Fate versus Free Will. Are our lives going to go by a certain path no matter what we do, or do we control what happens? That is the theme of this year’s newest thriller, The Adjustment Bureau, starring Matt Damon (the Bourne series) and Emily Blunt (Young Victoria). Based on Philip K. Dick’s 1954 short story “The Adjustment Team,” this science-fiction story is fun to watch.
An aspiring congressman (Damon) has a bit of bad luck with his PR image, and in a chance encounter, meets beautiful dancer (Blunt). After a quick pep-talk in the men’s bathroom, they immediately kiss and say goodbye. Again by chance, they meet on the bus and their attraction to each other is intensified. With her number in his wallet, congressman David Norris goes to his office, happy, only to find strange people doing something to his frozen coworkers. After a little chase, the strange people reveal themselves to be the Adjustment Bureau, that they carry out people’s fates, and that sometimes it’s not chance that makes things happen. They caution him not to reveal them (on penalty of being “erased”), and give him one rule: he can never see the woman, Elise, again. Some time passes and chance brings them together again. After frequent interventions and “adjustments” by the Bureau, Norris decides to fight them for the chance to be with her.
This is George Nolfi’s directing debut. As a screenwriter, he has written the screenplays for Ocean’s Twelve and the Bourne Ultimatum, both starring Damon. For a first-time shoot, I think Nolfi did a fair job at directing. I expected the movie to be too cliché, but I have to say, he did a lot better than I thought he would. The most important aspect of the movie–and I cannot stress this enough–was the chemistry between the two actors, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. The way those two went together made the whole movie; you want them to be together. This is the kind of chemistry film-makers only dream about. Nolfi struck gold here.
The special effects were pretty basic, and they had a bit of a go-into-a-wardrobe-come-out-in-Narnia style to them. The costumes they used were perfect for the characters. Members of the Adjustment Bureau wore trench coats and fedora hats. Very cliché, I know, but it was almost too funny. The 50’s-secret-agent-man theme continues with the cryptic messages they pass on to Norris and the secret little black book they all carry. It’s not fitting for modern New York, but it added to the mystery around the Bureau. One thing I didn’t like was some of the ending. I expected it to end like the book 1984, but it was way too clean. It ended like a very old movie, with a simple, tied-up storyline.
Nolfi’s debut The Adjustment Bureau was definitely a thriller with a higher message. It has nice chase scenes and moments that will make you jump and flinch. It was a good and fun movie to watch, but it won’t be counted among the great films. But that doesn’t really matter as long as there is a compelling storyline, and The Adjustment Bureau isn’t lacking in that department. An eye-opener, I’m looking forward to watching Nolfi’s next movie.
kevin • Mar 15, 2011 at 9:36 PM
It was a pretty good movie, but the presence of Matt Damon ruins any movie for me. They should have casted a more talented actor, like Jack Black.
Vishal • Mar 16, 2011 at 9:12 PM
I agree. One critical talent Jack Black has that Matt Damon doesn’t have is the ability to envoke emotion. I was literally crying at the end of Kung Fu Panda because Jack Black’s phenomenal voice-acting just swept me off my feet. Bravo, Jack. Bravo. He would have made this movie 4 stars out of 4, and higher grossing than Avatar. My largest critique of Damon is the fact that he takes his role seriously. With such a serious plot, I see a character acting too much like a normal person in his position would act. He needs to learn from Jack how to act more over-the-top. A Jack Black-inspired character in such a serious plot would have kept the audience’s attention throughout the entire movie, as opposed to boring them with more adult characters.
Kevin • Mar 17, 2011 at 12:06 AM
My thoughts exactly. It’s about time that someone other than myself recognizes the true thespian power of Jack Black. The way he struts across the screen, the way he contorts his face to envoke simultaneously pity and envy, the way he shreds the most metal of guitar licks… he is unmatched by any actor of our day. Truly, Jack Black is the voice of our generation.
SPOILER ALERT
Michael Cera would have also filled the role well. When watch The Adjustment Bureau, one thing that I lusted for was teenage angst, and who better to add teenage angst than Michael Cera? Furthermore, his presence would add an awkward factor, which would have enhanced the movie exponentially. With Matt Damon, the protagonist and Emily Blunt’s character seemed to have a natural connection, as if they were meant to be together. If Michael Cera had instead been casted, the natural flow of conversation between the two character would have been ripe with extended pauses, mumbling, misunderstandings, and delayed, overthought retorts. This would have added additional tension, making the audience sit on the edges of their seats waiting to see what will happen next in the conversation. Without doubt, this film would be perfect if it had either Jack Black or MIchael Cera in it. Perhaps it should have had both, with Jack Black taking Matt Damon’s role and Mike Cera taking Emily Blunt’s. This would add an entirely new layer of depth. A popular, young politician who is also a homosexual is being persecuted by an Illuminati-like organization because he cannot become president if he is with him. Then the film would be truly a work of genius, a work of art.