Wilder, Aldrich, Chandler and Hitchcock would love it! (Spillane probably owns it on DVD).

Rating: 10/10 (31 March 2005)

SPOILIERS****
Just finished watching Collateral on DVD, WOW! Mann does it again. I wanted to see this when it came out, but didn't get a chance. This was unfortunate, as it must have been stunning on the big screen.
Mann succeeds, in much the same way as he did with Heat, of capturing the essence of Los Angeles on film and using it as a palate to shape his drama. Not only is it a stunningly beautiful and striking film, the imagery creates an almost liquid background to propel the story  truly gorgeous cinematography.
Vincent is one of the most tautly drawn characters in years, and Cruise is masterful in his portrayal of the nihilist hit man. Watch Cruise shift from ardent admirer of Miles Davis to steely killer in a fraction of a second playing off Barry Shabaka Henley (Daniel), who is all of his equal in a truly moving moment of film making.
It is amazing to see this same transformation occur later in the film, this time executed by actor Jamie Foxx, who displays ability on a par with Cruise's. I must admit, I was a bit skeptical upon hearing that Foxx had won the Oscar for his work in Ray, having not seen the film. No longer! I am a total believer. His is certainly a talent well above that used in "Booty Call".
Where other directors have tried to capture the energy of film noir by regurgitating a 50's pastiche, Mann captures the spirit of such classics as Double Indemnity or Strangers on a Train and places them in a modern context in enthralling fashion. While many here will consider Heat to be Mann's magnum opus, I found Collateral a far more compelling ride (high praise I know), as Cruise's character Vincent and the interplay with Foxx (Max), provide a far greater level of character development.
Oh, and regarding the ending. Max figured out he would die if he didn't kill Vincent first, even before he saw the lawyer's portfolio in Vincent's dossier. That is why he crashed the car intentionally  he was finally, for the first time in his life, in control. Nobody was going to stop him, not even Vincent. While it does, admittedly, tie up a lot of loose ends 'nicely', it also makes sense.
It is a brilliant film. I'm off to buy it now!