Collateral (2004)
Collateral is a 2004 American neo-noir action thriller film directed and produced by Michael Mann from a script by Stuart Beattie and starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx. The supporting cast includes Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Berg, Javier Bardem, and Bruce McGill. The film follows Max Durocher, a Los Angeles cab driver, and his customer, Vincent. When offered a high fare for driving to several locations, Max agrees but soon finds himself taken hostage by Vincent who turns out to be a hitman on a contract killing spree.
Collateral was released in the United States on August 6, 2004, and grossed over $220 million worldwide. The film received critical acclaim in particular for the performances of Cruise and Foxx, Mann’s direction and the editing. Collateral was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2004. At the 77th Academy Awards, Foxx received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor; while film editors Jim Miller and Paul Rubell were nominated for Best Film Editing.
Plot
Max Durocher is a Los Angeles cab driver trying to earn enough to start his own limousine business. One of the evening’s fares is federal prosecutor Annie Farrell, who works for the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. They strike up a conversation and Annie gives Max her business card. Max’s next fare is Vincent, who tells Max that he is in Los Angeles for one night to complete a real estate deal, and Max agrees to drive him to several locations. As Max waits at the first stop, a corpse falls onto his car. Vincent reveals himself to be a hitman.
He forces Max to hide the body in the trunk and continue driving. LAPD detective Ray Fanning arrives at where Vincent made the kill and reveals the victim was a police informant.
At the second stop, Vincent restrains Max’s hands to the steering wheel, and a group of young men rob him and seize Vincent’s briefcase. Vincent shoots them both dead and retrieves the briefcase. Fanning arrives at the hospital morgue to see the bodies of criminal lawyer Sylvester Clark, Vincent’s second target, and two dead robbers, and realizes that this is the work of a hitman.
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