Written by: Jules Dowling
Cinema has always been bursting with new material, but in the age of streaming platforms and fast, innovative technology, there are an insane amount of films being released and consumed. So, it can be understood how hard it has become to weed through all the new films and old films you haven’t seen to find the worth-a-watch ones.
To help you out, I know an impressive, exciting film that is perfect for movie night–– and is a film that should not be forgotten, but gets lost in all the chaos. That film is: Collateral (2004), starring Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise.
Image from The New York Times
Me, being a big Jamie Foxx fan, this is one of his “sneaky-good” films, as I like to call them, because people don’t often refer back to this film when trying to credit how great of an actor he is. Of course, he has a multitude of fantastic films under his belt so, even picking 10 great films from his filmography is limiting. However, his acting and involvement in Collateral (2004) just does not get enough love in my opinion!
The film follows a taxi driver, Max (Jamie Foxx), who is forced into being the personal chauffeur for Vincent (Tom Cruise), a soulless hitman who needs to carry out a series of hits in one night in Los Angeles. Chaos ensues through Vincent’s ruthless murders and Max’s defiance when he tries to challenge Vincent throughout the movie, and tries to get in touch with his humanity.
Image from The Ringer
The backdrop of the city nightlife and mystery of Los Angeles compliments the plot of the film, in which we meet a few side characters that fit the scene including a shady old-school trumpet player that escaped the “inside” business, a lawyer in a the midst of an on-going and famous trial, and the blunt, charismatic mother of Max.
It’s quite the action film that keeps you waiting for more despite most of the film taking place inside of a taxi; the setting seems limited, yet it is so expansive at the same time with all the characters of Los Angeles making their small, and all the while impactful, appearances. Meanwhile, Max and Vincent make a surprisingly good duo despite their conflicting morals, bringing out the audience’s support for not just Max, but Vincent as well.
In a world of thousands of lost cinema, don’t let Collateral get lost in the void; make some popcorn, flop onto the couch, and enjoy this great example of what film is all about.
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