Minority Report (2002)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers (WGA):

Philip K. Dick (short story)
Scott Frank (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 June 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

What would you do if you were accused of a murder, you had not committed... yet?

Plot:

In the future, criminals are caught before the crimes they commit, but one of the officers in the special unit is accused of one such crime and sets out to prove his innocence.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Future | Washington D.C. | Police | Computer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 16 wins & 47 nominations

Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Chief John Anderton
Max von Sydow	...	Director Lamar Burgess
Steve Harris	...	Jad
Neal McDonough	...	Fletcher
Patrick Kilpatrick	...	Knott
Jessica Capshaw	...	Evanna
Richard Coca	...	Pre-Crime Cop
Keith Campbell	...	Pre-Crime Cop
Kirk B.R. Woller	...	Pre-Crime Cop
Klea Scott	...	Pre-Crime Cop
Frank Grillo	...	Pre-Crime Cop
Anna Maria Horsford	...	Casey
Sarah Simmons	...	Lamar Burgess' Secretary
Eugene Osment	...	Jad's Technician
James Henderson	...	Office Worker

Also Known As:

Total Recall 2 (USA) (original script title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, brief language, some sexuality and drug content.

Runtime:

145 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Swedish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX | DTS-ES | SDDS

Certification:

Indonesia:Dewasa | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Malaysia:U | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (original rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) (video rating) (2005) | Brazil:14 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Austria:14 (Niederösterreich) | Austria:16 (Steiermark) | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 | India:A | Ireland:15 (video rating) | Israel:PG | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (censored version) | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39066) | Ireland:12PG (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Spencer Treat Clark played the role of Sean at age 11 in a brief dream sequence meant to be placed immediately after Anderton is put into containment. The entire scene was deleted. Nevertheless, theatrical prints of the film had him in the cast list in the end titles.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Lara drops Anderton's eye-bag onto the organ keyboard, and we hear a note which does not match the keys it hit. This music is only an effect from the soundtrack, for our benefit. It is not the music heard by the characters.

Quotes:

John Anderton: [a dream sequence, Anderton is at the pool with his son as his son is coming up while holding his breath underwater] 25.26 seconds. That's a new record.
Younger Sean: Is it a world record.
John Anderton: Is it a world? It's your personal best.
Younger Sean: Let's try you.
John Anderton: What? Are you kidding me? There is no way that I can beat 25.26 seconds.
Younger Sean: How long can a whale hold it's breath underwater?
John Anderton: A whale can hold it's breath for about 20 minutes.
Younger Sean: You gotta beat the whale.
John Anderton: [his son gets out of the water as he is getting in] Here we go Sean. It could take 20 minutes, are you sure you don't want to get some ice cream or something?
Younger Sean: No. Ready dad?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Timesplitters: Future Perfect (2005) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Jesus bleibet meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring)

What must film makers do? This was GOOD - believe nothing else.

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 they'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 ;)

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 that'll keep you thinking for much longer that the film's two and some hours.

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 '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 didn't share her terror and vulnerability? Little touches such as the way she clings to Cruise, almost like a baby's reflex, make her a character you immediately care about, innocent and tragic.

Anyway, if that's not enough to recommend the film, then you'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.

Full marks, five stars, a must see several times and buy the DVD movie.