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Movie Forums :: Reviews :: Sullivan: Minority Rules |
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Posted on 6/22/02
Sullivan: Minority Rules
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Ask most people what they think of Phillip K. Dick and they'll furnish you with that disdainful, incredulous gaze reserved for individuals who are apparently so enamored with adult entertainment that they know the stars by name.
Ask most people what they think of Blade Runner and you'll get a very different response...either positive, negative, or somewhere in neutral territory, depending on the strength of their affinity for classic science fiction film.
Of course, most well-read individuals will realize that it is the writing of Phillip K. Dick that enabled films such as Blade Runner -- also Total Recall and now Steven Spielburg's latest, Minority Report. This film has provided us with all the more evidence that that good writing can, in the right hands, provide the foundation for good film.
Minority Report is a near-future tale of power struggles and betrayal set against the backdrop of the crucial metaphysical issue of predestination. In 2054, the experimental PreCrime Division has reduced the murder rate in Washington, D.C. to zero through the use of genetically abnormal individuals who see murders before they happen. These PreCogs, as they are called, are the foundation of a system that dispatches teams of federal agents to arrest and incarcerate potential murderers before they commit their crimes. John Anderton, played to the hilt with an accusomted boyish intensity by Tom Cruise, has the role of Chief Detective in this experimental agency. He is second in command only to the proverbial and predictable "wise old cop" Director Lamar Burgess (Max Von Sydow). As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the PreCrime agency is under Federal investigation prior to a popular vote that will determine whether or not it will replace traditional police forces as the de facto standard in crimefighting.
Boasting beatiful cinematography and a distinct and appealing visual style, Minority Report pleases the eye with a near-future vision of the world that is one-part stainless steel utopia and one-part gritty, grungy underbelly (a la Blade Runner). The film also appeals to the mind with an internally cohesive story and overwhelmingly decent screenplay (thanks to Scott Frank of Get Shorty fame). The film starts fast and maintains a brisk pace throughout, throwing major event after major event your way in a near-orgy of inventive and truly engaging action sequence, but does well in pacing this action with brief periods of logical respite.
This film is not just eye or gland candy. The issues central to the conflict and resolution of the film are essential ontological issues that quite a few of us [link=http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?threadid=2444&pagenumber=5]wrestle with[/link] in our everyday lives. To what extent do we control our own destiny, and, if given access to accurate information about our own futures-- even if those futures are dark --do we have the ability to change things? Is it our beliefs about the future that create that future, or does the future simply unfold in a deterministic way that is entirely independent of our wishes? The film addresses these questions in enough depth to satisfy, but avoids getting bogged down in extensive philosophical debates or skimming the issues with superficial gloss.
If there is any reason to gripe with this movie, it is that at times, it seems somewhat predetermined itself-- although the pivotal moments do keep you guessing. The ending may come as a genuine surprise for most, while others may naturally predict the sequence of events. Overall, I have difficulty finding fault with this movie. It fulfills its own expectations and performs quite well, given what it is trying to be. The acting is solid, the screenplay and directing complement each other well, and the cinematography and effects are well worth the price of admission. There are no particular standout elements, but rather all the elements of the film mesh to create a truly enjoyable and thought-provoking filmic experience.
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