A Michael Mann film is usually always a treat. COLLATERAL is not a let down. It works both as an actioner and as a character study.
Max (Jamie Foxx, RAY) is a cab driver in L.A. He picks up Vincent (Tom Cruise, MAGNOLIA), who offers him $600 dollars for the whole night if he drives him to five locations. After the first appointment ends in a man falling onto the roof of Max’s cab, the film kicks into high gear.
The film deftly balances between action sequences and character building moments. Max has been a cabbie for 12 years as he nitpicks over the details of setting up his own limo service. He’s a neat freak, meticulous and doesn’t take risks too often. Vincent couldn’t be anymore different. He’s a great risk taker and has philosophically come to terms with his occupation as a hired killer. The world doesn’t care about him, so he doesn’t care about the world.
I was very impressed with the flow and building tension that the story develops. Each new conflict adds one more layer to the story. Outside some questionable logic from some feds and a major coincidence at the end, the film is very believable and allows the characters to drive the action. Any problems the film has are easily forgiven, because the two main characters are so rich.
Another two important characters to mention are district attorney Annie (Jada Pinkett Smith, THE MATRIX RELOADED) and L.A. undercover cop Fanning (Mark Ruffalo, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME). Max picks up Anne in his cab and has a very sweet and touching conversation with her. Fanning is brought into the mix when he discovers the first crime scene. These characters also help drive the story through their actions, not by the manipulations of the plot. This is not as brilliant as Mann’s HEAT, but it's probably the best straight thriller you’ll see all year.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
