Character Study of the Psychopath

Rating: 8/10 (1 April 2005)

Cruise very adeptly plays a hit man who must off five people in one night. Foxx plays the cabbie cornered into playing getaway driver. Cruise's performance is brilliant; he is charming, eloquent, focused, cold and relentless, just as a psychopath should be.
Foxx is equally good as a decent guy reacting the best he can to a sociopath who is completely "unmasked." I noticed that Mann lets us get to know "Vincent" the hit-man a little bit...then makes it plain that there is nothing there to get to know. This is a guy who will buy you a drink, and then blow your brains out. The ending sequence is exciting, as the hit-man's animalism just comes on and on, like a one-man barbarian invasion.
A very good film.
A-.
Things to watch for: coyote eyes, subtle hit-man humor.