Minority Report - Precognitive Detective Work May Already Be Here

Back in 2002, Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg teamed up to bring us a science fiction thriller that is worth a fresh look. The movie itself, has aged quite well. This is a science fiction story from Philip K. Dick that warns us of the dangers of precognitive technology. While the movie is full of action, there is a great story that is more relevant today, than it was when the movie first came out. The technology that is part of the plot was not on the radar, however times have changed since its release.
The plot centers around the idea of the possibility that crimes can be solved using precognitive technology. This new technology could be life changing for future victims of crimes, as it would thwart the worst crime of all, the loss of life. Every idea has a beginning. In the movie, a new crime division is piloted in Washington DC which had one of the highest murder rates in the nation.  Thanks to the pilot project, murders have not occurred for 6 years. However, there is more than meets the eye regarding the ethics of the pilot program.
While there are plot twists and turns, the foundation of Minority Report is the ethics of such technology being used to solve crimes. I have always felt this is Tom Cruise's best movie. While he carries the action scenes with ease, he has to carry the burden of the technology throughout the movie. This involves him being more complex than we are use to seeing him in films. He was chosen to lead this unit for a reason. We travel on a journey, thinking we are going to see another movie with the "cocky" Tom Cruise we are use to seeing, however in this movie he is flawed. This serves the movie very well and his casting for this part was brilliant in my opinion.
The movie resonates more today. There is a connection to the 2016 election that many may not realize. Since 2002, the Russians and many tech firms have been mining our data for years to create precognitive models. Without exploring the ethics of such models, our current situation is hauntingly similar to the ethics that is the backdrop for this film. Once the technology exists, who manages the ethics behind such usage? Will tech firms and governments ultimately use it for the wrong reasons. Of course they will and we have the evidence now.
The 2016 election is about the usage of precognitive technology to rig elections. We are led to believe that it is about one side or the other colluding with the Russians.It is more complicated than we are led to believe.  In my opinion, this is why we have not seen indictments or impeachment proceedings. Doing so, brings out the truth about companies have create precognitive models for manipulating our elections. And, both parties tried to use the technology for their own benefit.
Ever wonder why your friends and families have such a strong reaction to social media posts about each party? Those posts are based on studies of our behavior via data mining. It is quite fascinating to think that precognitive technology already exists. Your friends and relatives have predetermined algorithms ready to strike at an moment to shore up a vote for certain party or candidate. Check it out for yourself the next time you are on social media. Watch how your friends share mindless posts constantly to get another person to support a point of view. They never question the origins of the post. Instead they embrace and support the leanings by trying to convince others to feel the same way. 
Science fiction tries to warn us about a future in which technology is used in manner that is unethical. Minority Report is a great example how a bold prediction in 2002 can come to fruition today. Precognitive technology is here folks, and we may want to heed the warnings from this movie.

Rocketman - A Lesson About Trauma

Rocketman was not a commercial success at the box office. It was most likely a flop due to the subject matter. The critical lens of what makes a movie "great" is sensationalism. Movies with depth tend to fail. In my opinion, the depth of Rocketman hurt the box office. I am not this movie is what fans wanted, however I found it to be quite a powerful story.
The primary plot is not about Elton's music, it is about his childhood, and the impact it had on his life. It is deeply personal, most likely impacted by Elton John himself, who produced the movie. I never knew much about Elton John going in to watch the movie. I thought it would be about his music, rise to fame, or outlandish costumes. Instead, the story was centered on Elton's early childhood experiences. He had two parents that lacked any type of attachment to their son. The only attachment bonding that existed in his childhood came from his grandmother. Elton's father was cold, and verbally abusive. He never loved his son. His mother could be emotionally unattached, and selfish. This would be the construct of how Elton saw his world.
Rocketman is a great example that abuse does not have to be physical. Parents can be verbally and psychologically abusive. The idea that verbal abuse is less serious than physical abuse is a myth. The movie also clears up is people on the surface can be successful, while living with the torment of abuse. That torment leads to addiction issues and self harm. Elton struggled most of his adult life with the emotional abuse of his childhood.
Another subtle theme is how early childhood experiences impact our choices for adult relationships. Elton was looking for love. Love that he did not have from his parents. His quest to be loved led to abusive relationships. In order for Elton to be successful in love, he had to understand his past. This is a foundation for Trauma Informed Care. Our past impacts the present and the future. A powerful statement from a movie I thought was about the limelight. Instead, it was about the person, and anyone watching this movie with an open mind will be impacted by it's message.

Black Mirror - Black Museum (Part 3 in a series)

My final review for Black Mirror is Black Museum. This episode takes a controversial look at Utopian solutions to problems we face today. It has been the goal of humans for the past 5000 years to create Utopian societies. In order to have this type of society, we have to figure how to manage deviant behaviors. Black Museum explores our current fascination with criminal behavior.

The Black Museum is a combination of science fiction and realistic fiction. It delves into the darkest parts of our soul. What struck me while watching this is the irony of this show being on Netflix. A streaming service that profits from the same misery that this episode explores. We give awards and accolades for Making of a Murder similar to the Museum of artifacts of criminal injustice.

It might seem to be a stretch that one person can be a part of many miscarriages of justice, however look at our current political climate. One person can be indicted for a series of events that impacts all of us. It leaves people wanting justice against those who harm so many. Criminal Justice is similar to big Pharma. Recidivism is an allusion when profit is concerned, leaving many to want fairness and equality for family members that were victims of such a system.

Dark and complex, Black Museum represents the spirit of parallel universes to explore our own. In the coming weeks, I will have an additional 3 episodes to recommend. Black Mirror successfully does what many have failed to do in the past, and that is bring the spirit of the Twilight Zone to our modern world.

Black Mirror - Nosedive (Part 2 in a Series)

Black Mirror's Nosedive explores the increasing dependency rating systems of social media by humans to help shape our view of the world. We currently live in a world in which the 5 star rating system is currently used to shape how we see a business or event. When you search a business on Google, you can see the ratings. The same for FB or YELP. People can rate a business or event.

Beyond the rating, is a dark side. People with mental health issues can anonymously berate a business or event. 1 star and a degrading remark based on an unstable reaction to an experience. The irrational can cut like a knife on how people perceive a business, especially if they are new. 

What would happen when we create a system for humans being rated?  Would we apply the rating systems to privileges and access to class systems? This episode addresses the peril that can be caused by a virtual caste system. The episode explores how such a system can impact human development. From early childhood to adulthood, the rating system impacts self-worth.

When you think about it, this is an extension of the means tested society that exists today. We constantly reinforce self-worth from age 3 to adulthood. Children at identified and placed in programs that shape their reality and perception. Poor and rich are divided by school placement. Race and gender has evaluative processes from early on that determine self-worth. Nosedive warns us of a world that extends the reach of shaping our perception of who we are supposed to be in the world we live in. 

Another aspect this episode that is critically important is the story of the Truck Driver. A glimpse into the future of healthcare. Pay close attention to means testing care. We already have started to incorporate the philosophy of rating systems into our current healthcare system. A dark warning regarding the direction we are heading. 

Shaping is a huge part of rating systems. The intent of information sharing via ratings helps create a society that is extremely impersonal. We become detached from allowances for bad luck, or tragic events that impact a human life. You are only as good as your last rating, and this is very dangerous. 

Black Mirror - Shut Up and Dance (Part 1 of a 3 part Series)

Finally, there is a  series that brought the Twilight Zone into  the modern age. My daughter talked me into checking out Black Mirror on Netflix. I am skeptical, but I gave a shot.To my surprise, the series brought the spirit of the Twilight Zone, and examined contemporary issues surrounding technology.

Many episodes expose how our lives have been conditioned to revolve around algorithms. Ironically, Netflix is a great example when you think about it. It recommends movies that you "might" like based on algorithms created by your viewing. Patterns of behavior guided by behavior analysis. This is the world we live in, and their is a dark side. For this reason, I am going to suggest 3 episodes from the series that are a must watch.

Shut Up and Dance takes us down the dark side of a carefully planned algorithm. The episode consists of vignettes of technology impacted interactions among individuals. They will cross paths based on a series of algorithms that encourage them to commit crimes or be shamed for personal indiscretions. This was a common story line in the Twilight Zone. Ultimately, it is easy to manipulate human behavior towards a dark path.

Technology has a dark side, that can utilize our brain's sub-conscious layers that lead to dark thoughts. This episode captures how men, are easily manipulated by their poor choices exposed by technology. While set in the future, we can use technology today to have similar results. The parallel universe of the Black Mirror is why I love this series, because similar to the Twilight Zone, the dangers that exist in the future are currently here today. We just have to recognize them.

White Right Meeting the Enemy

White Right Meeting the Enemy is a documentary about a Muslim journalist, from the UK who is confronted with vicious hate by White Nationalists after an interview she participate in discussing multiculturalism. The anonymous (of course) attacks were vile included terms like "Sand Ni#$%$ and Shit Skin. There were also personal death threats against the journalist. Online examples of the darkest parts of our humanity set the tone for what it feels to be attacked for your beliefs or the color of you skin. Many watching the documentary surely felt the ugliness of the attacks, however what makes this documentary unique is the approach the journalist takes to confront the enemy.

Deeyah Kahn (the journalist)  takes a dramatic step towards decency by trying to find the humanity behind the hate she experienced. She comes to the United States and immerses herself into the White Nationalist movement. Truthfully, you can not get more authentic experiences than what she went through. The timing of her arrival in the United States was uncanny. (She was filming during the horrible events in Virginia.)Vicious at first, and then the humanity slowly beings to arrive once interactions among enemies occurs. It was quite telling, and in my opinion the best example how we should confront hate. Isolation from these groups solidifies the hate, while interaction brings about change in personal values and insight. There is a transformation happening as she gets to know the leaders of the movements.

Why is this documentary so important?  Too often ,we choose rallies over personal contact. Dissent is often resolved on social media versus personal contact. Most people who hate have been victims of trauma. The hate comes from a space that all us have shared at one point in our life. It is difficult for humans to see the humanity in our actions, when actions are aggressive towards another human being. However, we have a responsibility to confront hate with compassion and understanding, as crazy as this statement must sound. Hate is often attributed to environment, and the best way to change the narrative is to introduce people to new environments. A very very powerful point that this documentary makes is we all have a responsibility to see the humanity in our actions, while judging the actions of others.

The Keepers

The Keepers is a documentary series on Netflix is important on many fronts. The series is a about the murder of Sister Cathy, a Roman Catholic nun who was a teacher in Baltimore Maryland. We are introduced to former students of Sister Cathy that clearly know there was a cover up of her death by the church and local political entities including law enforcement. How do they know? They were victims of abuse by the same person the possibly killed Sister Cathy.

What makes this documentary important is the detail of cover ups by the church and local officials. It is truly disturbing the great lengths the Roman Catholic church will go to to protect one of their own priests. The collaboration by local law enforcement demonstrates what lengths the cover ups can involve high ranking people in our community. The documentary also shows how clever the perpetrator of abuse uses a technique of building relationships in the community to protect them from being help accountable.

For the last 25-30 years, we have learned about the Roman Catholic cover ups. Globally as well as nationally, we have heard countless examples of abuse and cover ups. What this documentary explains is how it happens. Additionally, we learn the great lengths how a community can be powerless to stop abuse. The victims, go through a process of injustice and shame while the deviant personality creates a wall that can be impenetrable.

The documentary is important and provides a contrast to our nation's fascination with the current leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis. Our mainstream media has a love affair with this Pope which is based on his words, not actions. This is why people need to watch The Keepers. To understand that there are hundreds of thousands of victims that continue to be denied justice by the current Pope. The Pope's words are nothing but empty promises.

Until the Catholic Church takes responsibility for the actions of their clergy, we will continue to see cover ups and abuse. One of my favorite lines in the movie was from a former student who is in her late 60s. She said, 'I hope I can see the day that the person who murdered Sister Cathy is brought to justice." My heart ached, as she was an abuse survivor, She wanted justice for Sister Cathy, not herself. Even though. the person abused her and murdered Sister Cathy are the same person.. How powerful is her statement. Such a powerful testament to help us understand how trauma can last a lifetime if left unresolved, yet through hope the victims of trauma seek justice. Truly powerful.