Tom Cruise’s Stunning Scene Required 2 Months of Preparation, But Ultimately Was Wasted

Tom Cruise is widely recognized for his rigorous stunt training that leads to breathtaking performances on screen. However, during the production of Collateral, both Cruise and director Michael Mann discovered that sometimes, even the most thorough preparations can be rendered pointless. This film stands out as an exceptional, albeit underrated, piece in the resumés of both Cruise and his co-star Jamie Foxx. In Collateral, Cruise assumes the role of Vincent, a hitman who enlists the help of Foxx’s character, Max, a taxi driver, to navigate the streets of Los Angeles from one assignment to the next. As the storyline progresses towards its impactful conclusion, viewers experience the trademark tension that is a hallmark of Michael Mann’s directing style.

Another signature element in Mann’s films is the occasional surreal sequence filled with symbolism, often set against the backdrop of high-stakes drama unfolding under the cover of night, enhanced by striking visuals and an evocative soundtrack. Few contemporary directors can craft crime dramas with the finesse and depth that Mann exhibits, positioning his works as intellectual thrillers. Nevertheless, even a meticulous filmmaker like Mann can’t anticipate every challenge, as evidenced by the experiences during the making of Collateral.

Understanding the Coyote Scene in Collateral

A Surreal and Symbolic Experience

One particularly enigmatic yet beautiful scene in Collateral occurs as Foxx’s character drives around Los Angeles with Cruise’s villain during nighttime. As they reach an intersection, two coyotes unexpectedly cross the street, pausing to glance at the vehicle. The striking moment is amplified by the haunting vocals of Chris Cornell, filling the air with “Shadow on the Sun.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX9JNJThhxY

Collateral (2004) Coyote Scene 1080p (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX9JNJThhxY)

This scene, while surreal, resonates with reality for many residents of Los Angeles, where sightings of coyotes are not uncommon. Interestingly, this moment draws inspiration from Mann’s own life experiences. In a recent interview, he reminisced: “It’s about one in the morning, driving north on Fairfax into the hills, at the intersection of Fairfax and Santa Monica. Two coyotes walked across the intersection as if they owned the place. That attitude resonated with me.”(via Empire Magazine)

The coyote moment can be interpreted in various ways. Some viewers may see Vincent as the predator, stealthily moving through the city, while Max embodies the prey, driven by the instinct to survive. Others may view the coyotes as a manifestation of adaptability and survival, mirroring the characters’ struggles to navigate their respective circumstances. Regardless of interpretation, this memorable scene in Collateral almost didn’t make it to the screen.

Behind-the-Scenes: The Making of the Coyote Scene

Coyotes’ Nature Resisted Training

Strikingly, this brief but impactful scene proved to be one of the most challenging to execute during the entire film production. The difficulty lay not in capturing the essence of the shot, but rather in the characteristics of coyotes themselves. It turns out, training coyotes is significantly different from training domesticated dogs. The initial goal was to have the coyotes simply cross the street, an operation that should have been relatively straightforward. However, it became clear that coyotes are inherently unpredictable.

After struggling for two months to direct the coyotes, Mann humorously recounted realizing defeat: “We ultimately had to use wires and collars to guide them across the street, which we then digitally removed. You can’t tame coyotes. That was a significant lesson.”Ultimately, the coyotes appeared on-screen for less than 20 seconds, a fleeting glimpse that required extensive preparation and training—a vivid illustration that even renowned filmmakers like Mann and stars like Cruise are subject to nature’s whims. In the end, nature remains untamed and unpredictable.

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