great performances in Michael Mann thriller

Rating: 7/10 (23 July 2015)

L.A. cabbie Max Durocher (Jamie Foxx) has a conversation with his fare U.S. Justice Department prosecutor Annie Farrell (Jada Pinkett Smith). He wants to start a fun limo service and she's concerned that she's unprepared for her case. They strike up a connection. His next fare is Vincent (Tom Cruise) who hires him for $600 and an extra $100 to get him to the airport after making five stops. At the first stop, Vincent throws a man off the roof onto the cab. He kidnaps Max making him drive. LAPD detective Ray Fanning (Mark Ruffalo) finds the crime scene of his CI and starts putting the pieces together.
Director Michael Mann creates a stripped down thriller. Both Foxx and Cruise excel. Cruise is especially great as a cold-hearted killer. I do have questions about the movie. Why does Vincent need a cab? Why wouldn't he just kill Max and stuff him in the trunk? Why doesn't Max escape when he gets the chance? These and other questions are better off left behind. I choose to believe that Vincent kept Max for more than his GPS abilities. I choose to believe that Vincent is lonely and finds Max to be a fun plaything. It's better to simply enjoy this slick Michael Mann production.