Based on Philip K. Dick’s 1956 short story of the same name, Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report is a captivating techno-thriller set a century after it was written yet deals with themes that are timeless.
Buy Minority ReportIn 2054, John Anderton (Tom Cruise) is the commanding officer for the Department of Precrime, a federal agency that apprehends murderers before they commit their crimes because of a trio of psychics called “precogs” whose sole purpose is to alert the authorities with their premonitions. While unable to foresee other crimes, thanks to their help there have been no murders in Washington D.C. for six years.
John is driven by the loss of his son Sean (Tyler Patrick Jones), who disappeared under his care. That led to divorce from his wife Lara, whom he still loves, and his abuse of illegal street drugs.
Whether the Department of Precrime will continue is going to be voted on by citizens, which leads to Department of Justice agent Danny Witwer (Colin Farrell) snooping around, including where the precogs are kept, a normally off-limits room. When alone, the main precog, Agatha (Samantha Morton), touches John and asks, “Can you see?” But she shouldn’t be aware of him as the precogs can supposedly only see the future. John investigates Agatha’s first case and finds the data of her vision is missing.
The next murder the precogs reveal John as the killer of a man he has never heard of before. Before his peers can capture him, John escapes and goes to see Dr. Iris Hineman (Lois Smith), the creator of the precogs. He learns their origins as children of drug-using parents. More importantly, he learns the three precogs don’t always agree. When that occurs, the minority report is destroyed instantly so doubt about the precogs’ abilities and about the legal system isn’t created. John has to go back and see if Agatha, the strongest of the trio, has a minority report about John stored within her. He breaks out Agatha and goes in search of his future murder victim, but will he be able to escape his fate?
Under Spielberg’s direction, the film moves at a good pace thanks to camera movement by cinematographer Janusz Kamiński’s team and editing by Michael Kahn, both long-time contributors. The screenplay by Scott Frank and Jon Cohen also keeps things moving. It is filled with a lot of good plot twists and thought-provoking ideas such as whether the loss of one life to save hundreds is acceptable and technologically targeted marketing.
The video has been given a 2160p/Dolby Vision HDR/HDR10 encoded transfer is displayed at the film’s original aspect ratio of 2.39:1. Kamiński’s color scheme starts out dim in muted blues and washed-out grays, not only reflecting the bleakness of the future but of John’s mental state. A flashback to Sean’s disappearance shows brightness, and stronger colors and contrast, which continue in the present as John starts to unravel the mystery. While on the run in a mall, the sunlight is overexposed. The higher definition makes the visual effects, particularly a scene where John is jumping across cars, more obvious.
The audio is available in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Dialogue is clear. Composer John Williams’ score is emotionally evocative and helps propel the action, and action sounds fill the surrounds. The effects are predominately delivered across and positioned in the front speaks. The louder ambient action effects make their way to the rear speakers. The subwoofer delivers strong but not overpowering bass.
An additional Blu-ray disc contains Special Features from previous releases:
- The Future According to Steven Spielberg (HD 34 min) – The director talks about various aspects of the different stages of production, from coming onto the project, making the technology as realistic as possible, to the visual effects and music.
- Inside the World of Precrime (HD 10 min) – a promo for the program
- Phillip K. Dick, Steven Spielberg, and Minority Report (HD 14 min) – Various topics covered such as the author, the story’s themes, and the movie with interviewees such as Dick’s daughter, Isa Dick Hackett; Dick biographer Gregg Rickman; and various crew members.
- Minority Report: Future Realized (HD 7 min) – the approach to creating the in-film tech.
- Minority Report: Props of the Future (HD 10 min)
- Highlights from Minority Report: From the Set (HD 9 min) – the filming of two scenes is revealed.
- Minority Report: Commercials of the Future (HD 4 min) – A focus on targeted media. Could be “ Commercials of the Present.”
- Previz Sequences (HD 4 min) – Two scenes are presented with a split-screen view of the previz sequence and the completed scene.
- From Story to Screen (SD 19 min) – One part looks at the story and its themes. The other looks at the cast and their characters.
- Deconstructing Minority Report (SD 34 min) – Includes an examination of the film’s world and visual style, the Precrime building sets, the Spyder robots sequence, the precog visions, and the vehicles.
- The Stunts of Minority Report (SD 9 min)
- ILM and Minority Report (SD 19 min) – A look at the special effects.
- Final Report (SD 4 min) – Cast and crew weigh in.
- Production Concepts – Preproduction concept art
- Storyboard Sequences – Matched with film audio.
- Trailers
Minority Report is one of Spielberg’s best films of the century. The action and mystery draw the viewer in while the themes and concepts stay with the viewer after the end credits. The UHD’s A/V presentation offers an accurate transfer of the film to home theater while an entire Blu-ray disc of extras allows one to dig deeper into its creation. Well worth owning.
