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Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Have you ever had a night that changed your whole life? A night where you decided to change course and do something else the following day. We probably all had a night when we looked back and decided that changes needed to happen and set a plan to achieve our dreams. Collateral is a film where a cab driver’s night turns unexpectedly when he picks up an attorney and a hitman.
Directed and produced by Michael Mann from a script by Stuart Beattie, Collateral begins in the late evening of a night in Los Angeles. Max Durocher (Foxx) is a LA cab driver who lives a boring and uneventful life. He has been doing the job for over twelve years. He only gets peace by looking at a photo of a tropical island and wanting to start his own limo company. The night is typical until Annie Ferrell (Smith) gets in his cab from the airport. Annie is an attorney who is on a government case. Max and Annie hit it off slightly, seemingly striking up some flirty banter. After dropping Annie off, he picks up his next fare, who goes by the name Vincent (Cruise). Vincent offers Max $700 for making five stops and bringing him back to the airport. Max agrees to the deal and drives Vincent to his first stop. While waiting for Vincent, a body drops from the sky, and Max soon realizes that Vincent will make a very long night for him. Max soon learns that Vincent is a hitman hired by the people being prosecuted by Annie. Max must find a way to stop Vincent and save Annie.
I will let you know right now that Michael Mann knows how to direct a thriller. Heat will always be one of my favorite films with that epic shootout. Mann delivered in this film, and I want to give him some props before diving into why I think this film is excellent. Mann presented the characters in a way that would seem like a typical night. Max, driving his cab; Annie, who wants to do well on a case; and finally, Vincent, a man soon realized to be a contract killer. Mann makes every element work in this film as he keeps the intensity and thrills high between Max and Vincent until the very end. Well done, Mr. Mann. I highly enjoyed this film.
Now that we gave props to the director, the story is thrilling and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I forgot how good this film was until I rewatched it. It was a simple night for Max in LA as he wanted to raise money for his dream vacation. When Annie gets in his car, he does a little flirting and makes a bet with her as she talks about her case. The two seem like they might go out later when Max picks up another fare. Vincent makes Max a deal, and that is when shit hits the fan. The story allows you to witness the brutality of Vincent while Max tries his best not to show that he is part of what is going on. Mann does an excellent job with each stop that Max and Vincent take.
You can tell that Vincent is not someone you mess around with. He seems straight and to the point and will complete his job by any means necessary. This is seen with his first kill. Max is chilling in the car, and then boom, a freakin body falls right on top of it. At each stop, Vincent plays no games. He guns down two people who try to take his case without any remorse. When he needs to kill someone in a club, homeboy goes HAM and shoots everyone. As we focused on Vincent and Max, Mann made sure to throw Annie in the mix. Vincent’s last target is Annie, as she is the lead attorney on a case that Vincent was hired to get rid of. This turns into a race of time for Max to save Vincent and get away from him.
Mann made the final 15 minutes epic and thrilling with the chase scene. He starts it up with Max standing on the roof of a parking structure. He calls Annie to warn her, and it is a cat-and-mouse game when he sees Vincent in the building. Well, more like a tiger and a little mouse. The scene grips you as you wonder if Annie will get out. To make matters worse, the cell phone that Max is using is about to run out. It is one of my favorite scenes because it intensifies as Vincent turns off the power to the whole building in search of Annie. Shit gets real.
As for the cinematography and aesthetic, Mann and his design crew have a style that seems not entirely shot from a cheap camcorder but has that gritty feel. Maybe because the film was shot at night, but the look of the film seemed grainy and less crisp. I think that is why the film works because it appears that it would be how your eyes see at night with street lamps. Your eyes have a hard time focusing on things, and everything would be a bit blurry. You must watch the film to see what I am talking about. It is very appealing to the eye and a joy to watch.
As far as the acting goes, it propelled this film. First off, Jamie Foxx was excellent as Max. Foxx was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for this role, along with being nominated for Ray for Best Actor. I think this was the first time this ever happened. Foxx played Max as a cab driver with a dream and maybe wanting to take Annie out on a date. His world is turned upside down when Vincent gets in his cab. Foxx showed Maxx’s evolution from a man who is scared to one who gains confidence and says F-It, I’m going to save the girl and show you how it is done.
I want to give it up to Tom Cruise. He usually plays the good guy in the film. I think the only time he played somewhat the villain was in Interview with a Vampire. I want to say that Cruise was fantastic as Vincent. He was intense, brutal, played no games, and did everything he could to complete his mission. He made no qualms about how he felt and spoke his mind. He was quick to pull out his gun and shoot anyone that got in his way. He also tried to give Max some life advice to help him move forward with his life. Cruise made Vincent an exciting character.
Collateral is a MUST-watch film. It is thrilling, with a great story about a cab driver and a hitman. The performances are excellent, with Cruise playing a villain and Foxx playing the simple cab driver. As stated before, Foxx was nominated for an Oscar in this role. Mann did a phenomenal job directing this film and keeping you entertained. You will not be disappointed with watching this film.
