a daring and epic thriller

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2005)

Tom Cruise shows everyone just how good an actor he is in 2004's hit thriller, 'Collateral', playing a villain for the first time in his career. Also putting in a great performance is 2004 Oscar Winner Jamie Foxx, who received an Oscar nod for this movie as well. Collateral's dark, gritty, and realistic feel and mood will have you clinging on the edge of your seat for the entire time.
Max (Foxx) has an honest job as a Los Angeles cab driver, and he's among the best, knowing his city like the palm of his hand. Tonight's been going well for him. He even managed to get the phone number of a very attractive attorney (Jada Pinkett Smith) as she rode in his cab. His next customer is a medium heighted man, with grey hair and a suit to match. His name is Vincent (Cruise). Vincent quickly points out that he has a few stops to make, and that he'll pay a hefty fee to Max if he can drive him to and from these stops.
While waiting for Vincent at stop number 1, Max will be shocked as a body flies ontop of the cab. After a few shrieks from Max and cool yet deadly talk from Vincent, Max discovers Vincent's real plan: he is a hit-man, and is using Max to get to and from is assignments, killing them along the way.
Tom Cruise's performance is certainly Oscar worthy, but he didn't receive a nod, as the competition was better. He definitely deserved it. Every second of the movie, you will know that Vincent is in control. You'll actually feel as if you're watching Vincent, not Tom Cruise with a hefty hair change. Jamie Foxx turns in a stunning show as well, and he shines towards the end. I'm not spoiling anything here, but all I'll say is that you'll either love or hate the end.
Michael Mann's direction is superb, and I'm surprised he didn't receive a best director nomination. He makes every detail of Vincent's personality and past extremely important by emphasizing every single detail. He also makes Vincent the ultimate bada** villain, in many ways that are so cool, I can't tell you because it'd be spoiling. The film is extremely well written, and the only fault I have for it is that it becomes a tad unrealistic towards the end of the film, but with a thriller, that is to be expected, and it doesn't take away from the fact that this is a diamond in the rough. You'll love it, and come away from it feeling like a totally different person, having watched perennial good-guy Cruise play everyone's worst nightmare of a villain.
10/10 --spy