The Adjustment Bureau

[Moviemath]

The Adjustment Bureau

Starring: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Michael Kelly, Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, Terrence Stamp
Director: George Nolfi
Written by: George Nolfi [Screenplay] , Philip K D*ck [Short story: 'Adjustment Team']
Rated: Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexuality and a violent image
Studio: Universal Pictures

INTRO

David Norris: All I have are the choices I make, and I choose her, come what may...


SCENARIO

Political wunderkind David Norris is running for the United States Senate. An imminent loss at the polls unexpectedly brings him face to face - in the mens' room! - with the woman of his dreams. Her effect on him is life changing and on a chance second meeting he is compelled to sow the seeds of a fledgling relationship by acquiring her phone number on the back of a business card. She also tells him her name is Elise.

Fate has other plans however in the form of the Adjustment Bureau - an All Boys' Club of mild mannered fedora-wearing fascists who love nothing better than to interfere in peoples' lives should they veer from a predestined path set down by 'The Chairman' - God by any other name.

In David's case he is essentially abducted, interrogated, warned never to see Elise again, and threatened that should he 'disobey' this order his brain will be expunged rendering him a mindless vegetable. Ironic considering David is presently a politician. The Bureau team take the business card from David's pocket and burn it - his only hope of contact with Elise lost.

Three years pass and David's and Elise's paths cross once again but this time his resolve to be with her is palpable. The Bureau concomitantly begin their relationship destroying offensive against our lead couple this time with the help of Thompson an AB heavyweight who clarifies to David his life as future President of the United States is in jeopardy as is Elise's career as a world famous ballet dancer. Should they consummate a relationship all this glory would be forever lost. On advice David abandons Elise - more for her sake than his own - his heart deflated like a pin pricked balloon.

Eleven months later David is running for election again and sees an announcement of Elise's coming wedding... to someone else. Enter Harry the guilt ridden AB 'case officer' overseeing David's destiny. Armed with uncommon compassion he decides to help David find Elise so they can be together and thusly begins the penultimate chase sequence where David & Elise are finally cornered on a rooftop above New York by the Bureau team...

What happens next you ask? You'll have to go see the movie!!!


THE GOOD STUFF

Damon is convincing in his role as politician David Norris and exudes enough likeability to keep us interested in his plight. Blunt as Elise is equal to the task as Norris's potential girlfriend and appears relaxed and unforced on screen.

I enjoyed Norris's concession speech at once hilarious and inspiring something we'd love to see in reality but will only ever happen in a movie.
Some light humor dotted throughout worked for me, I laughed when Norris is returned to his office after being interrogated and rather than walk him through the office door a group of thugs unceremoniously pick him up and throw him through instead.

There is just enough intrigue and wonderment to keep the movie interesting. Some of Norris's resourceful tactics to avoid the Bureau-crats made for an interesting watch.


The NOT-SO-GOOD STUFF

I could critique lots of little things in this movie but I don't really care to. It's Twilight Zone Lite for want of a better phrase. As a Fringie I found the fedoras a distraction with their obvious parallels to the Observers. A few little plot holes and implausibilities later the credits were rolling to sighs of 'How lovely...'

That about sums it up I think!


WRAP UP

It's fantasy romance with likeable leads and a somewhat intriguing premise for good measure. Not as scary as the short story 'Adjustment Team' by Philip K D*ck but a sincere effort nevertheless. One could ponder the deeper issues of free will versus predestiny but such a discussion will not be indulged here.

Not recommended for action freaks or non-emotional rationalists at a little under one and a half hours viewing time Adjustment Bureau is saccharin soaked popcorn fare with a smattering of sci-fi and minimal brain tax. Recommended more for young couples seeking a ninety minute escape.

I'll give this one:


Rating: 5.5/10



.

[Residents Fan]

I saw this movie and I thought it was a good romance/thriller (Damon and
Blunt had good chemistry), but not a good sci-fi movie. Terence Stamp is nearly always worth watching,though. I'd give it 3/5.

BTW, another Fringe connection: Michael Kelly (aka John Mosley) plays Charlie Traynor in TAB.