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Created Aug 24, 2008 12:52PM PST • Edited Mar 04, 2013 10:13PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   Well mounted, taut thriller with Tom Cruise as the anti-hero and a low key Jamie Foxx as his reluctant accomplice. This sleek movie, directed by the always stylish Michael Mann, never got the attention it deserved. I’d even forgotten about it until BrianSez’s review reminded me what a terrific time I’d had watching it.

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

   We don’t often see Cruise as the villain, though his sharp charm works devilishly well on the dark side. Foxx, so often flamboyant in his roles, here plays mellow to great effect. Seeing these two great stars in new lights makes the movie more interesting that perhaps the source material deserves.

   Jada Pinkett Smith proves more than just Will’s wife, delivering a solid supporting performance as a committed and attractive prosecutor.

   Mark Ruffalo and Peter Berg – two big name players – lend weight to the obligatory roles of the detectives hunting down killer Cruise.

5. Male Stars Really Great 4.5

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Great 4.0

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Great 4.0

    Michael Mann productions are always worth seeing. Come to think of it, Collateral feels like his original 1980s Miami Vice, a cool examination of drug-monied bad guys.

11. Direction Really Great 4.5

12. Play Really Great 4.5

13. Music Very Good 3.5

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.8

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Brutal 2.7

19. Rudeness Salty 1.7

21. Reality

    Glib 1.3

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.9

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0