In the year 2054 A.D. crime is virtually eliminated from Washington D.C. thanks to an elite law enforcing squad Precrime. They use three gifted humans (called Pre-Cogs) with special powers to see into the future and predict crimes beforehand. John Anderton heads Precrime and believes the systems flawlessness steadfastly. However one day the Pre-Cogs predict that Anderton will commit a murder himself in the next 36 hours. Worse Anderton doesnt even know the victim. He decides to get to the mysterys core by finding out the minority report which means the prediction of the female Pre-Cog Agatha that might tell a different story and prove Anderton innocent.
Review
I think some people just write reviews for sites like this because they like to complain. I actually find myself wondering if all the gripers here have actually seen Minority Report as I just have because I have to say that is one of the most gripping and involving movies I have seen in quite a while.
The content is amazing all the little details that put the audience firmly in the middle of the 21st century. Personally I can absolutely believe that technology will have advanced in the kind of ways portrayed in the film within 50 years. Just look back 50 years into the past and you should be able to see why. The lives of everyday people in the film where they are scanned and advertised at all day every day apart from an excuse for product placement (and why not) certainly make you think about a world where they know your every move (a future towards which we are already hurtling with some speed).
The style is amazing why the wooden balls Because theyre cool is why. I like to think that as we progress as a civilization we will keep a few such elegant idiosyncrasies knocking around. The plastic chrome and glass sets objects and architecture all looked clean and functional and the way that they suck the color out of a scene worked well and gave the film a distinctive palette. The cars are the best looking vehicles I have ever seen in a film. I have only one criticism here why do all the computer displays look like Macs Surely a touch unrealistic )
The story is amazing complicated yes but also engrossing exciting and scary. There are elements here that are only hinted at but which give the plot a depth increasingly lacking in modern action flicks. And it asks the kind of questions about morality justice exploitation and society thatll keep you thinking for much longer that the films two and some hours.
The direction and performances are amazing the previsualization on this movie must have been a nightmare and yet all the incredible special effects blend perfectly into a visual style that is completely natural and assured as might be expected from Spielberg and Michael Kahn. There are of course numerous references and homages to the work of Stanley Kubrick which have given a hint of the edge and flair of Clockwork Orange or 2001. I hope it will continue to be a big influence on Spielberg.
Cruise delivers a first class performance as usual but the discovery of this film is Samantha Morton as Agatha. Who saw the film and didnt share her terror and vulnerability Little touches such as the way she clings to Cruise almost like a babys reflex make her a character you immediately care about innocent and tragic.
Anyway if thats not enough to recommend the film then youll probably never find another one you like again. But if you need another reason go to see it just for another fantastic soundtrack from the master John Williams.
Full marks five stars a must see several times and buy the DVD movie.