This movie takes place 24-25 January 2004.
Much speculation has centered on the exact format the movie was shot on. According to insiders, the picture was in fact shot on a mixture of film and high-grade digital video - like many other pictures. In post-production, the scan level of the image was then reduced below standard. The rough-cut and pre-release trailer were in fact in perfectly rich, sharp, high-grade film-quality.
According to Jaime Foxx, one night during production, Tom Cruise bought In N Out fast food for the entire cast and crew.
Stuart Beattie, the screenwriter, wanted the studio to cast Robert De Niro as Max (once again making him a taxi driver, though the exact opposite of Travis Bickle). However the studio refused, insisting they wanted a younger actor in the role.
Jamie Foxx actually crashed the cab with Tom Cruise in it during a "side swipe" scene.
This movie begins at an airport and ends in a subway. Michael Mann's Heat (1995) begins on a subway and ends at the airport.
Before Michael Mann was hired, Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg were all offered the chance to direct the movie.
The guns that Vincent (Tom Cruise) carried was a Heckler and Koch (HK) USP. A Ruger Mk II LR22 ( with integral silencer).
Mick Gould was hired to train Tom Cruise for the action sequences - including showing him how to fire live rounds. Michael Mann himself trained with various weapons so he knew how to direct the action sequences to full effect.
The USB flash drive containing Vincent's prep is a PNY Attache.
When Daniel is playing the trumpet in the jazz club, Vincent says he is improvising. He is actually playing "Spanish Key" from Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" album. Later, Daniel says he met Miles Davis in the past.
To help Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx best to capture the spirit of their characters, Michael Mann wrote documents containing the background of Vincent and Max. Tom Cruise said that the document of Vincent had information on how he began to like jazz, for instance.
The computer is an HP TC-1100 tablet PC. Text can be entered via a stylus or a detachable keyboard (not shown in the film).
The F.B.I. Tactical Unit in the SUV ( L.A. 105 ) is composed of real Tactical Unit officers from F.B.I., D.E.A. and L.A.P.D.
According to Michael Mann, Vincent is one that is able to get in and out of anywhere without anyone recognizing him or remembering him. To prepare for the movie, Tom Cruise had to make UPS deliveries in a crowded LA market without anyone recognizing him as Tom Cruise.
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