The Director's Series: Michael Mann, No. 5


Throughout 2025 I'm turning my focus to Directors. They help craft the vision on screen that makes a movie work. This year I'm looking at five favorite films from 18 directors I admire and 10 films directed by different women that I have enjoyed. Join me Fridays and Saturdays throughout 2025 as we take this journey.

Collateral (2004)
Starring: Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx
Director: Michael Mann
About: Mann has had a long and dedicated career. He's given us some great films over the years and narrowing it down to five was sometimes agonizing. This first entry is part of what has made him great over the years, the way he captures Los Angeles. On its surface, this is a simple story. A hit man (Cruise) hires a cab driver (Foxx) to take him around the city over night as he completes his work. Chaos ensues. All that works beautifully, with some great performances from Foxx and Cruise. I also enjoyed Mark Ruffalo and Jada Pinkett Smith in some cameos. But what helps stick out is the way the film is shot and moves through Los Angeles. It brings the city to life in a unique way, making it almost a character in the film. That's part of what I really love about what Mann brings to this story. It's one of his best and one heck of a ride.

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