A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do

Rating: 10/10 (7 May 2005)

I had high hopes for this film, as I am a big fan of Mann's "Heat", "Miami Vice", "Thief" and saw that this could be another urban thriller with thought and brains behind it. Of course it was! As a thriller this film works quite well, but if that's all that you are after. A simple thrill, you're missing a lot of the subtle points with this one. Max is a simple, unhappy working-man who has been driving a cab "temporarily" for over a decade, whilst he is dreaming about starting a limosinecompany. Vincent is a professional hit-man and sees no problem with what he does. The world around them is cold, distant, indifferent and very, very hard to get along with. One has to adapt or fall into shadow and self deceit. When Vincent says "I do this for a living!" the message is clear.
Vincents lines are not just random, true words to make you smile (Like some of Tyler Durden's words of wisdom in "Fight Club"), or feel sad. They really paint a picture of what the world has come too. All this philosophy is gracefully placed on and around an excellent action experience. The actors are doing some of their finest work, Tom Cruise is perfect for the role and does a masterful, physical performance. Why Cruise fits so well might be because he has played the typical "professional" so many times before. Doctors, lawyers, spies and even more lawyers. Now the idealistic young man is all grown up, and see what became of him! Jamie Foxx is brilliant when he gets to play roles that demand jokes and loudness, but he handles a low-voiced man under pressure perhaps even better. Hope to see a lot more of him, and I'm pretty damn sure we will.
The music plays a big part in this film, all of it might not be my/your taste, but it adds to the whole feeling of a city at night. As if we are hearing a car stereo running. The taxi's radio perhaps? In a car at night, sometimes a song you normally would never like sounds great or fits your mood perfectly. The film was shot using Digital Video, which some people hate. I love it when it fits the context like it does beautifully here. The close and personal-scenes as well as the action scenes get a sort of nakedness. Also the shots of Los Angeles are some of the most beautiful and atmospheric I've ever seen of a city. Flying high among the buildings or following the road closely it really looks spectacular all the way.
If you feel, like many others I hear, you don't quite like the ending, I believe you have missed a few of the points along the way. About the compassionate man standing up against indifference, that there is hope, what the woman represents, or perhaps just a few of the things that Vincent said earlier in the film. Anyway this is a great film.
Either I like, or don't like. This one I really like, 10/10.