Rated PG-13 for violence, brief language, some sexuality and drug content.
145 Minutes
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Written by: Scott Frank
Staring: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Max Von Sydow, Neal McDonough, Steve Harris, Patrick Kilpatrick, Jessica Capshaw, and Samantha Morton
There hasn’t been a murder in six years. The system, it is perfect.-John Anderton
Review
When released Minority Report was the subject of a great deal of negative but also positive criticisms, both critically and from fans, but I think it’s stood the test of time. Franky, I believe this was one of Spielberg’s better recent films, and definitely one of my favorite Cruise roles. The combination of thriller and science fiction twisted in a crime drama is an invigorating enigma, meshing together one of the more interesting and complicated Sci-Fi movies of the last ten years. Spielberg didn’t just throw together a bunch of cool FX and explosions with a dainty script and hope this film would work. It was a thoughtful story that took the time to develop not only the character’s and give them palpable motivations, but the back story of PreCrime and the entire futuristic world was extremely fleshed out. The future was not only believable but extraordinary.
It’s the year 2054 and the world has changed drastically. Crime is virtually non-existent due to the new law enforcement team called ”PreCrime”. PreCrime was born through the discovery of three humans who when joined together had the ability to foresee the future. They refer to these three as “Pre Cogs” for their precognitive abilities. John Anderton (Tom Cruise) is the head officer of PreCrime and has believed in the system being unfalable, until one day the Pre-Cogs predict Anderton committing the murder of a victim he has never met before. In an attempt to cover his tracks and discover the truth behind the mystery Anderton uncovers way more than he bargained for. As it turns out the Pre Cogs are no always 100% in their predictions. Agatha, the one Pre Cog, sometimes shows a different future from the one the other two see. This has been covered by PreCrimes creator as a Minority Report and ignored. Now Anderton is not only a murder suspect, but involved in a conspiracy against the worlds law enforcement agency. And everyone is after him.
Tom Cruise plays John Anderton with his usual Cruise finesse and complete commitment to the role. Anderton is the star officer at Precrime, but with his own vigilance he knows he wouldn’t kill someone. The history of his past and his own family works as a driving force and Cruise exemplifies the conflict of interests that Anderton has going against the system he once believed so completely in while simultaneously battling his own personal demons. He crosses every extreme of physical and mental challenge a person could imagine, and Cruise presents it flawlessly.
The visuals of the futuristic setting are staggering. There is this wild world of new found technology mixed with the past so it makes it seem tangible to the viewer. It’s been quite sometime since such an innovative futuristic world was created. The universe we are first introduced to is set, but with Anderton it evolves around us. From the technology used to translate what the Pre-Cogs see, to the covert ops that are hunting Anderton and all of the gadgets he uses to avoid capture, this film stands aside from many in it’s genre. It’s original and fascinating.
One thing lost in this film is how well the information is actually being conveyed. A lot of the general audiences had trouble following all the plot twists and turns and it’s reasonable to see how. Already being in a fictional futuristic world the viewer must adapt to those changes, while also taking in the main characters, while also trying to decipher a twisted plot that basically contradicts everything it explained to you in the first thirty minutes. It is a bit confusing at times, but I think it also inspires a second viewing, just to catch anything you may have missed in the initial viewing.
Minority Report is a completely original movie with a swift moving intelligent plot that carries a complexity you don’t see often today. With a stellar cast, and outstanding CGI, and a brilliant script that really questions the boundaries of morality and science this movie is one of a kind. Without a doubt Minority Report is one of the most engaging Science Fiction films in the last ten years.
I remember really enjoying this film in the theatre. It’s one of those films that’s just better up there on the big-screen…you could probabyl say that for all of Spielberg’s work, especially the stuff he’s done since Jurassic Park.
Dan recently posted..The Versatile Blogger Award
I wish I had seen it in the theater. I think I would have had a much better appreciation for it initially.
Heather recently posted..“Devil” Trailer
Well I think War of The World’s suffered the cinema versus living room TV syndrome. At the cinema = Ace. At home = average.
…of course, Sideways is great whether you watch it on the big screen or whether you watch it on an iPhone!
Dan recently posted..The Versatile Blogger Award
I’m not too sold on these films being “theatre” films.
(I still like Avatar on DVD. More perhaps)
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 30-21
Three stars Heather? I’ll probably irk many, but Minority Report is my favourite Spielberg film. With excellent work from Cruise and especially Morton and good supporting turns from Farrell, Von Sydow and Capshaw this film is just so taut, so well written and so exciting I can’t help but love it – to exccess.
I could see how it would be someones favorite. It isn’t mine for several reason, but one mans garbage is another mans treasure!
Heather recently posted..“Devil” Trailer
I quite enjoyed this. These days it gets a bad wrap among people I know for its “Spielberg Ending” (where everything comes full circle, and ultimately ends up happily ever after – or as I call this argument, sad people who enjoy being depressed all the time whining)
Some of the effects haven’t held up quite as well (namely the jetpack scene) but for the post I love the way it’s handled, and presented. Throws some good twists, and how often do you see the spinning interactive computer in movies these days? They’re everywhere! Real groundbreaker. And an underrated plot line.
Univarn recently posted..
I don’t mind the Spielberg ending when you’ve been dragged through hell! You kinda need that payoff, and generally he makes them plausible enough in the universes he creates that it doesn’t ruin a movie. I agree, some people are just negative nancy’s.
Heather recently posted..“Devil” Trailer
Yeah it definitely works out as more plausible than say, War of the Worlds (even if I like that a little too).
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
*raises his hand*
Yo teach?
What’s this negative criticisms you speak of? I remember the summer of 2002 being one where many were bemoaning the overabundance of digital effects (SPIDER-MAN, ATTACK OF THE CLONES)…and then many pointing to this film as a salvation of actual actors working on actual sets.
Did I forget something??
Love this movie by the way – for absolutely every reason you mention!
Mad Hatter recently posted..
I worked in a video store that year and I recall recommending this pretty heavily to people, and the response was not at all positive. People complained it was too complicated, or refused to watch it because they didn’t like Tom Cruise, or that the movie was so dark. I remember being pretty shocked. At the time I didn’t necessarily appreciate what it had achieved, but I knew it was a good movie. It was such a strong negative reaction that it’s stuck with me for all these years.
Heather recently posted..“Devil” Trailer
Strange that people were turning down Cruise, given that he was still a few years away from jumping on oprah’s couch when MINORITY came out.
As for “too complicated”…I can’t speak for your customers’ lack of attention span. I mean it’s not like you were recommending they watch MULHOLLAND DRIVE – MINORITY REPORT is pretty straightforward wouldntyasay?
Mad Hatter recently posted..
You wouldn’t believe the movies that people came back with complaints about.
12 Monkeys was the worst. I at two separate stores had people as for refunds because it made no sense to them. ha!
People have disliked Cruise for a long time. He started to irk me long before the Oprah incident as well, but I still loved him as an actor, and I still do in fact.
Maybe it was because Nicole Kidman left him. He has always annoyed me, and that was sort of the last straw (heh). I still think he’s an okay actor, though. This is his best for me, though.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
Leaving Nicole Kidman is asinine. She’s a damn goddess, and still so much like an old school movie star. I adore her.
Yeah, she is a goddess. I have a feeling that he had a complex about being shorter than her, he seems like the type.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
Yeah but isn’t Dawsons Creek like way taller than him too?
I need to give this another go. I haven’t seen it since it came out on DVD.
Fitz recently posted..
Definitely do. As Univarn pointed out, some of the effects haven’t held up, but the effectiveness of the performances and story will blow you away.
Heather recently posted..“Devil” Trailer
The performances are a big part of why I like it. Understated sci-fi with good performances (a bit like the very excellent Gattaca).
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
I really dig this film. It’s not perfect but it’s got a great balance of action and exposition and ends up being a thought-provoking picture. In fact, it’s probably my favorite sci-fi film of the last decade.
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For me it ends up there somewhere directly behind Serenity and Pitch Black. It is easily one of the best science fiction movies of the decade.
Heather recently posted..“Devil” Trailer
I didn’t like this the first few times I saw it. I also remember not liking Colin Ferrell very much either at that time. Now, I’ve realized it’s one of the best science fiction movies around after not much good has happened with Sci-Fi in the past decade.
It took awhile for Colin Farrell to grow on me, but his role isn’t pertinent enough to sway my feelings about the movie anyway.
Heather recently posted..“Devil” Trailer
I love Minority Report more than I love my Marlboros, and I’m a man who *cough cough cough cough* loves my Marlboros.
Jonathan Sullivan recently posted..“Devil” Trailer
I think this movie is forgotten pretty easily, which is a shame because it really is one of the better sci-fi movies of the past decade. Not only was the story great, but the futuristic setting that is displayed. Oh, and the chase scene in the mall is easily one of my favorite scenes from any genre the past decade.
You are right Red. It’s such an intense scene!!!!!!! I would go so far as to say one of the best action moments ever.
Heather recently posted..“Devil” Trailer
Definitely one of those brilliant action moments.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
I enjoyed Minority Report although it does drag on a little too much (as do most Spielberg movies). Definitely one of Tom Cruise best performance and I definitely agree that the sci-fi/thriller combination made it a quite unique and entertaining film. Where are all the sci-fis anyway?
Castor recently posted..
Aside from Serenity and the rebooted Star Trek, there has been Sunshine and Pitch Black…………..but I can’t not too many real quality ones of the past decade. There of course is my lingering disappointment in War Of The Worlds, which one day I may eventually shut the hell up about.
Awesome 00′s sci-fi…
MOON
CHILDREN OF MEN
DISTRICT 9
28 DAYS LATER
28 WEEKS LATER
DONNIE DARKO
SPLICE
A.I.
Mad Hatter recently posted..
I cannot speak for Moon or Splice yet, but Children of Men and District 9 WERE incredible. Donnie Darko is a good one, but not one most people will appreciate. A.I. I wasn’t too fond of, though it was a respectable attempt at A LOT of things. I hadn’t considered 28 Days and Weeks later. Good call there Hatter. Thanks for bringing all these up.
This is probably one of my favorites Cruise flicks and a few that I actually own. Amazing how it still looks ‘futuristic’ even today, though some of the gadgets they featured are now available (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/11/four-future-gad) Lots of great scenes in this movies, the one that creeped me out was how the advertisements know who you are and can target an individual specifically, I don’t think we’re far from that either. I also like the umbrella scene when John was with one of the Precors.
It’s also the first time I saw Colin Farell, and definitely liked him here.
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Definitely innovative thinking here. There was so much that was not only profound, but new. Total Recall felt that way once before, and now it’s technology isn’t exactly far from reality.
Enjoyed this too and it’s one of the few Tom Cruise performances I can tolerate. I would have to disagree with some of the comments that it’s Spielberg’s best movie. It’s definitely one of his better ones, but for me Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, Jaws excel.
I just re-bought this recently after my first copy got stolen a couple years ago, high time I finally got around to watching it again. I remember Ebert and Roeper touting this as the best movie of the year like it was God’s gift to man, and while it is awesome, I need a refresher course to see if they’re right. God, those cars were the effing bomb.
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