Minority Report (2002)

Minority Report: Directed by Steven Spielberg. With Tom Cruise, Max von Sydow, Steve Harris, Neal McDonough. In a future where a special police unit is able to arrest murderers before they commit their crimes, an officer from that unit is himself accused of a future murder.

“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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e 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 u0026#39;atu0026#39; all day every day, apart from an excuse for product placement (and why not?), certainly make you think about a world where u0026#39;theyu0026#39; know your every move (a future towards which we are already hurtling with some speed).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e The style is amazing – why the wooden balls? Because theyu0026#39;re 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 ;)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e 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 thatu0026#39;ll keep you thinking for much longer that the filmu0026#39;s two and some hours.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e The direction and performances are amazing – the pre-visualization 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 u0026#39;Clockwork Orangeu0026#39; or u0026#39;2001u0026#39;. I hope it will continue to be a big influence on Spielberg.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e Cruise delivers a first class performance as usual, but the discovery of this film is Samantha Morton as Agatha. Who saw the film and didnu0026#39;t share her terror and vulnerability? Little touches such as the way she clings to Cruise, almost like a babyu0026#39;s reflex, make her a character you immediately care about, innocent and tragic.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e Anyway, if thatu0026#39;s not enough to recommend the film, then youu0026#39;ll 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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e Full marks, five stars, a must see several times and buy the DVD movie.”