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| Collateral (film) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Collateral |
| Caption | Theatrical release poster |
| Director | Michael Mann |
| Writer | Stuart Beattie |
| Music | James Newton Howard |
| Cinematography | Dion Beebe |
| Editing | Jim Miller |
| Distributor | DreamWorks Pictures |
| Released | August 6, 2004 |
| Runtime | 120 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $70 million |
| Gross | $217.8 million |
Collateral (film)
Collateral is a 2004 American action thriller film directed by Michael Mann and written by Stuart Beattie. The film stars Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx and unfolds over the course of a single night in Los Angeles, blending elements of crime drama, noir, and procedural thriller. Collateral was noted for its cinematography, score, and performances, and it contributed to ongoing discussions about urban space and transportation in contemporary cinema.
Taxi driver Max is an ambitious night-shift cabbie who aspires to buy his own taxi medallion; on a fateful evening he picks up Vincent, a suave contract killer. Vincent reveals his role as an assassin working for a mysterious employer and forces Max to chauffeur him to multiple hit locations across Los Angeles while executing a string of targeted killings. Along the way, they encounter an array of figures including a prosecutor, a nightclub singer, and a district attorney, catalyzing confrontations with police and an internal moral crisis for Max. The escalating cat-and-mouse culminates at a final rendezvous where Max must outwit Vincent to save himself and others, intersecting with themes of fate, professionalism, and redemption.
- Tom Cruise as Vincent, a hitman hired to eliminate several targets. - Jamie Foxx as Max, a Los Angeles cab driver dreaming of owning his own taxi medallion. - Jada Pinkett Smith as Annie, a nightclub singer and one of Vincent's targets. - Mark Ruffalo as Fanning, a dedicated LAPD detective involved in the investigation. - Peter Berg as Detective Ray, a partner in the homicide unit. - Barry Shabaka Henley as Daniel, a fellow cab driver and friend to Max. - Lukas Haas as Felix Reyes, a prosecuting attorney and one of Vincent's targets. - Irma P. Hall as Mrs. Rodriguez, Max's landlady. - John F. O'Donohue as unknown supporting officers and personnel.
Michael Mann developed the project after work on Heat and sought a tightly wound nighttime thriller set in Los Angeles. The screenplay originated with Stuart Beattie, whose draft attracted Mann for its urban specificity and single-night structure. Mann assembled a crew including cinematographer Dion Beebe, who employed high-speed digital cameras and night-for-night shooting to capture Los Angeles's nocturnal textures, and composer James Newton Howard to craft an atmospheric score. Principal photography took place on location across Los Angeles County and involved coordination with the Los Angeles Police Department for several street sequences. Casting paired Tom Cruise, a major box-office star, with Jamie Foxx, whose performance marked a dramatic turn and later critical recognition. Production choices—use of anamorphic lenses, practical stunts, and real locations such as downtown corridors, freeways, and clubs—shaped the film's kinetic realism.
Distributed by DreamWorks Pictures, the film premiered in August 2004 and expanded across North American and international markets. Collateral grossed approximately $101 million domestically and $116.8 million internationally, for a worldwide total near $217.8 million against a production budget reported at $70 million. Marketing emphasized the cat-and-mouse premise and the star pairing of Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, resulting in strong opening-weekend returns and sustained box office through positive word-of-mouth. The film was released on home media formats including DVD and later Blu-ray, with special features highlighting behind-the-scenes work by Michael Mann and the cinematography team.
Critical response praised the film's visuals, pacing, and performances, particularly noting Jamie Foxx's portrayal and Tom Cruise's restrained antagonism; reviews appeared in outlets aligned with Variety, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Critics lauded Dion Beebe's night cinematography and James Newton Howard's score, while some commentators critiqued narrative contrivances in the middle act. The film's depiction of Los Angeles as a nocturnal character influenced subsequent urban thrillers and policing narratives, and it generated discussion in film studies circles around authorship and the cityscape, referenced alongside works by Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, and David Fincher. Collateral elevated Jamie Foxx's profile and contributed to Tom Cruise's diverse filmography; it remains a frequently cited entry in lists of notable 2000s thrillers and studies of night-time cinematography.
Collateral received multiple nominations and awards, most notably earning Jamie Foxx a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and recognition from critics' circles. The film also garnered accolades for Dion Beebe's cinematography from organizations such as the BAFTA and various guilds. Additional nominations included technical categories for editing and score at national and international film awards, reflecting the industry's appreciation for Mann's visual and auditory approach.
Category:2004 films Category:American thriller films Category:Films directed by Michael Mann