Tom Cruise Netflix Thriller Changes The Genre Forever
The phrase “Tom Cruise movie” has certain connotations. When you hear it, you’re likely thinking of things like the Mission: Impossible films which feature him as the hero saving the day through a series of death-defying stunts. On one memorable occasion, though, this legendary actor starred as a charismatic yet creepy villain, and the world of high-octane thrillers was never the same. We’re talking about the Michael Mann classic Collateral, and if you want to see Tom Cruise as you’ve never seen him before, you can now stream this film on Netflix.
A Hitman Thriller Unlike Any Other
Collateral is a movie that revolves around two characters: the affable taxi driver who dreams of starting his own limousine business and the psychopathic hitman who needs a ride. The two are soon locked into a bizarre evening that careens from murder to intrigue and back again, with each gleaning major insight into what makes the other tick. This eventually leads to a cat-and-mouse game from which only one bloody victor will eventually emerge.
This Tom Cruise movie has a lot going for it, and it’s worth streaming this title on Netflix just to see this familiar silverscreen hero play a truly chilling villain. His cabbie-turned-victim is played by Jamie Foxx, and his sparking chemistry with Cruise forms the beating heart of this unpredictable thriller. Other major actors in Collateral include Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Javier Bardem, and Jason Statham.
In addition to all the talent onscreen, there is also a titanic talent behind the camera who breathes life into this neo-noir nightmare. It’s helmed by Michael Mann, the visionary director behind the Miami Vice show and film as well as other classic movies like Heat and Ali. He’s something of an acquired taste, but Mann’s hallmark is creating moody and stylish vibes, and once you check out this overlooked Tom Cruise classic on Netflix, you’ll instantly understand Mann’s whole deal (and likely start binge-watching his other modern masterpieces).
The Response To Collateral
Speaking of modern masterpieces, Collateral soon won filmgoers over: against a budget of $65 million, this film earned a very healthy $220.2 million. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has a critical rating of 86 percent, with critics generally praising Mann’s instantly recognizable cinematography and Tom Cruise’s amazing heel turn as a villain (seriously, his performance alone is worth streaming this one on Netflix). Audiences were more or less right in line with the critics, and the Popcornmeter rating of this is 84 percent.
In addition to critical and commercial success, Collateral also took home some prestigious awards and was nominated for even more…it won a British Academy Film Award for Best Cinematography and an AFI Award for Top Ten Films. Additionally, Tom Cruise was nominated for Best Villain at the MTV Movie Awards and received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Actor (the movie also notably earned nominations for Best Director, Best Writer, and Best Action or Adventure Film). As for Jamie Foxx, his performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Will this Tom Cruise Netflix movie wow you as much as it did the critics, or will you decide that you’d rather summon an Uber than take a taxi ride with Collateral? You won’t know until you stream the film and experience the killer Cruise/Foxx dynamic for yourself. Fair warning, though: after you experience a Michael Mann thriller, you may find that no other directors can ever measure up to his confident filmmaking and effortlessly graceful style.
Collateral is streaming on Netflix.
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