COLLATERAL (2004)
Directed by Michael Mann
 
Tom Cruise Mark Ruffalo
Jamie Foxx  
Jada Pinkett Smith  
 
L.A. taxi driver is forced to chauffeur a hired assassin around while he kills.
 
One-word View: Fantastic
 
Not that he was trying to, but Jamie Foxx has finally won me over. Additionally, Tom Cruise, who is a definite hit or miss in the theaters, has renewed my interest. They were both really good. Collateral is great, one of the best movies (non-documentary) that I have seen this summer.

Max (Jamie) is a near-docile taxi driver whose life is changed when he picks up Vincent (Tom) who has been hired to kill five people connected to an upcoming case. After paying Max double what he would normally make in one night, Vincent and his unknowing accomplice head off to the first mark. Things go awry and Max becomes aware of what's going on. Now, do not be fooled into thinking that this is just another good guy-bad guy/kill a lot of people film. We do get that and we also get some extraordinary character development, splendid dialogue, and a few moments of "I can't believe that just happened!".

Almost immediately Max and Vincent connect on some very basic, desperate level. Max has convinced himself that he is close to starting his own business and taxi driving is temporary even though he has been driving for 12 years. Vincent, coming from a deserted by parents-foster home background approaches his job with a cool philosophical demeanor that until now has served him well. During the course of one evening, both lives are changed irrevocably.

 
 
 
  movies books & more about me & vfh reach out to me home