Collateral
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OK, this movie was not what I expected. I was looking for an edgy drama with some great snappy dialog, a little action, and, to be honest, some crazy plot twists. Is that too much to ask?
I guess so. Foxx and Cruise were totally unconvincing in this film which, due to its cookie-cutter plot (especially towards the end), relied on the actors to carry it. I think Jamie Foxx is a lot more talented than he’s given credit for (and hopefully the upcoming Ray will prove me right), and I was excited to see what he would do in this role. Unfortunately, he was wooden and unconvincing. His character was supposed to be frightened, I guess, but Foxx’s portrayal of a frightened cab driver was amateur at best.
To make matters worse, Cruise was stone-faced and boring. I guess he was trying to be "hardcore" or something, but it came off lame. Certainly not one of his best. (For examples of his best, see Top Gun, Jerry Maguire, or Rain Man).
I am still unclear what the title of the film has to do with it. Cruise didn’t seem to be taking Foxx as collateral or anything, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. I’m thinking that this alternate definition of collateral (see above) might explain it a little better, but I’d love to hear from anyone who can explain the title to me more clearly.
Finally, the plot of this film was ludicrous and, as I said before, cookie-cutter. The mob presence behind Cruise was not made explicit, and didn’t come across as dangerous, even when Foxx encountered them. Also, when the FBI discovers the plot, why don’t they seek out Pinkett Smith’s character like they do the chinese dude? The answer of course, is so that Foxx, the hero, can single-handedly save the damsel in distress from the evil villain. And, of course, he does so on a train. I am so sick and tired of cruft like this! Just take my advice and stay away from this one until it comes out on DVD, and even then, don’t pay more than a buck to rent it.
My totally biased and wholly useless star-rating:
Collateral at IMDB
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