In Contention's Top 10 Tom Cruise Performances

A salute to the actor on his 50th birthday

By Kristopher Tapley Tuesday, Jul 3, 2012 2:04 PM

6. "Collateral" (2004)
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6. "Collateral" (2004)

The role: Hitman Vincent

Nominated for: Saturn Award (Best Actor), Empire Award (Best Actor), MTV Movie Award (Best Villain), Teen Choice Award (Choice Movie Actor: Drama, Choice Movie Bad Guy)

Won: nothing

Thoughts: Cruise took on the role of a villain in Michael Mann's 2004 neo-noir "Collateral." Opposite eventual Oscar nominee Jamie Foxx (and offering up much better work than his co-star and curiously under-praised for the most part), Cruise was enveloped by the role. The physicality was a new breed for him, calculated, cold. The chill in his eyes and disposition reflected the true dark heart of the character, but flashes of humanity made it a dynamic performance.

Photo Credit: DreamWorks SKG