Michael Mann's best film to date 9/10

Rating: 9/10 (17 August 2004)

Collateral was in my mind the most entertaining and realistic action film of 2004 so far. The acting, script, cinematography, direction, all top notch. Not only was this the best action film of 2004, I think that this was overall Michael Mann's best film, and that he perfectly executed the use of whatever he had.
I enjoyed very much how the camera moved accordingly to what was going
through the eyes and minds of the characters in certain scenes. For instance, in the scene of Vincent's first hit, Max jumps out of his taxi, and he is breathing heavily, his heart is pounding, and he is having a hard time focusing. While this is going on, the camera is unsteady and shaky, and the sounds that have been
added in are of Max's heavy breath. Another instance is of when the cops enter the night club, under the belief that Max, is Vincent.
The sound editing was very, very well done, it was possibly the best in
cinematic history, and deserves an Oscar. Every single gunshot sounds
realistic, every single sound of breaking glass sounds realistic, and every bone or flesh break sounds realistic.
In conclusion, i would just like to add that in addiction to this film being, in my opinion Mann's best, I would also say that this film is an early contender for best picture at the Oscar's because of its entertaining, intense, realistic and original story. This film is more entertaining than The Insider, more intense and realistic than Heat, and certainly Mann's best!
Collateral: 9/10