Collateral (2004)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 2004
	Director: Michael Mann (Heat, Miami Vice)
	Actors: Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible 1-5), Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained, White House Down), Jada Pinkett Smith (Matrix Reloaded), Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers)
	Country: USA
	Genre: Thriller, Polar
	Conditions of visioning: 17.10.2017, VOD, 10" tablet screen
Synopsis: After a ride back from the Airport, cab driver Max (Foxx) takes as customer a man  (Cruise) offering to buy his services for the whole night. He is planning on going to five locations but after the first one the cab driver discovers what his client is really into.
Review: Directed by a Master of suspenseful Polars Michael Mann, Collateral was one of the very first movies to rely heavily on the use of a digital Cinema Camera, all the more challenging for a movie shot exclusively at night, as the light sensitivity of digital cameras was not very good at the time of shooting back in 2003. When I first watched the movie on a home cinema in a dark room the noise of the camera was quite obvious and even disturbing in some scenes, but this time in the compressed VOD format and a much smaller screen I didn't notice it. Beyond this technical particularity, the movie is noticeable for its original story and the bond unavoidably created between the two main characters, than must be played by excellent actors as we follow them closely (unity of action) during the whole night (unity of time) throughout the city of LA (unity of place). Simple classic rules of written Drama well adapted to Cinema and that help the audience staying glued to the action. Tom Cruise's character is not a good person, but as in most of the roles for the mega-star, he is perfect in what he does. The contrast with the simple taxi driver (Foxx) is also a great pleasure to watch. Long rich dialogs also let us time to appreciate the supporting roles of Jada Pinkett Smith after she was in The Matrix and Mark Ruffalo before he was The Hulk. Action, Thriller, Polar, a bit of Romance, jazz, car chases, investigation... Collateral has it all. Quite recommended.
Rating: 7 /10