Collateral - (Mann;2004;USA) - ***1/2
A relentless hitman uses a procrastinating taxi driver to drive him, while through the night, both are forever changed.
Mann always provides good visuals and dialogue that can take plots to a higher level. He and other's took the original script, and revised it into a very great movie. Many of the best stuff added by Mann. Tom Cruise is in his second best performance as the cold-blooded, but flawed killer, and Jamie Foxx in a very good performance as the cabbie who is going nowhere in life. Mann blends realistic action with drama that fails to be corny, along with good visuals and music to create the best thriller/action/drama of the year. It's flaw comes late in the film when it turns mainstream (office, not club). It ends on a good note in a poignant scene, but the few minutes that proceeded it damages it.
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