DVD Review: Minority Report (B)

Minority Report (2002)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring Tom Cruise, Max Von Sydow and Steve Harris
MPAA: PG-13
Grade: B

Review by Scott Standish

I must admit right off the bat that I have a love-hate relationship with the most popular director of our time, Steven Spielberg. I've tried to snub my nose at his money making, something for everyone fare but it's hard to maintain an aloof attitude for long. And why is that? Because for every three or four sugar coated, orchestra string laden "look at the sky and everyone hug at the end" kind of movie he churns out he also creates an interesting film or two. This is a director that will give you the incomprehensible Hook and the headache inducing Always, but then he'll also floor you with Schindler's List just a couple films later. Sure he brought us 1941 but he also directed Jaws, perhaps one of the best popcorn movies of all time.

The uneven AI of 2001 hinted at a darker version of Steven Spielberg. This has really come full circle in the better than expected Minority Report. Based on the short story by Philip K Dick, Minority Report is set in the year 2045, where "pre-cogs" can accurately predict who will commit what crime in the future. The Pre-Crime group arrests people for crimes before they happen and successfully prosecute them based on that information. Tom Cruise plays John Anderton, the rising star of Pre-Crime. He has some issues of his own, based on a rather shattered family life and a growing drug problem. As Pre-Crime grows in power, politics give way and before you know it, our lead actor finds himself in the cross hairs of a pre-crime arrest.

The look of this movie is absolutely stunning. This movie really seems to capture the wide open, yet paranoid world that Philip K. Dick's writings have painted for us. Tom Cruise does his best work when he's in motion (trying to either catch some one or escape being caught) not standing around whining or boasting (like in the overrated Vanilla Sky). Of course Max Von Sydow is always good and when you toss in the fine acting work of Steve Harris, you have one well acted movie.

The best part about Minority Report is the pacing and the tone of the movie. Instead of slowing down the action towards the film's conclusion, and tying up all of the loose ends, with everyone in the family hugging (as most Spielberg films do), the great one is satisfied with keeping the pace rolling to the end.

This is not your usual Spielberg movie, its definitely no Gremlins, Money Pit, or The Flintstones (all movies that he Executive produced). But is Minority Report in the same league as Jaws or Schindler's List? Probably not but it is nice to see the director headed back in that darker direction.

Great effects, solid sci-fi material, and a darker version of Steven Spielberg than we've come to expect all contribute to make Minority Report one solid film. Recommended.

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