Review of Collateral (2004) by Terry D — 03 Oct 2014

Of all the movies with Tom Cruise that I have seen, this one is by far the one where he shines the most. And that's not a phrase I use lightly regarding that guy. I have always thought that he was pretty bland as an actor, since his acting range seems pretty limited.

Luckily though, he is not only very good in this movie, but he is also a complete badass! He truly sells it as if he is a smooth, cold-blooded serial killer. He is legitimately intimidating at times with his cold and calculative decisions.

But while Tom Cruise's performance is stellar and really adds a lot to this movie, there is luckily much more than that o enjoy as well. First off, it is an action-thriller. But unlike, say, the Fast and Furious films, this one also has substance. The character interactions are very clever and always seem to build up something relevant. There is a certain chemistry between Tom Cruise as well as Jamie Foxx, who is also very good in this movie. Despit some very well directed action scenes, it is the dialogue between the characters that really makes this movie so good. The movie starts out with some very great dialogue scenes that are complimented by a very fitting atmosphere.

The whole film in general seems very well directed, shot and paced. Some scenes, like the dance club shoot-out, have just about the right amount of suspense and build-up. And while all those scenes are undeniably great, the pay-off does not always feel as satisfying. That is not to say it is bad by any means, only that it COULD have been a bit better.

Overall, Collateral is a very good action-thriller, as well as a character study of two opposites learning a bit about themselves from watching the actions of their opposites. The substance is well complimented by a nice atmosphere and some well-shot and well-directed action scenes. Though not up on par with Heat, it is still a great movie from Michael Mann. 8/10.