What would you do if you were held at gunpoint? Whether you are forced to complete a task at gunpoint,  being held hostage by someone, or even in any dangerous situation, what would you do? The choice is yours. The action-packed thriller, Collateral released in 2004 featuring Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise,  is a film where an average taxi driver gets involved with not your average customer. As the taxi driver is forced to drive around the city and provide transportation for a criminal hunter, he learns to overcome his lack of confidence and finds his escape from danger. This film demonstrates how confidence can be a key part of decision-making, and how it can change your life, whether it’s simple choices or dangerous ones. Collateral shows that regardless of the situation you are in, it’s best to take that leap of faith.

Collateral displays a man's miserable life and turns it around due to an interaction with a dangerous man. Max, who is played by Jamie Foxx, lives a lonely life as he’s taken on his taxi job for many years. He talks about being successful in a couple of years, but he has never actually done anything. For 12 years, he had been mastering his work as a taxi driver when one day changed his whole life. Vincent, who plays Tom Cruise, comes across Max and notices Max’s skills as a driver. Vincent takes advantage of Max and offers him money to drive him to multiple locations for the night when Max finds himself being held hostage and in what he names this stressful encounter, a collateral. Max had always had the thought of reaching paradise, but never actually committed to achieving that goal. Not only was Vincent a kind of vicious hunter who with every reason could have killed Max, but Vincent was also like a mentor to Max. All the pressure and action taught Max to take a leap of faith. He grew from waiting till a moment of opportunity occurs, to taking action while trusting the process. As Max attempts to save a fellow innocent customer, he ends the life of the criminal hunter, leaving as a new man.

Although both Max and Vincent were both amazing characters in the film, Max had the biggest change. Max was the miserable man who always talked about having this amazing limo company, going on vacation, and living an amazing life. This can relate to many people as those who think something may be too challenging, or you will eventually get where you want to be. Life is not like that, the only way to progress is to work up. Max needed to learn to never let fear get in the way of his dreams.

The message of the story taught not only the character Max but also myself to take that risk and to take that leap of faith. Knowing that never taking a step forward, or giving up will not lead anywhere in life. It’s better to try and fail than stay in the same position. Max knew Vincent was a dangerous man and took the chance to save a person he knew.

Collateral pushed the idea of action, thriller, and crime altogether. These three different genres created this intense feeling, like the feeling of being in danger anywhere you go. I give recommendations to those who are looking for an interesting thriller, to any young adult or even teenagers who might like this movie.