Minority Report review

Both Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise failed to come up trumps with their recent forays into the world of science fiction. Spielberg's A.I. was definitely not the film Stanley Kubrick would have made, while Cruise's Vanilla Sky was a wishy- washy affair full of dodgy psychobabble that very few people could have liked, let alone understood. The omens are not good then for their first collaborative venture as director and star, a full length feature based on a short story by Philip K Dick, the inspiration behind Blade Runner and Total Recall. But after a false start the film soon develops into one of the year's best offerings, a futuristic thriller that is highly imaginative, stunningly directed and hugely entertaining.

The year is 2054 and Washington DC is a benign and peaceful state where murder has become obsolete. This is thanks to the successful deployment of the Department of Pre-Crime, a unit so sophisticated that it can detect murders before they actually happen and arrest the would-be perpetrators. At the head of operations is Detective John Anderton (Cruise) who uses information acquired from three 'precognates' (floating bodies with the foresight to predict the crimes) to carry out his duties.

The opening section of the film does little to alleviate fears that it will subsequently be filled with similar sci-fi hokum. Full of tech speak and effects which Spielberg looks as though he kept over from A.I., it promises nothing more than another overly confusing futuristic affair.

But all of this changes when Detective Ed Witwer (Colin Farrell) shows up in an internal affairs manner intent on shutting down the unit before it goes nationwide. Checking out the latest data from the precognates, he soon establishes that Cruise himself is on the verge of committing murder. Cruise is forced to go on the run and to try and prove his innocence and the film takes off into another level. As a manhunt it is thrilling, as a science fiction film it becomes wonderfully imaginative and for two hours the pace is non-stop.

Spielberg is really on top of his game here. The plot could easily become a minefield of confusion dealing as it does with the complex timeshifts that are Dick's trademark but it is handled in an assured and accessible manner. The special effects are outstanding and you get the impression that the creative team had a lot of fun on this film - so many scenes are replete with ideas that are original and a joy to watch. Cruise is also on top form as the highly competent officer forced to run for his life.

Minority Report is way ahead of the last major Philip K Dick work to reach the big screen Total Recall. It is less dark than the seminal Blade Runner but for many cinemagoers will prove a far more enjoyable experience. It leaves the viewer with that rarest of feelings once the credits roll: of wanting to see it again as soon as possible.