Typical Cruise

Rating: Null/10 (10 August 2004)

Typical Cruise. Excellent performances by the players; but was surprised to see Foxx and even Pinkett in topnotch mode; not just mediocre nigga-nigga kind of acting. But really decent in executing their roles.
What's interesting was to see a film shot in HD video, right? You could tell... its a different kind of look than the standard film stock kind of look. Although I believe there were INT. shots of the cab shot using FILM? I don't know.
It was very well directed. Has a LOT of its moments, like the one where Vincent loses his patience with Foxx's boss... and attacks him later on telling Foxx to confront his boss by himself on the radio. Cruise is very convincing as the cold, efficient, agile double-tapping killer... There are those scenes that really make you grit your teeth because their fun to watch, and they just have that visceral amphetamine to rivet you to watch what's going on on the screen. Like when Vincent shoots the muggers, and the scene at FEVER where Vincent beats up the sentry men and later on fires rounds all over the place; eventually capping Peter Lim while he does so.
Oh; lets not forget the scene at the hospital. How Foxx isn't really accepted entirely by his mother... and the possibility of Vincent insisting on visiting his mother so he can use it for his own ends; if its called for. A very morbid thought, Vincent even brings it up in a later scene... but that's why this movie is good. Its got it thrills set at night time LA... LA, right? Does have its scare factor.
Does anyone notice Cruise's being a scientologist surface? Cosmic coindicence or not... when Vincent talks about those cosmic coincidences, Darwin the stars in our galaxy... Were those lines ad libbed? Perhaps there's a DVD commentary track that touches this.. Cruise is a scientologist is he not?
It gets very suspenseful, and turns into a chase towards the end... you see Vincent as a sharpshooter and a true pro throughout the movie; don't wanna spoil anyone but what Vincent finally GETS in the end despite his being THAT professional and efficient? The last scene in the train. Will you feel cheated? This is a subjective matter.
But I give my round of applause to Michael Mann, the players, the rest of the people who were able to produce this. plausible, highly entertaining suspense thriller. Its great.
Definitely will grace my DVD collection. Plan on seeing it in the theater with popcorn again if I have time... yes, you heard what I said, it works as a treat, but its not mindless either.
9/10
Grade A-