The film is over so I suppose I can breathe once more. Michael Mann has delivered a film that is so suspenseful and gripping that you’ll be picking yourself up from the floor upon it’s close. A stylish film with everything going for it. An intriguing storyline that excels at its telling, becoming much more then it ever looked as though it could. Being as much a thriller as it is a character study. Relationships are formed that will stay etched in your mind. It would’ve been very easy for this film to have played out as it looked it would. Vincent would be the antagonist of sorts and Max would be the righteous soul trying desperately to stop him. It’s not that simple however in this movie and that’s what makes it true to life. For the characters aren’t one dimensional. In fact the film almost plays out as a revealing of Vincent’s true nature. We know that he’s a killer but it’s not until the end of the film that we gain better insight into who he is as a person. Abused as a young child, his ideals and ability to kill other individuals while lacking remorse can be linked to a number of reasons. His whole perspective revolves around life being insignificant, even his own. Human beings are a speck among the universe. Max himself is a nobody. He lies to his mother, telling her that he owns his limo service. He lies to Annie, telling her his taxi driving is only part time. The only individual who can extract the real truth from him is Vincent, who is privileged with the information that Max has actually been driving a cab for 12 years. In this way the two men form an unacknowledged bond. It’s very fascinating to watch. It could be because of the situation but it’s more likely that Max genuinely finds Vincent’s free spirited nature and casual abandonment interesting at times, even refreshing. And it’s no secret that Vincent respects and genuinely likes Max. This relationship is at the very core of the film and separates it from the other generic thrillers that flood the genre.

None of this is convincing of course without two remarkable lead performances. As Max, Jamie Foxx shows a range that one probably didn’t think he had. For formerly he’s been a comedic actor. His portrayal of Max is entirely human, displaying the qualities of a terrified human being. Yet at the same time one who is courageous. His pathetic life is true of most people living in a city such as Los Angeles and his plight (not having his limo business) is entirely real. In her small role as Annie, Jada Pinkett Smith brings a warmth to the film. She’s entirely interesting to watch and wonderfully interacts with Max in the beginning of the film. However it’s hard to look at anyone else in this film for they are all overshadowed by Cruise. This is effectively his best performance that I’ve ever seen. Maybe it’s because of the brutality of the character but at the same time Vincent is a layered individual. It’s a stunning achievement in character creation. Of course Vincent is the villain but like many things in this film it doesn’t end there. There are many moments where he truly is likable and shows signs of a decent human being. He liberates Max in many ways, such as telling off his boss, or encouraging him to call Annie. Cruise can turn on the terror when he’s firing rounds into people with a coldness that sends chills down your spine, but he can also turn on the charm. Which is probably the reason Max picked Vincent up in the first place. As I mentioned before he generally likes Max, Vincent that is. And this is his character flaw in a way. Because if he were thinking clearly he would’ve recognized the fact that he should’ve killed him. However this flaw is what helps Cruise be believable. While he is a cold blooded killer, he is still human in some shell of humanities form. Evident when Foxx’s character Max stops the car to let two coyotes pass by. We can see the realization in Vincent’s eyes that Max stops even for animals to cross the road. Vincent kills people without a second thought. I took this encounter as being evident that Vincent realizes in a way the he has somehow lost his humanity. If Cruise isn’t nominated for an Oscar I’d be shocked. He’s that good and I’m not overrating his performance.

Michael Mann is one of the more offbeat directors I’ve ever seen and that comes through in this film. He’s neurotic at times, with so many fast edits and cutaways that it makes your head spin, but that’s his style. He did an excellent job with the film and the direction in the action sequences (particularly the club fever shootout) were unbelievably well done. These scenes were so fast that it added a new level of realism to the film, and kept you from gaining your senses completely. Allowing you to be horrified by the violence even more. The resolution of the film had me torn. Certainly the last fifteen minutes are some of the most suspenseful I’ve ever seen, and I’m not going to give away the end, but it’s hard to choose who you’d rather see walk away unscathed. On a moral standpoint it’s hard for Foxx to die for he is the protagonist. But how could one truly despise Cruise’s Vincent. After all he isn’t an entirely evil character. In this way you find yourself conflicted. I myself would’ve rather seen them both live to see the end in some sort of strange revelation that would strengthen their bond. However I suppose the ending is true to their relationship so I can’t entirely be upset by it. Although once you see the end you have to decide for yourself.

In the end, this is the best film of 2004 to this point. It’s a psycholligal thriller that goes above and beyond the genre. The action sequences are stunning, but not at the cost of seeming pointless. Everything in this movie seems to have had a point, right down to the most random of occurrences. Jamie Foxx really showed that he can be a leading man and it should be interesting to see his portrayal of Ray Charles. And of course what more can be said about Tom Cruise. His character Vincent is the reason I go to see films and the reason that Cruise himself is such a bankable actor. He’s an artist in command of his craft. And with Michael Mann behind the helm the film has a signature look to it that makes it distinguished from the rest of the pack. As I mentioned above this the best film I’ve seen this year.