Trivia

Adam Sandler was considered for the role of Max, and even met with director Michael Mann before Jamie Foxx was cast.

According to Cuba Gooding Jr., he met with Michael Mann about playing the role of Max but Mann turned Gooding down because he and Cruise had already worked together in Jerry Maguire.

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.

Val Kilmer was cast in the role of Detective Fanning, but pulled out before filming began due to schedule conflicts with Alexander. Mark Ruffalo later took the role.

Hans Zimmer was attached to the film, in an early stage. He was replaced by James Newton Howard, probably by scheduling conflicts.

Frank Darabont wrote a draft of the screenplay in September 2000. Once attached as director, Michael Mann revised the screenplay substantially.

The song that plays in the theatrical trailer to this film is “Man in the Box”, sung by Alice in Chains.

Russell Crowe came close to playing the role of Vincent, but couldn’t commit to the picture because he was busy preparing for “Eucalyptus”, the doomed Australian film project co-starring Nicole Kidman.

The original draft was set in Manhattan, New York. When Michael Mann came on board, he shifted the setting to LA.

There are no opening credits to the film, nor title. The only credits we see is at the end where it begins with the “Directed By Michael Mann”. The title is at the end.

Edward Norton was offered the role of Vincent.

Colin Farrell was offered the role of Vincent

When Max and Vincent visit Max’s mother in the hospital, she says that Max “Would stand in the mirror, talking to himself”. Since Max drives a cab, this is a reference to the “Ya talkin’ to me?”
scene from Taxi Driver.

In an interview in American Cinematographer, Michael Mann said that as far as he was aware,
this was one of the first movies to attempt to make a “look” out of digital video rather than trying to make DV look like film. This approach meant the movie could be shot in the low-light scenes of urban desolation Mann wanted – because Digital reacts much better to low light than film. The approximately 20% of the picture that was shot on film was mostly, according to Mann, the portion set in the “Fever” nightclub – because this is the scene with the brightest lighting states, a condition in which DV does not perform as well.

One of the photos in Ida’s hospital room is of Mischa Barton. Two of the other pictures feature TV shows made by Paramount: Becker and Sister, Sister.

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 FedEx deliveries in a crowded LA market without anyone recognizing him as Tom Cruise.

Contrary to Michael Mann’s interview with American Cinematographer, Paul Cameron, whom he worked for the first three weeks of photography claimed that the digital cameras used lacked the ergonomics, color bandwidth and the standard camera lens support. These interviews and claims were brought to the attention of Panavision USA who subsequently developed the Genesis camera system based on that feedback and its usage was pioneered in the upcoming Superman Returns.

According to Jamie Foxx, one night during production, Tom Cruise bought In N Out fast food for the entire cast and crew.

Three weeks into principal photography, cinematographer Paul Cameron left the project due to “creative differences”. Michael Mann replaced him with Dion Beebe.

The silenced pistol Vincent uses in the jazz club is a Ruger Mk III .22 with integrated suppressor.

The guns that Vincent carries are a Heckler and Koch (HK) USP .45ACP and a Ruger Mk II .22 with integrated suppressor. Vincent didn’t use a silenced USP Tactical or Mk.23 SOCOM as was previously suggested. The silenced pistol was a .22 Long Rifle caliber Ruger Mk II with the upper receiver and barrel replaced with a custom integral silencer.

This movie takes place 24-25 January 2004.

‘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 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.

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 Attaché.

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.

The sunglasses Vincent wears are Silhouette 4048 with special frames attached.

The phone Tom Cruise uses in the cab is a Nokia 6800

Before it was offered to Michael Mann, the script was offered to the Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles, who was planning on doing it in the style of Martin Scorsese’s After Hours.

When Max enters Annie’s office, the names on the door are Annie Farrell and David Canning. David A. Canning is the digital imaging technician on the movie.

Max’s full name is Max Durocher. It can be seen on the ID in the cab early in the film

The voice enhancing software that is used to enhance what Max is telling the bouncer’s by the F.B.I. is Sony Vegas 4.0, a video editing software

Towards the end of the movie, a subway sign reads: “Today is January 25, 2004. The Time 5:40 A.M.”
The time is displayed/referenced 5 times in the film..

9:30 is displayed on Max’s Fare reader, before Vincent kills his 2nd victim.

10:00 PM, when Agent Fanning is calling his partner from the Morgue.

2:20 AM in a brief shot from the interior of the FBI agents truck on their way to the club.

When Max is calling Annie from the top of the Parking Garage from the cell phone, the time is 4:47 A.M.

The subway train arrives at the station at 5:40 A.M.

Vincent kills 12 people in one night