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

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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:

The film was almost shot a few years earlier, before Steven Spielberg decided to do Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001) instead and have the "Minority Report" script reworked. According to reports, Tom Cruise's co-stars in that version would have been Cate Blanchett as Agatha, Matt Damon as Witwer, Ian McKellen as Burgess and Jenna Elfman as Lara Anderton. After the delay, Javier Bardem has stated in interviews that he was offered the part of Witwer, but turned it down because he "didn't want to just run around chasing Tom Cruise". This led to the casting of Colin Farrell.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When on the fire escape in the alleyway chase scene, Anderton releases the hover-pack from an officer in flight but checks that the officer has a grip on the railing so as not to fall. Behind the officer's helmet, the flying rig/safety cable can be clearly seen.

Quotes:

John Anderton: Why don't you cut the cute act, Danny boy, and tell me what it is you're looking for?
Danny Witwer: Flaws.
John Anderton: There hasn't been a murder in six years. There's nothing wrong with this system it is...
Danny Witwer: Perfect I agree, but there's a flaw. It's human.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2009) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Pine and Oats

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.