best action-drama I've seen in a couple years

Rating: 9/10 (22 December 2004)

Hey....I checked the spoiler box....but I find it hard to believe anything I say here will be considered a spoiler.
Cruise is a hit-man who has to kill 5 people who will be involved in a trial the next day. Jamie Foxx is the cabbie who drives him around L.A. to his various destinations.
Cruise is cold and calculating....but not devoid of humor and emotion...a different kind of hit-man. He plays Thur role well and it is a strong rebound from his disappointing "The Last Samurai" which is a blatant "Dances With Wolves" ripoff. That being said....Cruise is one of my favorite actors and I'll watch pretty much anything he is in. He is cast well here and the role fits him like a glove. Though he has been nominated twice for Oscars ("Jerry Maguire" and "Born on the Fourth of July"), it is my belief he will NEVER win one. Sadly, he probably won't be nominated for this role either.
Though I dislike Jamie Foxx....I must admit that he is fantastic in his role here. He gives his role of cabbie scope and dimension that I never thought he had the talent to give. He is as responsible as Cruise is for whatever accolades this movie receives. Whatever bouquets get thrown Foxx's way for this film....they are well deserved.
The film has a very atmospheric feel to it. The sun never shines and the film itself is dark and depressing. These are my favorite kinds of films as I need to see people who are suffering in life more than I am. Director Michael Mann has become well regarded as the type of director to helm material of this nature... and he creates mood and feel galore here.
Scipt and soundtrack are top notch and all technical aspects are first rate also. The film's only drawback is a somewhat flat ending. Five more minutes of film and it all would have been cleaned up beautifully.
Years from now...I'm sure critics will look back fondly on this film and rate it a "sleeper". It didn't make moucho $$$ and never really achieved any great status when released...but it will be remembered in a positive manner.
Finally...let me finish by saying....I'm a film junkie and watch 'em all from the 1930s to present day...and I'm telling you....if you like your films on the dramatic dark side....this is one for you.