Strong performces in a good thriller

Rating: 7/10 (5 August 2004)

Maybe some spoilers!
Collateral is the latest film from Michael Mann and is the story of a LA cab driver Max who dreams of owning his own limo service. It starts like any other night moving people around in his cab. Things however take a drastic change when he is offered by Vincent to ferry him around for his 'business' and to visit his 'friends'. What happens next is a roller coaster ride as Max tries to get away.
Well this is probably one of the summer movies that I wanted see once I found out of the summer movie line-up. Plus the fact that it was to be released in the latter part of the summer really helped build up the anticipation for this film.
When I found out that Tom Cruise was to play the 'bad guy', I was excited to see Cruise play the bad guy since I loved his performance in Interview With the Vampire. Hey you don't see him play a bad guy that often so I was interested how he was going to do here. He did a pretty convincing job as a bad guy. Very menacing especially with his great dialog and movements. I would hate to run into this guy in if he were a real person.
As for the casting of Jaime Foxx as the 'good guy', I wasn't that pleased at first. Hey it's not like he did a good job with Bait. Plus I have a hard time digesting the fact that this guy who is known more for his comedy can do an action film. Pretty much like Owen Wilson in Behind Enemy Lines. Well Foxx did a good job considering that I wasn't really expecting a lot from him. At times he even outshone Cruise, who like I said did a great job.
Michael Mann did a great job with directing. I found the close shots, which really dominated the film rather refreshing. To the point that sometimes you feel you are standing next to the characters in the film. I wasn't too convinced with the screenplay though and I feel some of the characters were placed in to the movie so as to fill the star power of the film. To the point that the movie can go on even without these characters.
Well what looks like the last major summer movie of the year turned into a fulfilling experience accented by great performances by the two lead actors.