A brilliant idea, a good performance, but Tom Cruise?!

Rating: 6/10 (22 January 2006)

This is a great movie, very gripping, and the team-up of Foxx and Cruise was a good one. Max, a cabbie with broken dreams picks up a hit-man with five targets. One night will change both of their lives. That's our storyline.
But the story is weak for this movie. As the "hit-man of the finest quality", you'd expect a better cast. Tom Cruise?! Come on, this guy's never been a "baddie" in many films and it shouldn't have been used here. I'd actually have rathered Brad Pitt, George Clooney, or an actor that looks cunning, smart, and aggressive. Sadly, Tom Cruise lacks the latter.
I mean, the reason why I'm saying the story is weak is this: When the body of the first hit lands on Max's (foxx) cab, Vincent (tom Cruise) tells him simply he's a hit-man. I mean come on people, where's the mystery surrounding it? By this, I mean, why couldn't they have kept it hidden from Max until say, hit number three?
But with those negativities disregarded, I shall now point out the positives within this movie. It's a very gripping one with some gorgeous scenes (a lit up LA always looks good in the movies, come on, admit it!)
Foxx plays his role perfectly. His looks of confusion, fear, and nerve show brilliantly and it really looks real. Cruise, well, let's just say there could have been a much better actor.