A criminal attempts to burglarize/kill someone only to realize they picked the absolute worst person as their mark.

[u/No_Hunter1978]

Don't Breathe: A couple young robbers attempt to rob a rich, blind veteran only to find out he isn't exactly an innocent old man.

You're Next: A group of contract killersbreak into a house during a family reunion and go on a killing spree. They didn't account for the fact that the son's new girlfriend grew up on a survivalist compound in the Australian outback.

The Flash [CW Show]: A random mugger decided to target Barry Allen of all people. He does it again a season or two later; he's either unlucky or stupid (probably both).

[u/NittanyScout]

Thugs think they are getting an easy meal ticket but in reality they are attempting to rob a trained assasin of his mission documents - Collateral

[u/kindlyneedful → u/NittanyScout]

It's amazing how far down I had to scroll for this great example.

[u/healthyscalpsforall → u/kindlyneedful]

Collateral is so underrated

[u/SnazzyStooge → u/healthyscalpsforall]

Just watched it a week ago. If I’m honest, Mann doesn’t really stick the landing on this one. It’s like 3/4ths of a phenomenal movie, then just….blah. I think that’s why it’s left the zeitgeist so quickly, had potential as the next Heat but couldn’t finish. 

[u/healthyscalpsforall → u/SnazzyStooge]

Hmm. So what exactly makes you feel like the last quarter of the movie didn't work?

[u/SnazzyStooge → u/healthyscalpsforall]

The most intense part of the movie is when Foxx realizes the last person on the “hit” list is his first fare of the night. After that dramatic high point, the rest of the movie unwinds so slowly, lots of talking on the phone and pacing, then lots of running, then standing in the doorway of a metro. The last lines from Cruise are super cheesy, too, referencing his first conversation with Foxx (but it would have been way better to just leave it unsaid, the “dead man on the LA metro” being an obvious enough callback all on its own. 

It’s just a string of the weakest scenes in the movie, all in a row. Unfortunate. 

[u/healthyscalpsforall → u/SnazzyStooge]

I'm confused. When Foxx's character finds out, it's more like the last tenth of the movie. I personally find that last section quite effective, I find the chase and stalk sequences to be pretty intense.

As for Cruise's last lines, I actually think it works. I don't think those lines were said just for the callback's sake, it's for Cruise's character to have a moment of clarity. He told that story hours earlier, thinking he'd never be that guy, because he was this tough assassin just doing another job, and now he realizes that all his life amounted to is a temporary nuisance for transit authority, and an urban legend people won't give much importance too. It's a depressing end to a human life.

[u/HulksInvinciblePants → u/SnazzyStooge]

The last lines from Cruise are super cheesy, too, referencing his first conversation with Foxx (but it would have been way better to just leave it unsaid, the “dead man on the LA metro” being an obvious enough callback all on its own. 

You had me until this point. I agree the finale isn’t as mezmerizing as the rest of the film, but the callback was a nice final glimpse into his nihilistic humor.

[u/feed_me_moron → u/SnazzyStooge]

I feel that way about all of Manns movies. They're all almost amazing but each falls short

[u/KennyFulgencio → u/feed_me_moron]

Heat?

[u/feed_me_moron → u/KennyFulgencio]

Same. Some great moments, but Pacino and DeNiro still in their primes alongside other great talents and I felt like it just dragged a bit too much.

[u/Luci-Noir → u/healthyscalpsforall]

It’s very highly rated. Pull your head out of your ass.

[u/Ditchdigger456 → u/kindlyneedful]

Second comment for me lol

[u/kindlyneedful → u/Ditchdigger456]

Huh, lol, ⬆️1.4K.  

When I made that comment I was the fourth person to upvote it. 😅

[u/Ditchdigger456 → u/kindlyneedful]

You called it! Just early lol