The Adjustment Bureau
by Dante Rosario on March 3rd, 2011
The Players: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Michael Kelly, Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, and Anthony Ruivivar.
The Game Plan: David Norris (Matt Damon) is a popular young Senatorial candidate with a commanding presence and solid lead in the New York Senate race, but it all comes crashing down when a controversial photo surfaces and costs David the election. While preparing for his concession speech, David has a brief, but powerful encounter with a beautiful and mysterious woman named Elise (Emily Blunt).
After some time passes, David meets Elise again and their relationship begins to fill the void of loneliness in his heart, their happiness is derailed though when David comes face to face with a group of strangers that appear to be following him and controlling all of the key decisions he makes in his life. To make matters worse David finds that Elise is not a part of the life the enigmatic group has planned for him, and if he ever wants to see her again he must turn against his fate, even if it means destroying both his and Elise’s life.
Dante’s Thoughts: The Adjustment Bureau attempts to tackle the concept of fate, by asking the question… Are we truly in control of our lives? When did fate become so complex? Apparently when a group of angels disguised as secret government agents took over the day-to-day operations of Heaven.
Whether you believe in destiny or not, this film has a little something for everyone; the plot is intriguing, there are a few fairly good comedic moments, and a love story that explores the extreme lengths two people will go to in order to overcome the obstacles that are keeping them apart.
Matt Damon leads a solid cast with his charming portrayal of would-be Senator David Norris. Despite the complex nature of everything going on around him, the character turns out to be a likeable guy that audiences will be able to relate to. Emily Blunt’s portrayal of the elegant and witty ballerina Elise is as commanding as Damon’s and the two compliment each other very well throughout the movie. Mad Men star John Slattery shows once again that he is a man of many faces, by turning in an equally strong performance in his role as Richardson, a member of the shadowy Adjustment Bureau.
Touchdown: The plot of The Adjustment Bureau scores major points by giving the audience a familiar, yet different take on the idea of fate. By daring the audience to ask itself if the encounters we have everyday are truly only chance, or if they are actually part of a much larger design, this film manages to spark a conversation that will no doubt continue even after the end credits have finished rolling.
Penalty: The only flags, but not major penalties, go against the huge gaps in the timeline of the plot that popup in the middle of the story, and the somewhat repetitive nature of David and Elise’s relationship. Although their love affair is a key plot element there were times when I found myself wondering when the resolution would come.
End of Game Summary: If you like pondering questions of fate or if you wonder whether or not the decisions we make in our daily lives are really our own, then you’ll enjoy The Adjustment Bureau.
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