DVD: Collateral

Cruise control

Being a couple of blagging journos, my wife and I are currently testing out the new postal DVD rental services. In English, this means a new DVD turns up at our door every time we send back one we've already viewed.

The biggest laugh came recently when I got an email from the missus to say that Collateral had just popped through the letterbox. "We are now the proud temporary owners of Collateral. The label is a perfect illustration of the fickleness of showbiz. 'Film: Collateral; Starring: Jamie Foxx.' Er, isn't some bloke called Tom Cruise supposed to be in it too?"

This was a little bit scary, as that morning I'd been discussing Collateral with some of my fellow employees. The belief seems to be that Cruise has complete control over his images - right down to the poster and DVD cover. That's why his face covers the entire DVD box and Jamie Foxx isn't anywhere to be seen. So my response was "We're just laughing about Tom Cruise. His face is all over the cover of the DVD, maybe they feel he doesn't deserve to be mentioned inside."

Within minutes I got a reply: "Could this be the final proof that Cruise has jumped the shark? When do you think he jumped? Penelope Cruz? Getting Hollywood braces on his teeth?"

I didn't think Cruise had jumped the shark yet. But as I said to Jane, you'll know it's all going Pete Tong when Top Gun 2 comes out:
Plot: Goose is back from the dead, resurrected by evil Russian scientists bent on destroying America. Only Maverick can stop him, but first he has to put the team of Iceman, Merlin and Slider back together. There's just one problem, can he convince uber-Liberal Tim Robbins to reprise his role in such a war-mongering film?

Quick as a flash Jane came up with a title for this new abomination:
"Top Gun 2: Fahrenheit F1-11. Maybe Tim's influence will change everything. This could be the post-Michael Moore sequel where the pilots rise up in mutiny against the
evil dictator Bush."

If only.

PS. On a serious note, having watched the movie I can't understand how Jamie Foxx was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor when he's in every scene! He's the lead and Cruise is supporting him.

Buy Collateral on DVD at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com