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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
The phrase “Tom Cruise movie” has certain connotations. When you hear it, you probably think of things like The Mission: Impossible movies that feature him as the hero saving the day through a series of death-defying stunts. On one memorable occasion, however, this legendary actor starred as a charismatic yet creepy villain, and the world of high-octane thrillers was never the same. We’re talking about the Michael Mann classic Paralleland if you want to see Tom Cruise like you’ve never seen him before, you can now stream this movie on Netflix.
A Hitman Thriller Unlike Any Other
Parallel is a film that revolves around two characters: the kind taxi driver who dreams of starting his own limousine business and the psychopathic hitman who needs a ride. Soon the two are locked into a strange night that veers from murder to conspiracy and back again, with both getting a great insight into what makes the other tick. This eventually leads to a cat-and-mouse game and only one bloody winner will emerge in the end.
This Tom Cruise movie has a lot going for it, and it’s worth streaming this title on Netflix just to see this familiar silver screen hero play a truly chilling villain. His cabbie-turned-victim is played by Jamie Foxxand his fiery chemistry with Cruise forms the beating heart of this unpredictable thriller. Other main actors are Parallel featuring Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark RuffaloJavier Bardem, and Jason Statham.
As well as all the talent on screen, there is also a titanic talent behind the camera that breathes life into this neo-noir nightmare. It is led by Michael Mann, the visionary director behind the Miami Vice show and film as well as others classic films like Heat a Ali. It has an acquired taste, but Mann’s feature creates a moody and stylish tone, and once you check out this overlooked Tom Cruise classic on Netflix, you’ll immediately understand the whole Mann deal (and likely to start binge-watching his other modern masterpieces) .
The Response to Collateral
Speaking of modern masterpieces, Parallel moviegoers were soon won over: against a budget of $65 million, this film earned a very healthy $220.2 million. Ar Rotten tomatoesthe film has an 86 percent critical score, with critics generally praising Mann’s instantly recognizable cinematography and Tom Cruise’s incredible heel turn as a villain (seriously, his performance alone is worth streaming this one on Netflix). Audiences were more or less right in line with the critics, and the Popcornmeter score of this is 84 percent.
In addition to critical and commercial success, Parallel it also won some prestigious awards and was nominated for even more… it won the British Academy Film Award for Best Cinematography and the AFI Award for Top Ten Films. In addition, Tom Cruise was nominated for Best Villain in the MTV Film Awards and received a Saturday Award nomination for Best Actor (the film has also won nominations for Best Director, Best Writer, and Best Action or Adventure Film). As for Jamie Foxx, his performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Will this Tom Cruise Netflix movie wow you as much as the critics did, or will you decide you’d rather call an Uber than take a taxi ride with Parallel? You won’t know until you stream the movie and experience the killer Cruise/Foxx dynamic for yourself. Fair warning, though: once you’ve experienced a Michael Mann thriller, you may find that no other director can ever measure up to his confident filmmaking and effortlessly graceful style.
Parallel is streaming on Netflix.
