Review of Minority Report (2002) by Blake P — 24 Jul 2012

Steven Spielberg, who directs sci-fi films every once in a blue moon, almost effortlessly creates another addition to the genre, this time it being the excellent "Minority Report". Taking place in the future, around 2054, technology has risen greatly, and now a new company called "Pre-Crime" has created a method in which murders can be stopped before they even start.

There hasn't been a murder for six years, and cops like John Anderton (Cruise) arrest killers before they even do anything. But much to Anderton's horror, it seems that the next "pre-murder" is committed by he himself, and, considering he's never met the victim, he knows he's being set up.

With the cops on his tail, and ruthless executive Danny Witwer (Farrell) attempting to catch him at every stop, Anderton must prove that he's innocent. You have to keep in mind that the years 1999 through 2003 or so was a difficult period of time for sci-fi flicks: CGI was making quite an entrance, but was making movies as easy as they were ruining them.

But considering this is a Spielberg film, we have trust we're in good hands, and luckily it pays off. "Minority Report" is so perfect because it delivers all the goods. It's a visual feast, yes, with an ultra-cool futuristic society as the setting and some dark, claustrophobic atmosphere, but that isn't even the best part.

This is no case of style over substance. We not only are presented with a terrifically involving topic (that is delivered well) and mindless action sequences, but we also receive a whodunit, like a side of french fries with the main entree.

And it's just as satisfying as an old Sherlock Holmes novel. Helped by Cruise's humane, sympathetic performance, "Minority Report" is certainly one of Spielberg's best.