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While fans greatly appreciate Tom Cruise’s performance and stunts in theMission: ImpossibleandTop Gunfranchises, 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’sCollateralvillain even feels like a character right out of a Tarantino film.
Tom Cruise’s Role InCollateralIs Proof Enough That He Needs To Be Cast In Quentin Tarantino’s Final Film
The villain role of Vincent in Michael Mann’sCollateralwas initially meant for Russell Crowe. However, when theGladiatoractor passed on the role,Tom Cruisetook on one of the rare villain roles in his entire career. Speaking toDeadline, Mann shared that the role was a kind of a turn-on for a man of adventure like Cruise.
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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 withDeadline:
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 withJohn 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.
TheTop Gunactor’s performance perfectly fits the bill for aQuentin Tarantinomovie. Tarantino’s announcedtenth and final film,The Movie Critic, fell apartearlier 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 inOnce 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 inCollateral.
Michael Mann Also Opened Up About Tom Cruise’s Extreme Method Acting ForCollateral
Michael Mannshared with Deadline that Cruise underwent intense training to transform into a hitman for the film. Hisunconventional preparation for the filmincluded 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.
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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 onRotten Tomatoes. The film grossed $220.2 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo).
Collateralis now available for streaming on Paramount+.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3019
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
