Watch Collateral

Collateral is a 2004 American thriller film directed by Michael Mann and starring Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, and Jada Pinkett Smith. The film depicts a chance encounter between a taxi driver named Max (Foxx) and a hitman named Vincent (Cruise) who forces Max to become his chauffeur and drive him around Los Angeles, executing five different targets over the course of one night.

Max, a reserved and modest taxi driver, spends his nights driving around the streets of Los Angeles, picking up and dropping off passengers. His life takes a sudden turn when he picks up Vincent, a well-dressed man who offers Max $600 to drive him to five different destinations throughout the city. Max, who is in need of money, accepts the offer.

Soon, Max realizes that Vincent is not an ordinary passenger, but a professional hitman. Vincent's plan is to carry out five hits throughout the city in one night while evading the police. Max becomes an unwilling accomplice in Vincent's scheme, unable to escape his grasp.

As they navigate the dark streets of Los Angeles, Max and Vincent exchange conflicting worldviews. Max wants to do the right thing and protect his passengers, while Vincent has no remorse for his actions and sees them as necessary evils to achieve his goal.

Throughout the film, the audience is taken on a thrilling ride as Max and Vincent stop at each hit, with Vincent going in to execute his targets and Max waiting in the car. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles, including a nightclub where Max meets Vincent's potential victim, a hit that goes awry, and a police chase that forces Max to drive dangerously to evade the cops.

The film's tension is expertly crafted by Mann, with each hit becoming more intense than the last. Cruise's portrayal of Vincent is chilling, as he exudes a calm confidence and a willingness to kill without hesitation. Foxx's performance as Max is equally notable, as he evolves from a passive taxi driver to a hero willing to risk his life to save others.

In addition to the thrilling action sequences, Collateral also provides a commentary on the city of Los Angeles and the fleeting nature of human relationships. Max encounters people from all walks of life in his cab, from a jazz musician to a lawyer to a prosecutor, all of whom have their own stories and struggles. Vincent, in contrast, sees everyone as a means to an end, ultimately revealing the emptiness of his own existence.

The chemistry between Cruise and Foxx is electric, with the two actors playing off each other brilliantly. They manage to convey the complexity of their characters' relationship, from mistrust to respect, as Vincent begins to see Max as more than just a tool to accomplish his objectives.

Overall, Collateral is a masterful thriller that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The film's expert pacing, nuanced performances, and commentary on modern society make it a must-see for fans of the genre.

Collateral is a 2004 drama with a runtime of 2 hours. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 71.