For years now, Jamie Foxx has been trying to prove to all of us, the movie-going audience, that he can act ... and not just act a fool. Unlike fellow funny man and former In Living Color star, Jim Carrey (who's dramatic turns have been wildly uneven), Foxx has quietly amassed a list of consistent quality dramatic performances. The cocky Willie Beaman in Oliver Stone's football flick, Any Given Sunday; charismatic boxing coach Drew 'Bundini' Brown in Ali and earlier this year as gang member turned writer Stan 'Tookie' Williams in Redemption (on TNT), this boy can act. Ironically, Foxx's dramatic work holds up much better than his comedic work (Bait, Booty Call, Breakin' All the Rules). In Collateral, Foxx again has the opportunity to showcase his talents and he doesn't disappoint.

Max Durocher (Foxx) is a cab driver with big dreams and not much hope of achieving them. Preferring the night shift, Max's evening starts on a high note. He has a pleasant ride and equally pleasant conversation with prosecuting attorney Annie (Jada Pinkett Smith), who is preparing for a big case that begins in the morning. When Annie gives Max her number, the cabbie is so caught off-guard that he almost misses his next fare. Fortunately (or not), he catches the guy before he gets into another cab. Enter Vincent (Tom Cruise). Vincent convinces the knowledgeable cabbie to usher him around the city for the night. He needs to visit a few friends to 'close a real estate deal'. Vincent's plan to keep Max in the dark about his activities falls through when his first victim happens to fall through a window and onto Max's cab. Max becomes Vincent's unwilling hostage/accomplice. 

Not since Denzel's sinister turn in Training Day has bad been so good for an actor. Tom Cruise's Vincent is a savvy sociopath who considers five murders all in a night's work. His bold, matter-of-fact manner contrasts nicely with Max's nice guy demeanor. Most of the movie revolves around their interaction and with their chemistry, they manage to pull it off.  Peter Berg, Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardiem have small supporting roles, but the success of the movie falls squarely on the shoulders of Foxx and Cruise. If there was another starring role, it would belong to the city of Los Angeles itself. Michael Mann effectively captures the mood of the city that Vincent describes as "sprawling and disconnected." 

Mann knows how to turn up the heat and although the movie starts quietly, it effectively gains momentum. And like the city that plays such a vital role in it, the movie does take a few liberties here and there but hey, this is Hollywood. Mann's able direction is matched by Stuart Beattie's script. His dialogue is tight and crisp and he manages to make Vincent an almost likable guy. 

Still as great as Cruise is, the man to watch is Foxx, who learns more about himself in several hours trapped with a contract killer than he has in 12 years of cab driving. His growth, like this movie, is enjoyable to watch. Not content to make this a character study, the action picks up as the movie does with car crashes and one intense scene in an Asian nightclub.

Mann, Cruise, Foxx are all at the top of their game in Collateral and I highly recommend it.