Minority Report

An Analytical Exposition Essay based on the Film "Minority Report"

Imagine a place where everyone knows your name, the streets are filled with smiling faces, and murder has all but been obliterated. Minority Report, one of Steven Spielberg's latest films set in 2054 Washington DC, encapsulates the very real struggle between law enforcement and civil liberties in an accessible yet thought-provoking way. It is a story that dramatises issues of privacy, individual liberty, and determinism. The films futuristic vision is dazzling yet remains unnervingly dark, wowing the eyes whilst challenging the minds of the viewers. This quiet cohesive and well-constructed film offers the viewer a futuristic reflection of our society and our present-day concerns, and in so doing, a prediction of the future societal trends. Clever use of film techniques and cinematography also help to position the viewer to accept the film's dominant discourse that the future is a cold, isolated and an unwelcoming place.

Director Stephen Spielberg speaking at the Pentago...

English: Steven Spielberg at the 2011 San Diego Co...

Steven Spielberg, Kate Capshaw

Within this film, there are some seriously provocative and menacing themes afoot in the future-world of Minority Report, giving it a unique and deep character all on its own.

Minority Report is a story which revolves around Chief John Anderton (played by Tom Cruise), a detective who works for the newly formed justice police department called Pre-Crime. Aided by three perceptive individuals with psychic powers - Agatha (played by Samantha Morton), Dashiell (Matthew Dickman), and Arthur (Michael Dickman); the 'Pre-Cogs' are able to envisage future murders in advance. Having deciphered the exact time and location of the murder from clues within the "dreams" of the three pre-cogs, the detectives rush to the scene and quickly arrest the perpetrator in the act of thinking about the deed. John was convinced that the system was flawless and prefect. However, while the...