"Collateral" (2004) Directed by Michael Mann

With a slightly different take on this overlooked classic in the cannon of Michael Mann, I’m going to appraise the first twenty minutes of this breath taking and sublime movie:

With no opening credits we are straight into the film and a casual collision between “Vincent” (Tom Cruise) and “Airport Man” (Jason Statham) whereby briefcases are exchanged. Quickly cut to our second main character “Max” (Jamie Foxx) awaiting repairs on his taxi. More quick cutting between Vincent and Max sets the scene for the film, of differing people, differing lives and differing motivations. Vincent is seemingly cool and in control, well dressed and appearing to be travelling to a business meeting, whereby Max is casually dressed and more pressed, pressured and wanting to go about his day and earn a living.

Foxx as Max dominates the opening fifteen minutes, often staring at his postcard of a Maldives beach and taking a few seconds before driving to his next pick up. With two dashboard cameras, one directly on the face of Max and one on Max and the back seat customer, you are immediately immersed in his world and of his reactions to his customers telephone conversations and observations. Picking up “Annie” (Jada Pinkett Smith), Max visibly softens and their interplay builds to a gentle teasing and flirting, backed by the brilliant “Hands of Time” by Groove Armada, and as Annie departs, Max hands her the postcard of the beach and receives her telephone number in exchange.

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The above opening paragraphs are taken from my original spoiler free review of "Collateral" penned and published over a decade ago, transferred to my Medium blog site on 14th January 2023 and which can now be read in full and for free via my Substack blog site and my original and updated article linked immediately below:

https://ramblingmusings666.substack.com/p/collateral-2004-796e3a00cace

This spoiler free review is also integral to volume 1 of my 7 volumes of "essential film reviews collection". Currently only available via e-book, each volume of exhaustive and numerous film reviews are priced at £4.99 however should you have an Amazon Kindle "Unlimited" package you can read each and every volume for free:

Volume 1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HHDL56

All 7 Volume Series

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C4HZSTTH?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tukn

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