COLLATERAL

Plot Summary

Max (Jamie Foxx), a LA taxi driver, picks up a smartly dressed passenger who looks like a man in town for business. Vincent (Tom Cruise) tells Max that he is only in town for one night and that he has a number of calls to make, to collect signatures. He is willing to pay extra if Max drives him around for the night. Max is reluctant at first but doesn't want to turn down the extra cash. After making their first call, Max realises what a terrible mistake he has made. His passenger turns out to be a contract killer and Max finds himself caught up in a nightmare when he is forced to drive Vincent to the assigned destinations...

Review

The plot doesn't sound especially clever or original but this movie has a lot going for it that makes it stand out amongst similar thrillers. From the start the stylish camera work is obvious. Aerial views of the city below look great as if taken from a hot air balloon skimming the tops of the sky-scrapers. Together with a great soundtrack this gives the movie a stylish feel and appearance.

Even better than the filming is the script which is sharp, witty and surprisingly funny. The clever dialogue between Vincent and Max means that there are no uninteresting bits between the action scenes.  Some depth is developed for the two main characters, Vincent and Max, and you get to see them on different levels.  Both characters are worlds apart but both flawed in different ways.

As a thriller there is plenty of action and suspense and while there aren't too many surprises it still manages to keep the tension levels high for the duration. The LAPD and the FBI are on Vincent's trail and we learn that the reason for the assassinations is tied into drug trafficking prosecutions. By not solely restricting itself to the story of Vincent and Max arriving at the assigned destinations there are enough strands to the story to keep things interesting.

The acting is top class and as well as Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx giving great performances there is a strong supporting cast. With greying hair Tom Cruise looks older but strangely sinister. Calm and well mannered, but seldom smiling, he is very convincing as the cold, emotionless, killer.  The cold character of Vincent is contrasted by, good-hearted, ordinary man, Max. A great performance from Jamie Foxx creates a very credible ordinary guy doing his job and dreaming of bigger and better things.

Lasting Thought: Life is short and today might be your last!

Bottom Line:  Stylish, slick production.  A solid thriller that works on several levels. If you enjoy Collateral you might also like Mystic River, Insomnia, or The Bourne Supremacy.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2004.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS:  TOM CRUISE:  Minority Report,  The Last Samurai,  Vanilla Sky.  MARK RUFFALO:  Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind,  13 Going On 30.  IRMA P. HALL:  The Ladykillers.

Genre: Thriller

Certificate: 15's

Director: Michael Mann

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~ Main Cast ~

Tom Cruise

Jamie Foxx

Jada Pinkett Smith

Mark Ruffalo

Peter Berg

Irma P. Hall

RATING

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