Above average entertainment, but that's all

Rating: Null/10 (3 November 2004)

The USUAL SPOILERS
This is a Michael Mann film so I sat down and wondered how long it would be till the first lyrical close up shot of moisture on a car window would arrive. For the record, less than thirty seconds. This is a lot more fun to watch than the overlong, over-rated and humourless "HEAT". It's a very engaging thriller, the leads are watchable and the relationship between the cab driver and the hit-man is never less than hypnotic. But it has one of those story lines where the set up is so intriguing that there's no way that the pay off can ever live up to it, and in this case the pay off is an incredibly limp final quarter of the film that slides into such a conventional action picture ending that you come out thinking "so what". Which is a bit of a pity because the first three quarters of the film deserves better. Jamie Foxx is a revelation as the everyman, "put yourself in his place and how would you get out of this dilemma" hero, and Tom Cruise is competent in a role that's essentially one dimensional. (Cruise continues to get praised for every role he takes that isn't the standard Hollywood hero, but it's like praising the dog walking on it's hind legs. Don't get me started on "MAGNOLIA".) Being a michael Mann film it's full of character's who launch into long philosophical diatribes when a simple "I'll kill you if you lose the list again" would have sufficed, and it's full of ludicrously overblown action scenes that are at odds with the alleged character pieces he seems to be wanting to make. The dance club shoot out, like the bank heist in the middle of "HEAT" is just plain dumb. (The dancers are straight out of the movie extra dancing school. Have you ever been in a real dance club and seen it full of stupidly grinning couples dancing limply to some flacid instrumental. Okay, maybe you have. Bad point.) I know you're supposed to suspend your logic in big dumb action films, but why would a professional hit-man trying to keep a low profile insist on riding around in the most recognisable, dinged up vehicle etc etc. Since the film invites you to put yourself in Max's place and try to logically think your way out of his position then these things do matter. And gosh darn it, that lawyer lady, she's going to be the last victim. Never saw that coming. And why are these idiots out on the town on the eve of a major trial when they know the big bad crime boss will be trying to hit them. AH, forget about it. It's a great fun movie that uses it's location well but don't think you've actually watched anything profound. Vincent is simply a sociopath, no other explanation is given. Guy in rut decides to act and follow his dream. End of story.