Collateral

StartFragment

Max is your typical kind of working-class guy with a dream of soon owning his own business. For now however, and the past twelve years, he drives a taxi in Los Angeles. He's a well-seasoned ace and probably the best cabbie, ever, but...he's hoping to get his limo business off the ground and running soon, and one fateful night, he finds himself confronted with a sort of 'piss or get off the pot' conundrum personified that goes by the name of Vincent.

After making his first stop of the night, Vincent is impressed with Max's logistic skills, and options him for a full nights rental. Five stops, then to the airport. That's all. Simple enough. Max says that's against regulations, but a short stack of hundreds offered by Vincent convinces Max to go along with it. It's not long after their bargain the seeds of regret begin to take root...

This is an amazing neo-noir/assassin flick that a fan of both noir and assassin movies can't NOT enjoy; it's gritty, and not remotely over-produced/polished Hollywood big-budget type of filmmaking, and you never feel like you're watching a highly-orchestrated production of visual art recorded by a camera. It feels real in a way most films can't humble themselves to attempt, and it is one of many reason I loved Collateral.

Another would be the music. Ranging from one of my favorite pieces of classical music, Bach's Air, to more of a raw-heavy rock pulse interlaced with techno cameos, the soundtrack direction kept me on my toes, and lends quite a bit to the suspense and insane tension of this movie. There were more than a few scenes I was in 'edge of my seat' mode yet drawn back with anticipation. I wasn't bored for a second of this movie.

The performances of Cruise and Foxx- easily some of their best work. Cruise's Vincent is wonderfully constructed of focus and detachment which counters Foxx's Max and the 'go with the flow for now, until...' reticence beautifully. The dialogue is a wonderfully executed sparring of two very different people, and it's engaging as hell. There is one scene in particular that Foxx flourishes as an actor that made for what I can say was possibly my favorite scene in the movie. And trust me- you'll know it when you see it.

This is one of those rare gems where the protagonist and antagonist learn, and adapt within their relationship, despite divides between morals and duty, and there is never a scene that I wasn't 100% sucked into and couldn't look away from, and you most certainly should check this movie out if you're into neo-noir/assassin/hitman type of movies.

I enjoyed every second of it.

EndFragment