MOVIE - MINORITY REPORT - Review Rating $$$$$ $$$1/2 (OUT OF 10)
STARRING TOM CRUISE, COLIN FARRELL SAMANTHA MORTON & MAX VON SYDOW
This movie is set in the year 2054. Tom Cruise plays the lead detective in the precrime division of the Washington, D.C. Police Force. With the help of 3 precognitive individuals, Cruise et al, have prevented all murders in the past 6 years. The system is about to be implemented nationwide and the story precedes from there.
This is a taunt thriller with numerous themes running through it. The opening scene, which sets the stage for the unfolding drama, unfolds in dramatic fashion. For the most part, this level of intensity is maintained throughout the movie. With a running time of 154 minutes there are a few inevitable lapses but they are not so distracting that they undermine the rest of the movie. It appears that Speilberg has learned his lesson from the criticism directed at his last movie A.I. The epilogue is less than 3 minutes as opposed to the approximate 25 minute wrap-up of A.I. It was said that the Beatles had trouble ending songs and the same can be applied to Speilbergs recent movies. The conclusion is shorter but still somehow anti-climatic.
Cruise, though very successful, has a limited range as an actor. This role falls within the boundaries of his acting abilities. Max Von Sydow is also perfectly cast. To say more would give away certain plot elements that I prefer you to figure out yourself. There are several plot twists, that will keep most of you guessing, but yet they do not come out of nowhere as is the case with so many films with weaker scripts. Colin Farrell does a credible job, but a combination of his youth and an underwritten character, do mar his performance somewhat.
The plot presents a relatively scary vision of the future in many respects. In the name of security and crass commercialism, Big Brother has an eye on the citizens of Washington, almost continuously. The irony here is that while the movie mocks crass commercialism it is itself a synergistic vehicle for more product placements and promotional tie-ins than Castaway. The movie does, thankfully, avoid most of Hollywood's cookie cutter plot devices currently considered necessary for blockbusters.
What makes this a smart story is that it considers its audience to be smart as well. We are not hit over the head with the message and are left, for the most part, to arrive at the conclusion the movie does. For those not heeding the message there are great action scenes, sophisticated humour and small details to relish. The special effects and cinematography are excellent. They enhance rather than overwhelm. Speilberg, in this regard, has once again demonstrated that it is possible to produce an intelligent thriller that balances numerous themes, a well written story and technology. There are one or two plot holes but recent releases, such as The Sum of All Fears and The Bourne Identity, pale in comparison.
True time-space continuum buffs well be disappointed with the lack of consideration given to the effect of changing the time line by preventing actions that were supposed to occur. Though based on a short story, by the highly regarded Sci-Fi writer Phillip K. Dick, this aspect of the story is a redux of the sociological debate on predetermination vs. freewill as opposed to the scientific debate regarding the implications of interfering with the timeline.
Its your choice, whether or not you see Minority Report, but I will predict that if you do you will be impressed.
Alternate Reviews:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/wkp-news-minority21f.html
http://www.msnbc.com/news/770637.asp?cp1=1 (link may expire)
Official Website:
http://www.minorityreport.com/
MY TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2002 LIST
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2003
David Schwartz.
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