Saw this new Michael Mann film earlier this evening, featuring Tom Cruise as a professional hitman who kidnaps Jamie Foxx’s taxi driver forcing him to help out on his night of hits.
The whole thing looks like it was shot on hi-definition video, and it lends an almost noir-ish feel to the film. There are lots of very tight close ups, and the use of video seems to open up the kinds of angles that are available to the cinematographers on the movie. This is true in much the same way as it was in the Danny Boyle film, Vacuuming Completely Nude in Paradise.
The end is a tiny bit disappointing, as Tom Cruise suddenly becomes a bit too much like a superhero. But you can’t really take it totally seriously despite the overall grit of the film – there are just too many scenes that don’t make a whole deal of sense, like the shootout in the nightclub (it’s a great scene nonetheless, superbly choreographed).
Music is massively important in this film and is well chosen. From the Miles Davis to Audioslave. Worth seeing.