Minority Report | Deseret News

Summary

MINORITY REPORT —** 1/2 — Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Max von Sydow, Samantha Morton, Kathryn Morris, Neal McDonough, Lois Smith, Peter Stormare, Tim Blake Nelson, Mike Binder; rated PG-13 (violence, profanity, drug use, gore, brief sex, vulgarity); see the "On the Screen" column on Page W2 for complete listing of local theaters.

MINORITY REPORT —** 1/2 — Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Max von Sydow, Samantha Morton, Kathryn Morris, Neal McDonough, Lois Smith, Peter Stormare, Tim Blake Nelson, Mike Binder; rated PG-13 (violence, profanity, drug use, gore, brief sex, vulgarity).

It seems that it's been ages — nearly 10 years — since Steven Spielberg made a movie that could be categorized as "fun."

After receiving his first taste of Oscar gold for 1993's "Schindler's List," the newer, more mature Spielberg has followed up that film primarily with more social-conscience epics — chief among them, 1997's "Amistad" and 1998's "Saving Private Ryan" (the latter having redefined the war movie and upped the ante for graphic movie violence).

But somewhere along the way he also seems to have lost his sense of youthful exuberance, and while these films have been technically brilliant, they're not a real joy to watch.

For 90 minutes, "Minority Report" appears to be the film that bucks that trend. Though it features the desaturated colors and darker tone that dominate later-period Spielberg (which makes it something of a companion piece to his flawed but fascinating "A.I. Artificial Intelligence"), this science-fiction picture is a kinetic thrill-ride. That is, until it collapses under the burden of big ideas and hole-ridden plotting.

The result is somewhat satisfying — it still comes from Spielberg, who has never made anything that wasn't at least watchable. But it's also disappointing to a certain degree. (Also, the film seems to warrant a more severe rating than PG-13, considering how nasty some of the violence is, along with material in the final third.)

Set in the future, "Minority Report" brings together Spielberg and Tom Cruise, who stars as Pre-Crime Det. John Anderton. Having lost his son, Anderton now does his best to prevent murders before they happen. Aiding him are three "pre-cogs," who have visions of future murders. Anderton and his team of detectives then lock up "suspects" before their crime actually occur. Consequently, Washington, D.C., is now murder-free.

But the methods used are questionable, which is why the Justice Department sends in an FBI agent, Danny Witwer (Colin Farrell), to investigate the city's Pre-Crime Division. Witwer appears to be concentrating his efforts on Anderton, who suddenly becomes a murder "suspect" — and who finds himself on the run from his former colleagues.

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