In 1995 Michael Mann directed Heat, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Val Kilmer. It is one of my favorite crime genre films. So, I had great expectations for Collateral, and I was not disappointed.

The script by Australian screenwriter, Stuart Beattie, is taken to tour de force levels by Tom Cruise as Vincent, the ruthless hired killer who takes over the taxi cab and life of Max, played with amazing effectiveness by Jamie Foxx.

What lifts this movie to great heights is the corrupted existential slant of Vincent working against Max's dreams for a better life. While Max carefully plots his future, while driving a taxi for twelve years, Vincent cuts through any obstacle like a blood-thirsty shark. The contrast is fascinating. As Max is dragged deeper into Vincent's murderous reality his survival is hanging by a thread, and he comes to wonder what makes a person like Vincent. And we wonder the same thing.

In many ways this film reminds me of Heat, but Heat is more intricately woven, and in the end a better film. Having said that, Collateral is certainly one of the best films I've seen this year.