“Minority Report”: a high-tech throwback to noir PI films

Disclaimer: This is a review, and as such will contain opinions, spoilers and (often) general shit talking. (If you talk about what you don’t like about a work, you learn a lot. When you think through a work with the stakes presented to you by the creator, by the context of the work, you learn a lot. I review things, not because I love to dislike things, but because dislike contains rich and vital information for the process of experiencing something, but I cannot access it without interrogating it.) So, if you don’t want to have this thing spoiled for you, or don’t know how to behave when a person on the internet, that you don’t know, has opinions that don’t line up with yours, this review is not for you. It’s also not for the author/creator of the work. Please and thank you.

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Minority Report is a Steven Spielberg sci-fi film from 2002, loosely based on a short story by Philip K. Dick.

The story is set in a futuristic society in Washington, D.C., where a highly advanced law enforcement division called Precrime has been established.

Precrime uses a trio of genetically altered humans known as “Precogs” to predict and prevent future crimes. These Precogs have the ability to foresee murders and other violent acts before they happen, allowing the police to arrest and detain individuals for crimes they have not yet committed.

The story follows John Anderton (Tom Cruise), a dedicated Precrime officer who oversees the operation and relies on the Precogs’ visions to apprehend criminals before their crimes occur.

This system is not without controversy, as it raises ethical and legal concerns about arresting individuals for “future” crimes based on the predictions of the Precogs.

Things take a dramatic turn when the Precogs predict that John Anderton himself will commit a murder in the near future.

Faced with this shocking revelation, Anderton goes on the run to evade his own colleagues and attempts to unravel the mystery behind the predicted murder.

As he investigates, he discovers inconsistencies in the Precogs’ visions and begins to question the infallibility of the system he has dedicated his life to.

It combines elements of science fiction, thriller, and dystopian storytelling as Anderton races against time to clear his name and uncover a conspiracy that challenges the very foundation of the Precrime system.

Visually, it has heavy noir influences, and is a successful attempt from Spielberg to recreate an older style of film (unlike Star Wars: Clone Wars).

The film explores a lot of themes around technology use and ethics.

Free will, determinism, privacy, ethics, and the potential dangers of relying on advanced technology for law enforcement and societal control among them. In essence, it has everything you want an engaging sci-fi to have.

One of the first themes is stated early on in the film when the technology is explained: predestination vs. free will.

We’re presented with a society that holds individuals accountable for crimes they technically haven’t committed yet. Can you do that? And what are the repercussions of essentially condemning as-of-yet innocent people?

And what about personal agency? Does the ability to predict future actions negate the personal agency of the individual?

And what about the observer effect?

I’m glad you asked.

The observer effect, in the context of quantum mechanics, refers to the phenomenon where the act of observing or measuring a quantum system alters its behaviour.

Unlike classical physics, where observation doesn’t affect an object’s properties, in the quantum realm, particles exist in probabilistic states described by wave functions until measured, at which point the wave function collapses into a specific value.

This interaction between the observer and the observed system disrupts the delicate quantum state, making it challenging to simultaneously determine certain pairs of properties (like position and momentum) with precision, leading to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

The observer effect suggests that the act of observation is inseparable from the behaviour of quantum systems, challenging traditional notions of objectivity and raising questions about the fundamental nature of reality.

In essence; you can never observe something in a fully “raw” or “unaltered” state.

While the film doesn’t directly delve into the quantum mechanical observer effect, it does explore the broader implications of observation, prediction, and the potential for such knowledge to shape human behaviour and decision-making.

Minority Report inhabits a world where surveillance and monitoring is constant and invasive.

And consensual. Well, to a degree, because how much choice do you, as an individual, really have?

Besides, even today we choose convenience over ethics because we just can’t imagine life without next-day deliveries.

The citizens of the Minority Report society are aware of this extensive surveillance and it affects how they behave in general.

A consequence of this can be an apathetic and complacent society, when everyone is constantly being fed a personalised stream of information without experiencing diverse perspectives.

This lack of exposure to different ideas can lead to a stagnant intellectual environment, where individuals become isolated within their own echo chambers.

As a result, critical thinking and open-mindedness may diminish, hindering the growth of innovative ideas and impeding progress.

When individuals are shielded from differing viewpoints, it can also breed intolerance and dehumanisation. Without exposure to diverse voices and experiences, people struggle to empathise with others who hold contrasting beliefs or come from different backgrounds.

This can create a polarised society, where individuals are more inclined to dismiss or vilify those who think differently, deepening divisions and reducing opportunities for meaningful discourse.

(Sounding familiar yet?)

Minority Report analyses the role of media and highly personalised advertising in a future where electronic advancements make the presence of media a constant:

I think this can then be interpreted as a kind of social “observer effect,” where the act of observing future criminal behaviour, as well as tracking every move of every citizen at all times, influences and shapes the actions of the individuals and the system (as is the case with Anderton).

This also leads into a bigger question about the broader societal impacts of relying on technology to solve complex social issues.

As technology becomes more integrated into decision-making processes, it raises questions about the reliability of these systems and the potential consequences of blind trust in technology.

The Precogs’ predictions are assumed to be infallible, yet the film challenges this assumption.

Anderton grapples with the concept that his predicted future can lead to a self-fulfilling prophesy.

Just not necessarily in the most predictable way.

Agatha’s visions of the future, and the actions taken to prevent them, can set events in motion that may not have happened otherwise.

In this sense, the Anderton’s awareness of his predicted future and his attempts to alter it echo the concept of observation influencing outcomes.

The fact that you prevent it from happening doesn’t change the fact that it was going to happen.

— John Anderton, when defending the Precrime system

The film also wrapped up just a few months before 9/11 and being released in the aftermath of those events made it eerily relevant with its questions of how much privacy you’re willing to trade off to have security (the repercussions of this still echo in the US today as the overturning of Roe V. Wade can lead to disputes over the constitutional interpretation of privacy).

This brings us to the ethics in law enforcement.

Lawyers and due process has gone out the window and been replaced by technology. You don’t get a chance to defend yourself any more, from arrest it’s a straight, unobstructed path to conviction.

How does a criminal justice system maintain legitimacy when it relies on predictions that may be false or open to manipulation?

Whether or not it’s just to punish someone for a crime they haven’t yet committed is something Anderson doesn’t even think to question until it’s him in the cross hairs.

Technology being manipulated for political and personal gain (steaming, hot cup of Brexit anyone?) leads to the question of how technology can be used or exploited. When powerful individuals have access to advanced technology, how can we prevent it from being used for unethical purposes?

As the story progresses, and Anderton is forced to question his biases, he grapples with the idea of personal responsibility when it comes to crimes that have yet to occur.

Should an individual be held morally and legally responsible for actions they may take? And how can society determine guilt or innocence in such a context?

As Anderton questions the system he has devoted his life to, he comes face-to-face with the ethical dilemmas that law enforcement personnel face when following orders that conflict with their personal values.

This is where the throwback to old noir movies comes in.

Film noir is characterised by its dark and moody visual style, complex characters, and often involves mystery, crime, and moral ambiguity.

PI films are a subset of noir that focus on a detective or private investigator solving cases that have gone cold or that no one else will touch because they’re especially violent or offensive. Or sometimes seen as inconsequential because it’s a woman asking for help, and she’s seen as misguided, morally corrupt or even guilty.

My first introduction to the femme fatale was in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and it set me on a path of loving film noir, diving deeper into how the stories of these women were told.

Speaking of women, Agatha is an interesting character.

Agatha’s character reveals both moments of progressive representation and lingering gender dynamics.

Her portrayal showcases a blend of empowerment and constraint, highlighting both the film’s attempts at subverting traditional gender roles and its adherence to certain narrative conventions.

Agatha’s ability to foresee future events grants her immense agency within the story.

As a Precog, she occupies a position of authority and influence, possessing knowledge that shapes the fate of individuals. This positions her as a force to be reckoned with, subverting traditional narratives that often marginalise or undermine women’s voices.

Her unique abilities impact the direction of the story, thus establishing her as more than a passive presence.

She challenges the notion of women as passive victims or background characters, redefining her role as an active participant in her own narrative. This challenges the patriarchal assumption that women exist primarily to advance male characters’ journeys.

While Agatha’s interactions with Anderton are significant, they don’t solely define her character.

Rather, it’s her connection with Anderton that’s the catalyst for the narrative. Her interactions with other characters emphasises her wider network of relationships and her role beyond Anderton.

She also doesn’t perform femininity, appearing more androgynous.

Her hair is shaved short, her clothes are functional rather than ornamental — her costuming and make-up are much more reminiscent of how men are dressed and portrayed in film.

In essence, she isn’t required to be conventionally pretty to be a fully functional character.

Agatha is central to the plot, driving the narrative and not a love interest for the male protagonist, which is great. Too often Hollywood movies insist on adding romantic elements that are only to the detriment of the story.

More than once her wisdom saves them when she and Anderton are on the run.

And even though she’s visibly struggling with her body, needing Anderton to physically support her and prop her up, she’s still in full control of her mind.

It would have been easy to portray her as an Ingenue (in the vein of Leeloo in The Fifth Element), but Agatha speaks in full sentences, articulates well and argues with Anderton competently.

It’s her emotional depth and empathy that humanises her and, by proxy, Anderton.

Yet, despite her agency, Agatha’s fate is ultimately entwined with Anderton’s journey, her ultimate purpose tied to his actions.

Agatha’s position as a Precog raises questions about the nature of power and control.

The exploitation for her abilities mirrors larger societal patterns of harnessing women’s talents for the benefit of others – the film even explicitly states that she’s the key to making the Precrime system works, as she’s the most talented of the hive mind and “takes care” of the other two, male, Precogs.

Agatha’s intersectional identity—her role as a woman, a Precog, and a marginalised individual—adds layers of complexity to her character.

While the film doesn’t fully explore these intersections, they offer potential avenues for discussions on the compounding effects of oppression and identity, just as Agatha challenges the narrative structure that often places women in service to men’s stories, she fails to fully transcend it.

Agatha represents both strides toward feminist representation and areas where traditional gender dynamics persist.

A great thing about Minority Report is the tight pacing.

It’s so tight, in fact, that you aren’t left with a lot of time to think about the things that seem off or the deeper implications of the world and narrative.

Especially on the first watch. But even subsequent viewings will easily threaten to pull you into the pace, the scenes moving quickly and ratcheting up the tension.

Though the themes explored in the film are timeless as well as timely, the film itself hasn’t aged as well.

Watching it 20 years later, it feels campy, the action sequences lean more towards cartoony than realistic, and the acting is at times incredibly melodramatic.

Having said that, it’s an easy watch and you can just tune out and do something else when it gets too cheesy.

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