Spielberg & Cruise - a gift for those who have patiently waited

Rating: 10/10 (5 July 2002)

Spielberg & Cruise, the perfect partners in crime. The depth, darkness, tone, & message of the film all beautifully balanced. The special effects, put in their place, complimenting rather than dominating and well in short, it rocks.
Cruise plays Anderton, the cop in charge of pre-crime. In Philip K Dick's book Anderton is 40 odd and bald, (not a Cruise look a like) but Cruise takes hold of the character and makes it his own. There is no apology for the change and frankly no need. He shows his strengths but humbly shows his weaknesses, giving his character a reality around him that we can all relate to. He's not perfect, but who is.
The cast are all also very comfortable, Max Von Sydow holds the weight of his character squarely on his shoulders, Iris Smith as Dr Hineman plays well off of Cruise and Colin Farrell, (the first time I've seen him) proves he is a face I'll be looking out for again. And that's just naming a few of them. The rest of the cast pulls it together, there is no feel of supporting cast but instead a fluid relationship between them all.
The "think-tank" Spielberg brought together was also money well spent. Sci-Fi flicks based this close to our time, (this is set in 2054) have always had an air of failing to them as we were never quite convinced that the future that we were watching was gonna happen. It was just too close. However Spielberg's thought of that and his future is grounded in a more realistic reality. Gadgets galore but they are not that off the wall. They're all worth a look.
The colour of the film adds a grainy tone, the cinematography oozes a rich look and it's another Spielberg, Micheal Kahn collaboration that can be proudly added to both C.V's
I did ponder the fact that it's not perfect. And to say it was would be a lie. I got a couple of steps ahead at a couple of points and I was a bit unsure of the 12 rating it got in the UK as it was slightly more than some 12 year olds I know could take. It's not perfect but what film is? I haven't found one yet. It was great sci-fi entertainment and pulling it apart to slag it off actually doesn't achieve anything. I go to the cinema to be entertained and I was. It did it's job, it was visually breathtaking, well done Mr Spielberg.
And to finish on a high, Sam Morton, my last comment but definately not least. She is stunning to watch and her screen time with Cruise is something to enjoy. If she doesn't go further in the industry then she's been had!