Classic Mann Doing What He Does Best

Rating: 8/10 (12 May 2019)

This is classic Mann at his best as he helms a virtuous crime drama. This film has excellent direction, screenplay, settings, cinematography, score and acting. All of the stellar cast deliver superlative performances. However Cruise and Foxx command the screen. They immerse themselves in their characters offering realistic portrayals. The plot revolves around an honest and gentle hard working Los Angeles taxi driver Max whose dream is to start his own island limo service. About to call it a night Max picks up one last fare Vincent who claims to be in the insurance business. Vincent offers Max $600 to make five stops. Unbeknownst to Max, Vincent is a vicious and cunning hitman which becomes abundantly clear quickly. During their stops Max soon learns how brutal Vincent is as he engages in collateral damage in the blink of an eye. Max soon interferes with Vincent's work and then it becomes a matter of saving lives including his own. All the while the duo is being pursued by authorities and Max turns out to be a worthy adversary. The plot is crisp, intelligent, thrilling, action packed, violent, duplicitous and has a cathartic ending. There are many memorable scenes and quotes in this film. One such quote is Vincent's, "Don't get me concerned. You don't have the trunk space". This is a captivating, mesmorizing film and one of the very best in it's genre.