Collateral

Collateral (2004)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, and Mark Ruffalo
Directed by: Michael Mann
Nominated for Academy Award: Jamie Foxx - Best Supporting Actor
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Grade: B

This was a good movie overall. The only thing I didn't like was seeing Tom Cruise as a bad guy. (Hello, Maverick? He can't be a bad guy!) This movie is about LA cab driver Max Durocher (Foxx), who is dedicated to his job. So dedicated, that he keeps his cab in perfect shape. After giving a ride to a pretty US Attorney (Jada Pinkett Smith), he picks up a mysterious man named Vincent (Cruise), who tells him he'll pay him hundreds of dollars to drive him around to different meetings through the night. At their first stop, a body falls onto the cab, understandably freaking Max out. Things go from bad to worse when he realizes that Vincent killed him and his "meetings" are other killings he's been hired to complete. While the two speed through the streets of LA, with Vincent trying to complete his job and Max trying to stay alive, a tough detective named Fanning (Ruffalo) is on their trail. The FBI thinks that Max is in on it but Fanning isn't so sure. Fanning has to try to find Max before either the FBI or Vincent kills him in order to prove his innocence. Great performance from Tom Cruise, as usual. Jamie Foxx is also great. Mark Ruffalo is almost unrecognizable in this role; I only recognized him because of his voice. Great cast, and good movie.