Flawless and Taught

Rating: 10/10 (6 September 2004)

Michael Mann (HEAT & THE INSIDER) creates a film with the ultimate LA at night feel, interweaving streets, lights, common everyday mundane activities to build a near perfect suspense thriller with little or no gaps or flaws. Perfectly believable as a crime flick and even better as a character study this film entertains in many different ways. Worth a look or two.
Tom Cruise (TOP GUN) is pitch perfect as an over the top assassin but the real spotlight shines on Jamie Foxx (ANY GIVEN Sunday) who not only steals the movie but carves deeper the notch in his acting belt showing his talent as a believable everyday guy. While a lot of the film is emotionally driven and the action in this film is limited but rapid fire and brutal, I really enjoyed the pacing and never once felt a moment when the movie slowed or stalled out. It had perpetual motion until the last moments. Both actors make you care about their respective characters and keep an interesting climax or some would say anti-climax.
Directed as beautifully as it is acted this movie is 2004's sleeper and should not be missed. 9/10