Minority Report is centered around a system in the future that can prevent murders from happening. At first glance, that sounds pretty great and has worked so well that not a single murder has occurred in the last six years. As we are able to see deeper into the “precrime” unit, there are faults, a tangled web of deception and a sense of morality being lost.
Chief John Anderton (Tom Cruise) runs the precrime unit like a preventative detective of the future. Thin glass screens display images like details from a dream that come directly from the minds of the three PreCogs, gifted young people in a suspended state of half consciousness that can see murders before they happen. Anderton and his team decipher the images and names the PreCogs produce to swoop in and stop murders in time. They arrest the future murderers before they have technically done anything and send them into a suspended numbed state in an efficient jail.
Tensions are built when Danny Witwer (Colin Farrell) investigates the precrime unit, looking for flaws. Anderton upholds the unit, his personal history involving a murdered son sealing his alliance. But when he discovers that the PreCogs have named him as a future murderer, Anderton becomes a fugitive. With knowledge of his future, he can choose whether to follow his predestined outcome or not. With his ability to choose, and new knowledge he finds about the PreCogs along the way, he could bring down the whole system.
What makes Minority Report work like a well oiled machine, is the mix of engaging plot, a detailed futuristic setting and use of repetitive images. Many times, it feels like Spielberg took the basic ideas that make Blade Runner and Vertigo so distinctly memorable and used them both at times here. In Blade Runner, there is a focus on the futuristic world, with many details contributing to its atmosphere. The same treatment is used here, in a very different future world. Light is always very bright and unnatural, eye scanners identify you at every turn and then advertisements are personalized, calling you out by name as you pass by. Themes from Vertigo are played up by use of repetitive image to create an uneasy recognition. These images start piecing together, bringing us closer to a future murder and suspense is created beautifully. There is also a great Hitchcock reference in a car assembly line scene, a scene all Hitchcock’s idea, but one he never got to make.
Even though Minority Report has made me look back to other films, it stands on its own perfectly. There is plenty of action, all played out in very smart and engaging ways. While Anderton jumping from one vehicle to another is thrilling, the jetpack scene has some comical elements. The photography is very grainy and has a dirty feeling, yet washed with bright light that contributes to that futuristic look. I loved Max von Sydow’s character and performance, the little time he has on screen goes a long way. Best of all, the story had me engaged and guessing to the end. I highly recommend Minority Report.
“Shh. Do you know what I hear? Nothing. No footsteps up the stairs, no hovercraft out the window, no clickety-click of little spiders…”
The Best Picture Project 
Cool, I never even picked up on the Vertigo parallels at all. And the assembly line scene was really Hitch’s idea? I did not know that.
I just couldn’t shake the uncanny way I kept feeling ties to Vertigo and Blade Runner throughout the film. But yeah, Hitchcock had the assembly line idea and wanted to use it in North By Northwest, but never got to film it. Spielberg did a good job bringing that idea to life.
Minority Report is one of my favorite sci-fi films ever made. I know in the canon of Spielberg people say it pales, but I think it’s pretty brilliant (featuring a powerful performance from Cruise).
Vertigo & Blade Runner are good points of reference. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Sam. In the realm of sci-fi by Spielberg, Minority Report is very different from his previous work. Maybe it led to his take on War of the Worlds.
Very good Sci-fi film, probably one of tom cruises best films 😀
One of my favourite films. Great review.
In addition to Blade Runner and Vertigo, I would also mention Blow Up, the way it goes back again and again to specific images to deduce their real meaning.
Also a great performance by Samantha Morton. The scene when Agatha and Anderton are escaping together and she’s barely functional but still keeping them safe because of her abilities is wonderful. There’s good use of humor throughout the picture, too.
And, needless to say, I had no real idea how it would end until it got there.