand the audience's respect). Yet "Heat" was a film that completely blew a hole in the wall engulfing the field of cops-and-robbers crime movies. "Collateral", on the other hand, feels a bit more resigned to its genre. No matter though, as suspense/thrillers go, this is among the best.
Why, you ask? For one thing, the story is good. While the action propels the film, the focus of the story is basically on cab driver Max (Jamie Fox) and how the traumatic experience which hit-man Vincent (Tom Cruise) puts him through impacts his character. In addition to the good storytelling and well-drawn characters, the film is full of interesting ideas. While I wouldn't call "Collateral" a philosophical film, questions posed by Vincent arouse striking issues about mankind. How, he asks, can seeing one criminal die traumatize a person, while watching thousands of innocent people die on the news every day have no impact? Constant provocation of this sort is thrown at Max, and even as he is abused by this man, there's no denying that his life is bettered greatly by the experience and from simply being around Vincent. Basically, this film will appease anyone looking for a thrill and a lot of intense action. However, for thoughtful souls who are much more turned on by ideas than actions, this film's deeper level will serve well.
Which is why, I guess, the ending is such a letdown. Throughout, this film manages to entertain while being thought-provoking, then suddenly, the climax begins and all the ideas and issues raised are given a back seat to a big finish barely distinguishable from countless other action/suspense movies. What really gets irritating is the endless lineup of implausible occurrences thrown at the viewer in such a short time. How a bullet can be shot straight into the side of someone's head, yet only graze his ear is a mystery I don't think I'll ever solve. Nor will I solve the mystery of why subway chase scenes are so popular. Anyhow, it's a shame to stick an otherwise quite good film with such a lame ending. Honestly, going for 'big' really wasn't the way to end this movie. Even with all the fantastic, gripping action scenes, the film's best moments are the conversations held between characters in Max's cab. These scenes are the heart of the film. Staying true to that heart and letting the film quietly wind down would have been so much more effective. Score: 7/10