Collateral - (Mann;2004;USA) - ***1/2
A taxi driver is used to drive a sociopath hitman around L.A. during a night that will forever change them both.
I began my Mann marathon a little early with my favorite. Tom Cruise gives a good performance as the chilling hitman, and although he shouldn't have won it, he should've been nominated for Best Supp. Actor, not Foxx, who was the main character. The blue-gray palette adds to the feeling of the film, as well as the great L.A. cinematography given great dimension with the digital photography. Mann's editing to the script are great, and add much more depth to the story. His direction is fantastic as always, with great music from Audioslave's "Shadow on the Son" and Antonio Pinto's "Requiem." A great action/drama that stands out, although it leans to mainstream in the office chase, but even that has a realistic touch from Mann. Foxx is also very good as the protagonist Max.
#1 (Note these are favorites, never best)