Spielberg Grows Up!!

Rating: 8/10 (17 July 2002)

"What d'you think?" - The common question asked to me after watching a movie. "I don't know!" - The second time this has been my answer. The Last Time? A.I. It is now a full six hours since my Minority Report experience and my view is now "Impressive!" (Ditto AI, six hours past). For years Spielberg has entertained families and individuals with his storytelling classics but the Hook, ET and Jurassic Park years kept this moviegoer away from from the cinema apart from Schindlers and Private Ryan. Now though, Spielberg has proven himself to be of the class of the great Film-makers a la Kubrick and Hitchcock, wit his two thought provoking Future Dystopia movies. Spielberg himself says he is now making movies for himself. And let me tell you his selfishness is most satisfying!!!!!!!! Cruise is excellent as the flawed hero, Farrel is even better as the cocky, chewing gum munching Federal Agent, but Samantha Morton is most impressive as the troubled pre-cog Agatha, despite the fact that she barely has a line other than "Murder" for te first hour. But the real hero here is the script. Some great trading between Cruise and Farrel sets up an instant contest and the quality writing keeps the extremely convoluted plot easy to follow. As for Spielberg: This is two and a half hours of the expert storyteller cum film-maker showing off. This is his Citizen Kane. With obvious nods to Kubrick, mostly Clocwork Orange, it is obvious where his influences are. Excellent stuff Steve. You are now a must watch Director as far as I am concerned!!!!!