SusannahTHE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU
March 27th 2011 06:05
The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
Starring: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, Terence Stamp.
Written & Directed by: George Nolfi
Phlip K. Dick knows how to make good movies. Of course he himself does not make films, but his body of science fiction writing has formed the basis of many a classic sci-fi film. From successes such as Blade Runner, Total Recall and Minority Report, to lesser entries in the genre, Next, A Scanner Darkly and Paycheck, no one can argue that Dick’s ideas don’t form a great basis for filmic storytelling.
Such is the case with The Adjustment Bureau, the first feature directed by screenwriter George Nolfi, of The Bourne Ultimatum screenplay fame, and adapted by him from Philip K. Dick’s short story, The Adjustment Team. Matt Damon plays a politician called David Norris, who is unavoidably drawn to contemporary dancer Elise Sellas, and she to him, but there are mysterious men in fedora hats who are contriving to keep them apart. It turns out that Norris has a bright political future ahead of him, including one day becoming president, and Sellas has great potential as a dancer, but not if they stay together. That is where The Adjustment Bureau, as the fedora sporting men are called, step in to “correct” people’s futures, to stop them deviating for the path that has been set out for them. But the situation turns out to be more complicated than even the Bureau anticipated.
It is through the genre of romantic, action, sci-fi thriller that Nolfi crafts an engaging story about free will versus fate. Norris believes that he is in charge of his own destiny, that he is the originator of all the big decisions that he makes in his life. However, when he walks in on the agents of fate making an "adjustment", he realise that fate, or destiny, is actually controlled by men in grey suits who have certain powers which they can use to make sure that destiny stays on course. These powers include altering events (within limitations), such as spilling coffee, which will only have a small ripple effect on other events. They can pass through doors that are shortcuts between places in the city, and they carry notebooks which track their subjects, letting them know when they are deviating off course. Their powers are not unlimited. The altering of events only works within a certain radius, and their powers are inhibited by water. They say they are not angels, but they work for someone whom they refer to as The Chairman, who writes a plan for everyone, and their job is to make sure that people follow the path set out by the plan. When Norris finds out about them, they try to reason with him, but tell him that if he ever reveals their existence, they have the right to erase his mind. Norris decides to risk all for love when the Bureau tells him it is not part of his plan to be with Elise.
As the lead characters, Norris and Elise, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt have a believable chemistry that makes you buy into the fact that they would risk the wrath of fate to be together. Thankfully, Nolfi avoids the usual uptight guy meets free-spirit cliché, developing more rounded characters that are believable as people. Blunt and Damon's dialogue together positively crackles. Elise is a free, creative type, but that does not mean Norris' politician is a square. He is shown to be a match for her by his first campaign for office crashing and burning due to the publication of photographs of a college reunion prank that involved mooning. He then gives a very unconventional concession speech for which he conversely receives great praise. Much is also made of the constant stress he gives his campaign manager due to his unconventional ways. Such is the attraction that he feels for Elise that after the film skips ahead three years in the narrative, it is revealed that he rode the bus everyday for those three years in the hopes of seeing her on the bus again. This after having only met her twice, and all the while knowing that the agents of fate are conspiring against him ever seeing her again.
There are some nice supporting turns from Anthony Mackie and John Slattery as Bureau agents. Despite trying to keep Norris and Elise apart, their characters are sympathetic, and they come across as guys simply trying to fulfil the task that has been set them. The agency is not portrayed as a sinister organisation, but instead they are there for the good of humanity. They explain that because of human being's repeated tendency for self destruction when they are given free will, then their destiny must be taken out of their own hands, for their own good. It is for a greater good that Norris must fulfil the plan laid out for him. The film asks the questions: is Norris being selfish in putting his own happiness ahead of that of the greater good? If someone fights hard enough, can they change the plan that has been written for them?
The film looks good too: set in an art deco style New York, with noirish overtones, and a sci-fi blue tint to the cinematography. There is also a cameo from The Daily Show's Jon Stewart, as himself, when Norris appears on his show, twice, to talk about his political career. A nice touch, given that that is exactly what a New York politician like Norris would do. Damon is always watchable, and gives quality performances. Blunt is eminently watchable, and, like Natalie Portman for Black Swan, undertook real dance training to convincing play a real life dancer.
It remains to be seen whether The Adjustment Bureau becomes a classic Philip K. Dick adaptation, but it is certainly an accomplished, confident and assured directorial debut from Nolfi.
Watch the trailer for The Adjustment Bureau:
Starring: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, Terence Stamp.
Written & Directed by: George Nolfi
Phlip K. Dick knows how to make good movies. Of course he himself does not make films, but his body of science fiction writing has formed the basis of many a classic sci-fi film. From successes such as Blade Runner, Total Recall and Minority Report, to lesser entries in the genre, Next, A Scanner Darkly and Paycheck, no one can argue that Dick’s ideas don’t form a great basis for filmic storytelling.
The Adjustment Bureau poster
Such is the case with The Adjustment Bureau, the first feature directed by screenwriter George Nolfi, of The Bourne Ultimatum screenplay fame, and adapted by him from Philip K. Dick’s short story, The Adjustment Team. Matt Damon plays a politician called David Norris, who is unavoidably drawn to contemporary dancer Elise Sellas, and she to him, but there are mysterious men in fedora hats who are contriving to keep them apart. It turns out that Norris has a bright political future ahead of him, including one day becoming president, and Sellas has great potential as a dancer, but not if they stay together. That is where The Adjustment Bureau, as the fedora sporting men are called, step in to “correct” people’s futures, to stop them deviating for the path that has been set out for them. But the situation turns out to be more complicated than even the Bureau anticipated.
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt in The Adjustment Bureau
It is through the genre of romantic, action, sci-fi thriller that Nolfi crafts an engaging story about free will versus fate. Norris believes that he is in charge of his own destiny, that he is the originator of all the big decisions that he makes in his life. However, when he walks in on the agents of fate making an "adjustment", he realise that fate, or destiny, is actually controlled by men in grey suits who have certain powers which they can use to make sure that destiny stays on course. These powers include altering events (within limitations), such as spilling coffee, which will only have a small ripple effect on other events. They can pass through doors that are shortcuts between places in the city, and they carry notebooks which track their subjects, letting them know when they are deviating off course. Their powers are not unlimited. The altering of events only works within a certain radius, and their powers are inhibited by water. They say they are not angels, but they work for someone whom they refer to as The Chairman, who writes a plan for everyone, and their job is to make sure that people follow the path set out by the plan. When Norris finds out about them, they try to reason with him, but tell him that if he ever reveals their existence, they have the right to erase his mind. Norris decides to risk all for love when the Bureau tells him it is not part of his plan to be with Elise.
David Norris meets The Adjustment Bureau
As the lead characters, Norris and Elise, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt have a believable chemistry that makes you buy into the fact that they would risk the wrath of fate to be together. Thankfully, Nolfi avoids the usual uptight guy meets free-spirit cliché, developing more rounded characters that are believable as people. Blunt and Damon's dialogue together positively crackles. Elise is a free, creative type, but that does not mean Norris' politician is a square. He is shown to be a match for her by his first campaign for office crashing and burning due to the publication of photographs of a college reunion prank that involved mooning. He then gives a very unconventional concession speech for which he conversely receives great praise. Much is also made of the constant stress he gives his campaign manager due to his unconventional ways. Such is the attraction that he feels for Elise that after the film skips ahead three years in the narrative, it is revealed that he rode the bus everyday for those three years in the hopes of seeing her on the bus again. This after having only met her twice, and all the while knowing that the agents of fate are conspiring against him ever seeing her again.
Emily Blunt as Elise Sellas
There are some nice supporting turns from Anthony Mackie and John Slattery as Bureau agents. Despite trying to keep Norris and Elise apart, their characters are sympathetic, and they come across as guys simply trying to fulfil the task that has been set them. The agency is not portrayed as a sinister organisation, but instead they are there for the good of humanity. They explain that because of human being's repeated tendency for self destruction when they are given free will, then their destiny must be taken out of their own hands, for their own good. It is for a greater good that Norris must fulfil the plan laid out for him. The film asks the questions: is Norris being selfish in putting his own happiness ahead of that of the greater good? If someone fights hard enough, can they change the plan that has been written for them?
John Slattery as Richardson
The film looks good too: set in an art deco style New York, with noirish overtones, and a sci-fi blue tint to the cinematography. There is also a cameo from The Daily Show's Jon Stewart, as himself, when Norris appears on his show, twice, to talk about his political career. A nice touch, given that that is exactly what a New York politician like Norris would do. Damon is always watchable, and gives quality performances. Blunt is eminently watchable, and, like Natalie Portman for Black Swan, undertook real dance training to convincing play a real life dancer.
Anthony Mackie as Harry
It remains to be seen whether The Adjustment Bureau becomes a classic Philip K. Dick adaptation, but it is certainly an accomplished, confident and assured directorial debut from Nolfi.
Watch the trailer for The Adjustment Bureau:
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