While fans greatly appreciate Tom Cruise’s performance and stunts in the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun franchises, his one role often goes underappreciated. Cruise turned into a cold-blooded hitman in Michael Mann’s 2004 thriller film, Collateral. Mann was impressed with how Cruise perfectly fit the sociopathy of the film’s villain Vincent.
Mann also revealed the Method acting of the actor. The director’s words about Cruise make him a perfect candidate for Quentin Tarantino’s final film. Tarantino’s films usually feature such unhinged characters, who show traits of borderline psychopathy. Cruise’s Collateral villain even feels like a character right out of a Tarantino film.
Tom Cruise’s Role In Collateral Is Proof Enough That He Needs To Be Cast In Quentin Tarantino’s Final Film
The villain role of Vincent in Michael Mann’s Collateral was initially meant for Russell Crowe. However, when the Gladiator actor passed on the role, Tom Cruise took on one of the rare villain roles in his entire career. Speaking to Deadline, Mann shared that the role was a kind of a turn-on for a man of adventure like Cruise.
He shared that it was a real adventure for Cruise to explore a character who was totally alien to him. Mann described Vincent as a “solipsistic sociopath” who is “methodical and good” in what he does. He shared that the villain had a rare sociopathy with his “cosmic indifference” and “outrageous statements.”
Mann further shared one of the scenes in the film, in which he pointed out the exceptional dialogue delivery of the actor. Mann shared with Deadline:
Or answering Jamie’s accusation of ‘you killed him’ with, ‘I didn’t kill him. The bullets killed him and then he fell out the window.’ The flat irony of Tom’s delivery on those lines is so perfect. It was a very different character for him, and I knew Tom would throw himself into whatever I needed to take him through to become that assassin.
Cruise just didn’t immerse in the psyche of the character. When the interviewer compared the action sequence in the shootout scene in the nightclub with John Wick‘s scenes, Mann pointed out a major difference. He shared that Cruise had undergone training in real techniques of close-quarter combat with British SAS trainer Mick Gould.
The Top Gun actor’s performance perfectly fits the bill for a Quentin Tarantino movie. Tarantino’s announced tenth and final film, The Movie Critic, fell apart earlier in April. Interestingly, Cruise was rumored to have a role in the film (via THR). He was also earlier eyed for Brad Pitt’s role in Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood.
Whether these rumors were true or not, Cruise now has the chance to take the lead in Tarantino’s final film. From Samuel L. Jackson’s Jules Winnfield to Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth, all of Tarantino’s protagonists exhibited a sociopathic side. Cruise will do exceptionally well in portraying such a protagonist, considering his performance in Collateral.
Michael Mann Also Opened Up About Tom Cruise’s Extreme Method Acting For Collateral
Michael Mann shared with Deadline that Cruise underwent intense training to transform into a hitman for the film. His unconventional preparation for the film included him posing as a FedEx delivery man. Cruise’s task was not to get recognized by the people in the liquor store where he was sent.
He was initially skeptical about the task as he was sure that people would recognize him. However, he successfully executed the task as Mann shared that no one recognized him due to the FedEx sign on his shirt and hat. He even managed to have conversations with a couple of people in the liquor store. Mann shared:
I wanted him to feel what it would be like to blend in, to mix with people and have conversations. He went to Central Market and trained to be a FedEx delivery guy. He said to me, ‘They’re gonna know it’s me.’ I said, ‘No, they’ll see the sign that says FedEx, and you’ll wear sunglasses and a cap and carry that portable computer that drivers used to have when they made deliveries.’ Tom went in and delivered something to a liquor stand and sat down and struck up a conversation with a couple people and insinuated himself into the lives of others.
Mann appreciated the level of psychological training he underwent for the role. For Mann, working with Cruise was a dream because of his sheer dedication to jump into this adventure. The film went on to receive critical acclaim and a strong 86% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film grossed $220.2 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo).
Collateral is now available for streaming on Paramount+.
