Michael Mann understands the good versus evil paradigm, a skill that has served him well for many decades. His latest film Collateral, pits goods against evil in the most benign of places, a LA taxi cab.

Jamie Foxx plays an ordinary man catapulted into an extraordinary dilemma: for the next 2 hours his only fare is on a mission to kill 5 people before catching a flight out of LAX. As an added twist, Tom Cruise is the villain, a job description that suits Cruise. He approaches the role with such skill it’s hard to believe he spent 20 years playing good guys.

What works about this film:

1) Concept – it’s a fresh backdrop.

2) Acting – Cruise delivers a skilled performance.

3) Cinematography – not since To Live and Die in LA has a filmmaker portrayed the city in such a glossy and gritty light.

But there’s a few caveats with Collateral too…

1) Jamie Foxx is miscast here. He’s a comic who has yet to master the dramedy.

2) Plot – there’s a few holes in the story plot wise.

3) Pacing – some of the narrative could’ve have been streamlined.

Verdict: Matinee or DVD it.