I haven't written much lately on epinions, but I had to write about this film because it was just so good. I chose to write about the jewel of the summer blockbusters and my favorite film of the year, “Minority Report.” Unlike most films of the summer that rely solely on special effects (MIB2) have bad acting (Mr. Deeds) or are just plain dumb (Crossroads); Minority Report uses a well written screenplay along with special effects and great acting to transform into one of the most gripping and involving movies I have seen in quite a long time. Spielberg creates a world here that is interesting, stunning and yet realistic. Tom Cruise is able to develop an action hero character that not only can fight, but also can generate complex human feelings to the audience. In a time where films seem to choose between either special effects and genuine ideas, here is a film that is able to mix the two into a sophisticated motion picture that will soon become a classic.
It is the year 2054 and Washington D.C is the safest place to live. People's eyes are constantly scanned for permission to enter buildings or simply to personalize and advertisement on TV directly to them. The city is a safer place thanks to a new system with the help of "precogs" who are able to detect crimes before they take place. The division of precrime is told about these events and stops the murders from taking place. People are arrested for future murders and put away for life. Yet, some wonder if the system is foolproof. Will this system help stop most murders from ever taking place or do some innocent people get arrested for crimes that they never will end up committing? This is one of the puzzling and moralistic issues presented in the film, one that we can apply to our own future technologies.
As we slowly get engrossed in all the interesting ideas presented by this film we soon learn of another plot twist. Cruise's character (Chief Detective John Anderton) along with others witness another precognition on the futuristic video screen of another murder. Yet this isn't just any other murder. Cruise sees himself on the screen shooting a man in a hotel room. He cannot seem to comprehend how this can occur since he is not planning to kill this person and more intriguingly, he has never met this person in his life. This brain bender of a plot then takes you deeper into interesting twists and turns as Cruise's character soon runs from his own fellow officers and he tries to understand why he is being accused of a murder that he will soon commit. Spielberg takes us on a fantastic ride of beautifully choreographed action sequences and intensity that will give us an adrenaline rush of action and also engage our brains at the same time. It seems almost as if the late Stanley Kubrick's soul is helping Mr. Spielberg as he directs a film that is
engrossing, exciting and scary, far less simple than many of his previous films. There are many references and to the work of Stanley Kubrick, such as of 'Clockwork Orange' or '2001'. I hope it will continue to be a big influence on Spielberg
There are so many great ideas that make the plot so deeply engaging unlike many other action movies. I just couldnt stop talking about all the great ideas presented by the film with my friends after seeing it. Cruise delivers a first class performance as usual, but my favorite performance of the film is by Samantha Morton as Agatha (one of the precogs). She is so believable as a precog and is able to powerfully show her strengths and weaknesses of the character she plays. She makes the idea of the precogs plausable and adds to the deep intensity of the film.
The film wins because it blends sci-fi, drama, suspense and mystery together so perfectly that it all turns out as one flawless, unforgettable movie. "Minority Report" gives myself some hope for the future as well. It's isn't the films premise that I talk about here but instead the hope that Hollywood can embrace this type of film and create others like it that are able to have special effects and action work alongside a screenplay and acting that is top of the line.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older