Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell and Samantha Morton
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actors have made films making headlines news like Tom Cruise. Since his rise to fame in the 1990’s, Cruuse has been a beloved icon. Whether it’s spies enduring dangers, lawyers or soaring aviators, Cruise has portrayed many compelling characters. Arguably, Cruise’s best strength as an actor is his powerful commitment to his craft. He is one of those rare actors that has always put his life on the line by performing his own stunts. Even when he has suffered injuries, Cruise has never lost his passion for making memorable movies. An actor with a strong commitment toward his craft, Cruise has become an icon in entertainment. Although he’s best known for his role in the Mission Impossible series, Cruise has proven he can make engaging films in every single genre. Throughout his powerful career, Cruise has made several unforgettable movies that are absolutely worth talking about without any doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Cruise and adore all films which he has made in his career. However, “Minority Report” is definitely my favourite. Released in 2002, Steven Spielberg’s movie provided a powerful portrait of time travel. Packed with phenomenal production design, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it’s one of the best science fiction films ever made. At the center of it all is an incredible performance by Tom Cruise, who embodies a cop facing issues. Ultimately, what makes “Minority Report” a masterpiece is universal appeal. Unlike most films about time travel, it tackles strong themes which everyone will relate to. A spellbinding science-fiction film, there are countless reasons why “Minority Report” is worth seeing.
Set in late 21st Century, “Minority Report” follows a cop that prevents crime through using technology. Tom Cruise plays Chief John Anderton, a dedicated police officer seeking to prevent crimes before they are committed. Anderton has always excelled doing his job of preventing heinous crimes before they happen. However, Anderton’s life forever changes when he is accused of murder. Faced a dilemma, Anderson soon questions his devotion to his profession in the digital era. Forming a friendship with an artificially intelligent gifted robot (Samantha Morton), Anderton questions his devotion to a tense profession. As all the odds become stacked against his favour, Anderton begins to wonder whether he can ever solve crimes that are about to occur in the not so distant future.
Steven Spielberg has often been fascinated with themes of artificial intelligence. A great filmmaker, Spielberg has often made strong films about artificially intelligent robots that face disaster. His iconic movie “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” offered a meaningful portrait of artificially intelligent robots that in search of greater experience. With “Minority Report”, however, Spielberg made his first sci-fi film about time travel. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the struggle of artificially intelligent robots enduring adversity but he succeeded immensely. Through spellbinding cinematography, Spielberg captures a cop on a journey to control artificially intelligent robots causing adversity. Emulating Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner”; Spielberg expertly uses point of view shots to capture robots enduring adversity. For instance, POV shots enhance the robot meeting scene. During this unforgettable scene, Anderton has his first ever meeting with an artificial intelligent robot causing hardships. Using POV shots, Spielberg constructs a portrait of artificial intelligence which is compelling. POV shots are tricky techniques. As Tony Scott’s “Top Gun” suggested, POV shots enhance films about aviation. Nevertheless, it works well. Using stunning visuals, Spielberg captures tensions robots are facing.
Another strong aspect of “Minority Report” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the movie is well made. Inspired with Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: a Space Odyssey”, Spielberg deftly uses sound-design to capture artificially intelligent robots that face a decline. For instance, sound-design to capture lives of robots that decline. For instance, diegetic sounds elevate the future prediction scene. During this unforgettable scene, Anderton screens prediction of crimes that are going to occur in the future. Using stunning sound design, Spielberg captures robots that face a decline. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. John Williams’ music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie tense atmosphere capturing the burden that robots bear. Through production, Spielberg conveys artificially intelligent robots facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Minority Report” is a science fiction movie that’s engaging. Spielberg’s finest strength as a screenwriter is his abilities to capture time travel through non-linear storytelling. Inspired by Robert Zemeckis’ “Back to the Future”, Spielberg expertly uses non-linear storytelling to capture events in the future. For instance, non-linear storytelling elevates the criminals prevention scene. During this unforgettable scene, Anderton engages in an engaging act of future crime prevention. Through this non-linear structure, Spielberg creates a portrait of time travel audiences can relate to. Non-linear storytelling isn’t an easy technique to use in movies. As Doug Liman’s “Edge of Tomorrow” demonstrated, non-linear storytelling enhances films about alien invasions. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through an excellent screenplay, Spielberg captures artificial intelligence with a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Tom Cruise delivers one of his best career performances as Anderton. Cruise earned appreciation for playing soaring aviators in movies. With “Minority Report”, however, the actor took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a cop that seeks to prevent future crimes using technology but he pulled it off successfully. This is the star unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, moving and vulnerable in his most memorable role. Cruise has often excelled at playing heroes under pressure, and “Minority Report” is a showcase for him as an actor. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and resilience of a cop preventing crimes by technology. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated actors in Hollywood today.
While the film is mainly a showcase of Tom Cruise, the supporting cast is also amazing and merits recognition. Samantha Morton is spectacular, capturing the compassion of a robot which seeks freedom from oppression. Colin Farrell is captivating, capturing painful obstacles faced by a cop seeking to resolve crimes involving robots that prove powerful. Lastly, Max Von Sydow merits appreciation. As a technology pioneer, he brings wisdom to the movie.
Finally, “Minority Report” would achieve the appreciation for capturing crimes that are hard to report. Unlike most films about A.I., it tackles strong themes everyone will relate to. It discusses captivating themes such as ambition, mental health and technology that will resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be familiar with A.I. to admire it. Therefore, “Minority Report” is one of those rare films about A.I. which everyone would adore.
Fans of Tom Cruise would definitely enjoy “Minority Report” and so would audiences seeking enjoyable entertainment. A superb science-fiction blockbuster, it celebrates an actor with a charismatic nature.
Nearly 25 years following the release of an iconic science fiction film about cops under pressure seeking to prevent crime occurring in the future, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actor with charming nature that has built a strong legacy through ability to portray compelling characters in movies audiences treasure.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 