Collateral

Vincent (Cruise) is a contract killer as cool and sleek as his gray-haired, gray-suited appearance suggests. He's got a busy schedule to keep in nighttime L.A.--five hits and out on the 6 A.M. flight. Fortunately, he's got the perfect cabbie, 12-year veteran Max (Foxx), who can get anywhere in the least possible time. Naturally, there's time to talk, and as Vincent shares his advice on how to adapt and improvise, Max gets some ideas on how he's going to survive. It's basically a two-handed drama and both actors give nuanced performances; Mann is also at the top of his game. Also notable is the high-def digital video of cinematographers Beebe and Cameron that makes the city another character in the drama.