MINORITY REPORT
dir: Steven Spielberg
"The system is perfect, I agree. But if there's a flaw, it's human. It always is." -Danny Witwer
Brief Synopsis
In the near future, an experimental new law enforcement method allowing cops to see murders before they happen appears to be working perfectly. Until lead detective John Anderton is predicted to be the next killer, from there he has 48 hours to prove his innocence or fall to his own system.
Why It's Here
Hollywood's favourite science fiction author, Philip K. Dick, has had numerous Hollywood translations, however, "Minority Report" proves to be the first great adaptation since Dick's first and finest "Blade Runner" adaptation. Helmed by Spielberg as a great tribute to "Blade Runner" many connections in the protagonists, the shots, and the dialogue and scenes can be made. While "Minority Report" stands as a proud work of praise to one of the most important science fiction films ever, it also stands on it's own and paints it's own portrait of a world thrusted upside down by over-zealous ambition of modern technology. Oh, and many claim that this film stands as a metaphor for feminism. More on that later.
"Minority Report"'s plot is likely one of the more compelling sci-fi blockbusters to come along in recent years. A cat-and-mouse tail caught in such a spiral that it comes full circle with the lead detective being hunted by his own officers. The film acts as a consistent climax of chase sequences with little room for rest and lots of room for speculation by the audience as to the truth behind the mystery at hand. Handled excellently, the mysteries unravel at a steady pace and logically to maintain the film's momentum. As the film builds towards it's finale, the audience is left with an unexpected twist in the final act which is a bit of a mind-bender but finishes the film powerfully with great execution.
In a typical role for himself, Tom Cruise manages to find balance in his unstable character. Cruise goes to no lengths to break from his tough-but-pretty-boy mold, yet his troubled character is shown with great desperation in his eyes, and Cruise nails it. Opposite him a nearly sexless Samantha Morton acts as less a character and more the key to the film. Her role is central to the film, while Cruise is just meant to move the plot forward. While Morton's character is shrouded in mystery and has little development, her character has intriguing qualities brought on by her abilities and her anti-social nature that haunts and frightens all around her. As I previously stated, the film acts on several levels to promote to sex of females. Morton is seperated from her two brothers because of her single importance and higher intelligence, she is a female subjected to a system created by a woman who regrets her discovery. Naturally, this system is a failure and the women are right all along. To put shades of gray into that black and white image I have portrayed, the film subtley remarks on sexism in the future and how despite our best efforts, will never overcome it. The film goes on to make gestures towards men being corruptive and the ending allows for the woman to be free and isolated far from the abuse and corruption of men. While these themes are debatable, there is no denying their existence.
The film plays with several different concepts for futuristic appliances and most intriguing, futuristic designer drugs. The days of simple joints are long gone and these high tech devices offer instant satisfaction, however show little to know negative effects to the viewer, yet are presented as highly illegal. Other devices including animated cereal boxes and spider-like robots who search for heat signatures to perform eye-scans for identification purposes offer bleak glimpses into invasion of privacy where people within this world stop their daily activities for the seemingly routine scan. "Minority Report" argues whether or not personal invasion is justifiable to protect a community. Propaganda ads are run throughout the city promoting the invasive, yet murder-proof tactics of the police where anonymous civilians discuss how their lives were saved by the program. Yet, the film allows us to see the underbelly of such a "flawless" technology and once again show us that the flaw is always human. Using computer to only connect the minds of the "pre-cogs" to a monitor, this technology is largely biological, yet the dangers of abuse and ambition are still at large. Computers are not the only criminals in the war on dangerous future technology.
Finally, "Minority Report" ventures into similar territory as many sci-fi dystopias before it, including "Blade Runner", where advertisements are rampant in society and can not be avoided. Once again tying in to the large theme of personal invasion, the ads in stores scan your eyes as you pass by (eyes being another theme), and personally offer you a product or ask about a previous purchase. If that doesn't violate someone enough, this information is also re-routed to the police, keeping a constant track on every individual. However, the flaw comes when the film attempts to warn us of this aggressive advertising, yet instead of opting for fictional ads and products, "Minority Report" ironically uses real ads, therefore forcing Lexus, Gap, and Aquafina commercials down our throats while at the same time trying to denounce these tactics.
Even with it's mixed signals regarding the future of advertising, "Minority Report" takes many familiar ideas in the world of future dystopias and breaths new life into the formula with it's enticing plot and sleek portrait of a future that hasn't been as beautifully (and frighteningly) displayed since "Blade Runner".
"Minority Report"'s plot is likely one of the more compelling sci-fi blockbusters to come along in recent years. A cat-and-mouse tail caught in such a spiral that it comes full circle with the lead detective being hunted by his own officers. The film acts as a consistent climax of chase sequences with little room for rest and lots of room for speculation by the audience as to the truth behind the mystery at hand. Handled excellently, the mysteries unravel at a steady pace and logically to maintain the film's momentum. As the film builds towards it's finale, the audience is left with an unexpected twist in the final act which is a bit of a mind-bender but finishes the film powerfully with great execution.
In a typical role for himself, Tom Cruise manages to find balance in his unstable character. Cruise goes to no lengths to break from his tough-but-pretty-boy mold, yet his troubled character is shown with great desperation in his eyes, and Cruise nails it. Opposite him a nearly sexless Samantha Morton acts as less a character and more the key to the film. Her role is central to the film, while Cruise is just meant to move the plot forward. While Morton's character is shrouded in mystery and has little development, her character has intriguing qualities brought on by her abilities and her anti-social nature that haunts and frightens all around her. As I previously stated, the film acts on several levels to promote to sex of females. Morton is seperated from her two brothers because of her single importance and higher intelligence, she is a female subjected to a system created by a woman who regrets her discovery. Naturally, this system is a failure and the women are right all along. To put shades of gray into that black and white image I have portrayed, the film subtley remarks on sexism in the future and how despite our best efforts, will never overcome it. The film goes on to make gestures towards men being corruptive and the ending allows for the woman to be free and isolated far from the abuse and corruption of men. While these themes are debatable, there is no denying their existence.
The film plays with several different concepts for futuristic appliances and most intriguing, futuristic designer drugs. The days of simple joints are long gone and these high tech devices offer instant satisfaction, however show little to know negative effects to the viewer, yet are presented as highly illegal. Other devices including animated cereal boxes and spider-like robots who search for heat signatures to perform eye-scans for identification purposes offer bleak glimpses into invasion of privacy where people within this world stop their daily activities for the seemingly routine scan. "Minority Report" argues whether or not personal invasion is justifiable to protect a community. Propaganda ads are run throughout the city promoting the invasive, yet murder-proof tactics of the police where anonymous civilians discuss how their lives were saved by the program. Yet, the film allows us to see the underbelly of such a "flawless" technology and once again show us that the flaw is always human. Using computer to only connect the minds of the "pre-cogs" to a monitor, this technology is largely biological, yet the dangers of abuse and ambition are still at large. Computers are not the only criminals in the war on dangerous future technology.
Finally, "Minority Report" ventures into similar territory as many sci-fi dystopias before it, including "Blade Runner", where advertisements are rampant in society and can not be avoided. Once again tying in to the large theme of personal invasion, the ads in stores scan your eyes as you pass by (eyes being another theme), and personally offer you a product or ask about a previous purchase. If that doesn't violate someone enough, this information is also re-routed to the police, keeping a constant track on every individual. However, the flaw comes when the film attempts to warn us of this aggressive advertising, yet instead of opting for fictional ads and products, "Minority Report" ironically uses real ads, therefore forcing Lexus, Gap, and Aquafina commercials down our throats while at the same time trying to denounce these tactics.
Even with it's mixed signals regarding the future of advertising, "Minority Report" takes many familiar ideas in the world of future dystopias and breaths new life into the formula with it's enticing plot and sleek portrait of a future that hasn't been as beautifully (and frighteningly) displayed since "Blade Runner".