Portrayals of John Anderton
Imagine a world in which the thought of murder is a thing of the past; a world that has successfully abolished the system of jails and fines with the aid of gifted individuals that can predict the future (Dick 72). Such a crime free world exists in Philip K. Dick’s famous short story, The Minority Report. Using the adaptation made by screenwriters, Scott Frank and Jon Cohen, DreamWorks was able to release the film version of Dick’s short story in 2002. Furthermore, this futuristic age film was directed by the famous director, Stephen Spielberg. The main focus of the short story and film surrounds the lead character John Anderton and his efforts to understand the minority report. In comparing
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He does not know to whom to turn, and feels like everybody and anybody is out to bring him down. His wife, Lisa, and Ed Witwer, the young man brought in to replace him when he retires, are two of the main individuals he suspects as his conspirators. Furthermore, unknowing to Anderton, his so-called victim and the one behind the conspiracy, Kaplan, sends one of his men, Tod Fleming, to help Anderton escape his predicament. This was Kaplan's way to bring Anderton and his Precrime unit under the Army’s control. In his quest to find the minority report, the document that is to prove his innocence and clear his name, he discovers the truth about his true “friends” and “enemies”. This discovery also enables him to prevent the army from obtaining control of domestic policing in the nation (Landrith). The story concludes after Anderton fulfills the prediction made by the precogs and kills Kaplan, he is then punished for his crime by being sent into exile to a far away region in the galaxy.
Who is John Anderton? In the Philip K. Dick’s short story he is the founder and commissioner of the policing unit, Precrime. He is described as “bald, fat and old”, and is in his mid-fifties. One of the successes of the adaptation of the character of Anderton onto the big screen is that the movie portrays Anderton as a younger and more active man than in the short story. Appealing to the mass audience of
When thinking about the well known comedy Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare the audience is quick to focus on the wit and comedy that the play has to offer, rather than the understated villain who easily disappears in the background. While reading the play, one can posit that Don John is not the typical villain who acts with a specific motive in mind, rather, he is acting out of an obligation he feels to serve as an antagonist considering his position as a bastard. This is demonstrated in his dialogue, which reveals his inner turmoil on being chained to the villainous role and his willingness to act on any malicious opportunity that presents itself to him. This is significant in that, it provides another layer to our villain and causes the audience to think beyond the first layer that is easily presented, and into the true inner motives of the character.
Kaplan is the retired "General of the Army of the Federated Westbloc Alliance" (79), aiming to abolish Precrime and re-instate the Army. He is eventually killed when Anderton discovers the plan and fulfills his "majority" reports and shoots Kaplan, thus condemning himself but saving Precrime. The basis of Precrime’s operation, the three precogs named Jerry, Donna and Mike, are described as grotesque, inarticulate parodies of human beings, with swollen heads and withered bodies, retarded both physiologically and mentally. Their physical repulsiveness is demonstrated by Witwer's reaction to seeing the precogs for the first time: "For the first time Witwer's face [loses] its breezy confidence. A sick, dismayed expression [creeps] into his eyes, a mixture of shame and moral shock. 'It's not—pleasant,' he [murmurs]. 'I didn't realize they were so—' He [gropes] in his mind for the right word, gesticulating. 'So—deformed.'"(73). Conversely, in the movie, Anderton can walk with Agatha through a crowded mall and streets without drawing much attention (precogs are even, in fact, deified by the police force and the public). Also, in the film, John Anderton is a trim, athletic man in his 30s or 40s, and Police Chief of Precrime. Out of
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In society, social problems are often brought to the public’s attention through popular culture and media. The compelling film, Fruitvale Station, directed by Ryan Coogler is a nod to many social problems found in the United States of America today. The film portrays social problems like poverty among minorities, racial profiling and especially police brutality through the last 24 hours of Oscar Julius Grant III’s life. The star-studded film not only pays homage to Grant but also to the ideas of poverty and police brutality. The film all but shouts at the audience that the minorities, especially African Americans, suffer from many economic and social disadvantages that needs attention. At the 2013 Sundance Movie Festival by means of great
The method is more subtle in Minority Report, but it is still present; the show “COPS” is shown on television to emphasize the horror of crimes, so the public will support the Precrime program. Due to these factors the source of power is impossible to be fought against; consequently, corrupt governments maintain
In the novel “A Prayer For Owen Meany,” John Irving creates the character of Owen as a foil to John, the protagonist. Owen Meany embodies the qualities of a true leader while John grows more like his father: doubtful and lost.
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Chapter two of "The Minority Report" represents many features of the Pre-crime Commissioner John Anderton, but one of his qualities that was obviously found in his character was that his manner was not normal: For instance, he was cautious above all, suspected of his condition and the people around him, the fundamental suspect of Anderton was Witwer with the argument that once he was arrested, the pre-crime would be under his control; For example, when John Anderton understood his behavior, he turned to his better half Lisa, who examines the circumstances with her about how the general population tries to frame him purposefully and perniciously. John Anderton said: “This creature is out to get my job. The Senate is getting at me through him.
Through his reaction to his encounter with the ‘resurrected’ Mouse, Easy provides Turner 19 an example of the crucial relationship of the ‘badman’ and ‘bad nigger’ in Mosley’s detective fiction. As the moments ticked by, I got used to seeing him. That was easy because Mouse had never really been dead for me. I took him everywhere I went.
But Minority Report attempts so much more. It brings a spiritual angle into the story with
Minority Report takes place in the year 2054, crime is virtually eradicated from Washington D.C. due to the Precrime crew. The program uses three gifted humans, known as Pre-Cogs, to see in the future and predict crimes beforehand. John Anderton, the head of Precrime, believes that the system is flawless, however, the Pre-Cogs
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The Minority Report is a film that tries to stop crimes before they happen, with the enlistment of 3 teen pre-cogs. These pre-cogs predict future murders and the authorities swoop in and arrest the would-be murders, before they have the chance of committing the crime. Even thing goes great until Anderton, a cop played by Tom Cruise, is suspected. Written by Philip K. Dick and then turned to film by Steven Spielberg in 2002, the short story to film became a success. Though there are many differences between the book and the movie, one would think Steven Spielberg would not be able to grab audience’s attention, but with his skills, Spielberg went above and beyond all measures. Many times, novels to films end up being either a great hit