Michael Mann's most recent work of art!

Rating: 8/10 (12 July 2005)

Two separate worlds collide for a night when a smooth but very simple taxi cab driver Max, (Jamie Fox) picks up his next customer Vincent (Tom Cruise), a very talented fast moving hit man on a killing spree through the moonlit streets of downtown Los Angeles. All goes according to plan except for his last hit when his cabbie Max gets involved. Collateral shows that the value of human life is irreplaceable and significant to most people, and that to some people life is shallow, expendable and unimportant.
Collateral allows its viewers to interact with the lives of two complete opposite individuals and the conflict that is created between Vincent and Max. The film displays the beauty of life in many variations, for example Michael Mann shows that underneath all the materialistic and separations of different society levels that connections are made between people of all likes makes and models. Perhaps the following may be a bit of a spoiler, however in the beginning of the film viewers witness this connection with the interaction that takes place between Max a cab driver and Annie a federal prosecutor. But from a different perspective Michael Mann reveals that certain people are disconnected from the wonderful gifts of life. Mann reflects this disconnect through Vincent's character thought process and actions.
Another film that helps to reinforce Collateral's theme for example is the movie The Professional, Also known as "Leon", 1994. The main character Leon a hit man plays a similar role like that of Tom Cruise. Leon who is a very dangerous hit man also allows his audience to view his very intimate softer side; viewers can witness this affection with his relationship to Matilda a young girl who he desperately protects with his life. Collateral displays the wonderful talent of director Michael Mann. The majority of the movie is shot in low-key lighting, to signify the intense intimacy between the city, Vincent and Max. A great scene to help reinforce this statement is when Max and Vincent get pulled over by the police and Vincent is warning Max that he must loose the police and talk his way out of the dire situation. The scene is shot in low-key lighting with a close-up shot of Max's facial expressions and in the frame a selective focused shot of Vincent in the back seat of the cab. For most individual's life is a priceless gift, however some are on this earth to seek and destroy it, Collateral's stars Tom Cruise and Jaime Fox's characters reflect a great example of this dilemma.