It's Not Leon But It's Still A Pretty Solid Hit-man Movie

Rating: 6/10 (17 January 2015)

Collateral is brought to us by Michael Mann, the man who has done films like Manhunter, Heat and Last Of The Mohicans. My own personal opinion is that Heat is the best film Mann has done and while Collateral isn't on the same level as that, it's still a good action/suspense thriller. Anyone who has seen any of Michael Mann's films know that this isn't going to be an over-the-top action film where there's more gunfire than story and has a leading star who comes out with more bad one-liners than a low-rate stand-up comic.
The story of the film is quite a simple one, but the way it's filmed is what takes it from a simple story to a great one. Mann has a way of making a seemingly slow movie much more interesting and suspenseful to watch, and he does this with Collateral. There are parts in the movie that had a danger of being repetitive and boring, but the way that the story and suspense is built up for these scenes there's no worries of them becoming either.
Also, you may think to yourself "Tom Cruise?! As a hit-man? Yeh right!" But in all honesty, he does a really good job of playing a hit-man. Granted, he's no Leon but he still does a good convincing job in the role of Vincent. Jamie Foxx does an equally good job in his role as playing Max, an L.A. cab driver simply trying to make some extra money to start his own business.
The interaction between the two makes for good viewing as there are quite a good few moments in the movie where you wonder how Max is going to get out of the situations that he's being put in. The only let down for me cast wise was Jada Pinkett Smith because she can't act to save herself and this is one of the few roles I've seen her in where she's not over-acting playing a stereo typical head bobbing, finger pointing, snarling black woman. Thankfully she isn't in this movie a lot, however, which is a relief.
Collateral is definitely worth watching and if you love movies like Heat and Leon then you should enjoy this one.