COLLATERAL

Director: Michael Mann

Vincent: Tom Cruise
Max: Jamie Foxx

I am always fascinated by hit man movies. Such an occupation, in my mind, requires someone with an outlook and perspective on life far from social norms. Vincent displays most of the characteristics of other movie hit men (Leon from "The Professional", Travis Bickle from "Taxi Driver", Creasy from "Man On Fire", even Ghost Dog) such as the lone wolf mentality, brevity of speech, and lack of hesitation to take a life. What differs are their respective viewpoints, specifically in reference to how each feels about what he does for a living. Vincent surprised me with an evaluation of human life that I had never before encountered. He tells a certain story twice during the movie about a man who dies on a subway car in L.A. yet goes unnoticed for 6 hours. Vincent devalues life by looking at the world from the cosmos, and he uses our insignificance in the universe as his "killer's crutch."

As much as I could overanalyze this movie, I feel like it wouldn't be in its true spirit. It's a Hollywood action/suspense flick at the core, and I want to respect that because I wasn't sucked in by the themes and ideas of the movie alone. The action was on par for a film of this scale: gun fights, car chases, people falling out of windows, etc. The acting of both Cruise and Foxx was well calculated and executed. I was especially impressed with the music composition and how well it emphasized the mood of each scene.

Positives:
=- Vincent's unnerving determination, as shown in the scene at the Jazz club: He plugs the guy in the head, and you get the feeling he would have done that whether the guy had gotten the answer right or not.
=- The night club scene: I like gun fights with more emphasis on how fuckin' loud bullets actually are. This scene did well by keeping the music in the background instead of combining it with the gunshots.
=- Max shooting a gun: Michael Mann could have easily had Max suddenly become a pro at using a firearm, but he goes the extra distance to calm our disbeliefs by having Max fuck up with the gun first and then finally get the hang of it.
=- The last few minutes: Suspenseful. 'Nuff said.

Negatives:
=- Max assaults a police officer and steals his gun: I went with it since the rest of the movie was taking care of itself, but that part of was a stretch.

Upshot: Collateral picks up speed quickly and doesn't slow down. Definite recommend on this one.

Grade: 88%

Page: Home | 1 | 2 | 3