Max (Jamie Foxx), is a kind, upstanding, skillful, precise, tax driver with big dreams. One night Ma

After successes in the crime genre and showing a talent for conveying hotels in pigeon forge tn sympathetic, likable criminals as protagonists in films such as Heat and Thief Michael Mann applies these talents once again in Collateral . Michael Mann is considerably more successful in doing this than he was in Miami Vice and this time chooses to do a crime/thriller with a much simpler plot than The insider . This simple plot of collateral is actually one of it s main strengths, it focuses more on the two lead characters and the dialogue between them.
Max (Jamie Foxx), is a kind, upstanding, skillful, precise, tax driver with big dreams. One night Max picks up Vincent (Tom Cruise) and it appears to be just a normal Fare; Max even thinks he s in for a stroke of luck as Vincent offers him 600 dollars to drive him to five locations. However hotels in pigeon forge tn it is not until later in the night does Max realize he is driving a deadly hitman and taking him to five separate hits.
For me Collateral competes with Magnolia for Tom Cruise s finest performance. It is refreshing to see Tom Cruise play a character who is not trying to save the day and instead play a character who is by no means good. The audience knows right of the bat that they are dealing with not your typical Tom Cruise role just by looking at his appearance. The gray hair and silver suit add to the aura of mystery and cold-heartedness that Tom Cruise conveys brilliantly, you get the feeling that this appearance s only purpose is to act as a mask. As the film progress you get to know Vincent better, but not as much as you would like, you feel there is so much ore under the surface. hotels in pigeon forge tn There are also many sides of this character that Cruise portrays without hotels in pigeon forge tn difficulty, there s the emotionless hitman, the charismatic, sociable side and the sad and alone side. Tom Cruise s performance struck me as actually being very alike to Robert hotels in pigeon forge tn De Niro s character Neil McCauley from Heat (They even look the same).
Jamie Foxx also puts in more than a decent performance. hotels in pigeon forge tn When we first see Max in his taxi you get the sense his whole universe is in that one taxi: his hopes and dreams, his livelihood and that it is an integral stepping stone to his dream business. Even though Max is a good guy he has flaws like the rest of us and it is interesting to see Jamie Foxx to slowly revel these flaws. I m going to be honest and say I didn t expect much from Jamie Foxx, but I have to say I m happy to be surprised. hotels in pigeon forge tn Jamie Foxx was even nominated for an academy award for best supporting actor. I was disappointed to discover Tom Cruise didn t even receive a nomination, he deserved that much.
Michael Mann s personal touch on the film s camera work enhances the experience. The camera at times just follows the characters and fixes on the character s faces, it is an interesting technique which immerses the audience. Credit hotels in pigeon forge tn to Michael Mann for choosing hotels in pigeon forge tn a very realistic approach to his action as he had most of his cast undergo firearms training and the effect is polished, natural and professional fire-fights. I have to also say that this film has the most realistic sounds effects for gun fire I have ever heard, they are deafening and absolutely intimidating. Michael Mann again being a great advocate of a evening setting shown once again in Collateral ; it works perfectly in this film. it creates a sense of desolation and isolation and perfectly reflects the feelings of Max as he knows help is nowhere near.
The biggest source of entertainment from the film is the intimate sections of dialogue hotels in pigeon forge tn between Vincent and Max in the taxi. These scenes of top quality hotels in pigeon forge tn dialogue go in many different directions and explore so many different, interesting topics. Such as what is the individual hotels in pigeon forge tn s significance? the delusions we humans build to protect ourselves and humanity s treatment of each other. To put it simply the dialogue in this film is a treat and serves to add many layers to the film so it isn t just an ordinary crime film. My one gripe about this film would be it s ending, I feel the substantial tension accumulated prior to the ending hotels in pigeon forge tn is wasted and that the ending itself is flat compared to the rest of the film. I wish to mention the peculiar cameo from Jason Statham, I was incredibly surprised to see him, as he says just one line and leaves. I kept expecting him to pop up later on in the film, apparently it is a nod to his character in The Transporter .
Collateral is definitely a film that double-taps the bulls-eye dead center. hotels in pigeon forge tn It is a must see for fans of crime or of Michael Mann. Collateral is compelling and entertaining, with a well-crafted script and two very strong lead performances.
I have to agree with you here, Chris. Collateral is a fantastic film and Cruise is superb in it. I still think Magnolia is his best performance, though. Almost everything about this really worked for me but like you mention, the ending with a big letdown. It sort of petered out rather than end with a bang.
Good review Chris. The whole movie was so freakin tense, and the performances added to that feel as well. Especially Cruise who felt like he really gave the chance of being a heavy, worth every bit of his talent and it worked.