Terrific action thriller

Rating: 8/10 (31 January 2005)

Here is a film very different from the action thrillers you normally would expect from Hollywood. It takes its time to develop the interesting characters, it does not cut every three seconds, the perfect cinematography is not distracting but adds something to the atmosphere, even the more conventional closing scenes are a lot better than you would expect if I told you what happened there.
Cab driver Max (Jamie Foxx) has a passenger named Annie (Jada Pinkett Smith). They have a conversation that plays like a real one, again taking its time, and in the end we feel we know these characters quite good. At least better than we know characters after complete films or even series of films. The conversation ends with Annie reaching her destination and after hesitating a little giving Max her business card. We understand she will return in the story. Max's next passenger is Vincent (Tom Cruise). He offers Max a lot of money is he can take him to a couple of addresses, one nights work. Max has doubts but agrees. He stops at the first address, Vincent goes upstairs, a body lands on the car Max is driving. If this was not spoiled in the film's commercials it would be a real surprise.
From this point the film develops in a way we expect, but done a lot better than we expect. With each of Vincent's victims the film takes it time to introduce them right until we know them, then the almost sudden, swift action comes and it is done terrifically. On the way some unexpected things happen, they feel like little pauses between Vincent's job. Like I said the third act is a little more conventional but I liked it. Director Michael Mann handles the scenes carefully and therefore he does not step wrong. When Max tries to save the day, of course you knew this, there is real suspense and the outcome is not sure. The same as in Mann's 'Heat', with good guy Al Pacino and bad guy Robert De Niro, you start to sympathize with both Max and Vincent.
Michael Mann has made terrific films like 'The Last of the Mohicans', 'Heat' and 'The Insider', had a weaker film with 'Ali' with its strong performances, but returns with this terrific film. 'Collateral' belongs to the best in its genre.