Have you ever dreamt of living in a Utopian society? Can you believe that one day we all will be living in an ideal world without evil, wars, and crimes? In 1561, Thomas More described an imaginary island with a perfect social system. It was called “Utopia.” At that time, it was too difficult to believe in such a world. Sir More hoped that people would get used to such life in the future. Unfortunately, with time, it becomes more and more difficult to believe and accept the idea of “Utopia.”
In 2002, Steven Spielberg directed the movie Minority Report. That was another attempt to create and describe Utopia. The movie was based on the same name story written by Phillip K. Dick. The movie Minority Report interprets lots of ideas described in the book. Of course, the plot was changed a bit in order to make the movie a real action-adventure fiction. Minority Report is an amazing story about a world without murders and conflicts. This presentation of Utopia on-screen is verisimilar and impressive due to the successful implementation of film techniques, though the movie itself is aimed at proving that it is impossible to live in a perfect world where the actions of each person can be predicted and where free will and right of choice are ignored and changed for a life without crimes and conflicts.
Minority Report is a story about one of the possible versions of our future. Scientists created a new method to prevent crimes. Three pre-cogs (mutants with extrasensory perception) can see murders that are going to happen. They transmit the information received to the members of the police force. They name the murder, victim, date, and time of the crime. The pre-cogs visions make it possible for John Anderton (Tom Cruise), a member of precrime police, to discover the place where the murder is about to happen.
The film starts with a scene when pre-cogs see a murder. A quick reaction of the police, rapid searching, numerous images, and task-oriented actions – this is the way Spielberg chooses to begin the story. Such a beginning lets the viewers understand that a “utopian” society does not hesitate in making decisions. People do not pay much attention to the reasons for the crime. The only purpose they want to achieve is to prevent the crime and punish the perpetrator. Everyone believes that the chosen system has no drawbacks. Once, John said: “There has not been a murder in six years. The system, it is perfect.” (Minority Report) He could not even imagine that in several days all his ideas and beliefs will be wrecked.
After one more vision of pre-cogs, Anderton gets to know that he will commit the next murder. And what is more, he even does not know the victim. One of the pre-cogs sees that Anderton is not guilty, but unfortunately, the “majority” report has much more authority. So, John, with the help of one pre-cog, tries to prove his innocence.
Well, is everything so “perfect” in Utopia? Can it be that people forget about the right of choice and free will just in order to live without murders and conflicts? This is what the major character John Anderton of the movie will clear up.
John cannot understand how it is possible that he will kill a person whom he does not even know. He starts to think about whether the Pre-Crime system is really perfect. He wants to find cracks in the system that causes much indignation of other members of the Pre-Crime Policy—his abilities to plan and think logically over each step help to find and choose the right way. John has a purpose, and he knows that he must achieve it. It does not matter what ways he will use. His living principles turn out to be false. He should find a new way and accept the world as it is. So, his behavior deserves respect.
The physical settings of the movie also deserve special attention since they are indeed remarkable. Spielberg has always been famous for using rich decorations. Minority Report is not the only movie where Spielberg describes the future or past using modern technologies (among others are Transformers, Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, etc.) Flying cars, high-speed trains moving vertically, and transplants – all these captivate the viewers.
Spielberg’s use of sound and light is worth attention as well. Let us consider the fact that this movie earned nominations for Best Sound Editing (Academy Awards) and Best Visual Effects (BAFTAs). The sound design of Minority Report is rather aggressive. Even during the quiet moments, the sound background makes a viewer prick up ears. The greatest example is, perhaps, the scene when Agatha tells John about her mother’s murderer:
John Anderton: Agatha, just tell me, who killed your mother? Who killed Anne Lively?
Agatha: [whispering] I’m sorry, John, but you’re gonna have to run again.
John Anderton: What?
Agatha: [screaming] RUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!
(Minority Report)
After these words of hers, disturbing background music becomes louder. Such change with sounds makes the viewer worry about the character.
When I watched a movie on DVD for the first time, I thought that there was something wrong with my DVD because of its bleak and dark appearance. Yes, Spielberg’s use of lighting is quite unique. Steel and grey tones help to underline each detail in the movie. White light in the lab attracts attention and emphasizes that it is something different, not inherent to each character of the film.
Spielberg’s cinematography also contributes to the movie’s deeply impressing the reader. His way of presenting ideas and attention to each detail is noticeable from the very beginning. A scene when Howard Marks is going to kill his wife and her lover is a good example. He ascends the stairs slowly; the viewer does not see clearly his face or body. Spielberg uses shadows to underline that Howard’s presence at home is not that important and his role in his wife’s life is insignificant. Even when he is standing in front of their bed and is watching his wife making love with another man, he remains unnoticeable.
The flashforwards should be considered as anti-narrative attributes of the movie. Their presence distorts the plot of the story and hinders the derivatives. However, the methods Spielberg used while editing Minority Report are perfect. He mixed various methods of continuity editing. Remember the scene when Anderton and Agatha are walking in a crowd. She tells him to take an umbrella. A camera moves to a person with an umbrella, then to Anderton, showing how adroitly he takes an umbrella, and again moves to Agatha in expectation of what she will tell further.
Therefore, the unique plot of the story reminds the viewers that life in a perfect world involves a number of problems other than those which people encounter in a normal society; though people are able to live in a world without crimes and conflicts, they face unpleasant limitations of their free will and right of choice. Moreover, even the most perfect system can break down someday, leading to irrevocable mistakes. The director’s ability to make this idea clear for the viewers and his fantastic and appropriate usage of film techniques make the movie unforgettable.
In conclusion, Minority Report is a provoking and quite exciting fiction that leaves viewers in thoughts about the values of their lives. It is a story about people who got used to doing what is predetermined by someone else. They live in Utopia. What can happen when something goes wrong? Who is responsible for our future? Maybe, it is high time to understand that we can change our future in accordance with our own desires, rather than with the desires of someone else. Minority Report helps to perfectly realize the essence of life and even change it for the better.
Works Cited
Minority Report. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Steve Harris, and Samantha Morton. DreamWorks. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation. Cruise/Wagner Production. 2002.