
02/16/2025
Collateral (2004) is a neo-noir action thriller directed by Michael Mann, starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx. The film takes place over a single night in Los Angeles and explores themes of fate, morality, and human connection.
Max (Jamie Foxx) is a hardworking but unambitious taxi driver who dreams of starting his own limousine business. One night, he picks up Vincent (Tom Cruise), a well-dressed and confident man who offers him $600 to be his personal driver for the night. Desperate for money, Max reluctantly agrees, unaware that Vincent is a contract killer on a mission to eliminate five key witnesses in an upcoming trial.
When a body falls onto his cab, Max realizes the truth and is forced to continue driving at gunpoint. As the night progresses, Max and Vincent engage in deep conversations about life, destiny, and morality. Vincent, a cold and pragmatic assassin, challenges Max’s passive approach to life, while Max begins to see the consequences of Vincent’s actions firsthand.
As they go from one hit to another, LAPD detective Fanning (Mark Ruffalo) starts piecing together the pattern of killings. Meanwhile, Max makes a desperate attempt to escape and stop Vincent, leading to a tense showdown on a Los Angeles Metro train. In the end, Max overcomes his fear and shoots Vincent, who dies quietly, accepting his fate.
With its stylish cinematography, gripping performances, and philosophical undertones, Collateral is more than just an action thriller. Cruise delivers a rare villainous performance, while Foxx’s transformation from timid driver to unlikely hero is compelling. Mann’s direction and use of Los Angeles’ nighttime landscape make Collateral a visually stunning and thought-provoking crime thriller.