raywest

24th Feb 2019

Collateral (2004)

Question: Annie's business card is attached to the visor of Max's cab - then somehow, it appears in his pocket when Max needs to warn her about being a target. How/when did it get there?

Answer: At some point, he took the card from the visor and put it in his pocket. Just because it's not shown on camera does not mean he didn't have the time or opportunity to do that.

raywest ★

5th Feb 2018

Collateral (2004)

Question: In the beginning of the movie, just prior to Vince's introduction to Max, what was Vincent doing in Annie's office building? He actually passes Annie (his 5th target) on the up/down escalators. Why not just kill her first?

Answer: He was likely scoping out the building and determining where specifically Annie worked. He couldn't just kill her in public with people around. He had a systematic plan on how and when each victim would be killed.

raywest ★

Answer: Plus it sets up the 5th victim surprise.

3rd Jun 2016

Collateral (2004)

Question: When Max is pulled over by the cops because of the broken windshield and blood on his taxi, they immediately demand for him to open the trunk, which has the dead victim inside, and then to impound the taxi. When they receive a distress call on the radio, they let Max and Vincent go, feeling that it is more serious. Would this happen in reality?

Answer: It's quite possible it could happen. Max had told them that he had hit a deer, which explained the blood and broken windshield. The police did not suspect a taxi driver with a passenger in the car of any wrongdoing. Their concern was regarding the safety of the vehicle. When they got the emergency call on their police radio that became a more urgent priority than a damaged car, and Max was then instructed to get his cab off the road as quickly as possible. It's unclear why the cops wanted the trunk opened, but it really seems this was only to add to the scene's overall suspense before it is quickly diffused. It's a rather cliched plot device.

raywest ★

Answer: The cop says they need to do an itinerary, no doubt for legal reasons in case the cab driver claimed that they had stolen something after it had been impounded.

12th Feb 2012

Collateral (2004)

Question: When Lenny calls the first time, Vincent looks at Annie's business card in the mirror and gives Max a look. Does this imply that Vincent knows that this is his last target? His conversation with Max about whether or not he should call Annie suggests otherwise, but I was curious.

Brad ★

Chosen answer: Vincent already knows that Annie is one of the targets on his "hit list." He was probably just surprised that Max had her business card.

raywest ★