"The Adjustment Bureau"

(USA, 2011)

The Adjustment Bureau (Universal Pictures)

Universal Pictures have gone all out to direct attention to their latest offering, “The Adjustment Bureau,” a romantic thriller written and directed by George Nofli, starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt.  

A comment on the significance of choice, where any one movement makes terrific ripples not only for ourselves but also for others, the film touches on many aspects of human life while applying sci-fi and thriller treatments to an adapted script (from a Philip K. Dick short story).  In this way the film is reminiscent of the recent Oscar-nominated “Inception,” where a versatile writer/director bends the form of genre by inviting the depth of deeply psychological and existential dilemma. 

“The Adjustment Bureau” tells the tale of David Norris (Damon), a promising politician with critical character flaws.  On his focused path through corporate and political America, Norris meets a beautiful ballet dancer named Elise (Blunt), in the rather unromantic setting of the men’s bathroom where he is preparing a concession speech. 

The rest of the film successfully works as a thought-provoking drama that shakes the audience into questioning their own life goals and choices. The picture’s most powerful message lies in the almost cripplingly disturbing realization of the ultimate sacrifice - that falling in love with someone may spoil the chance for ultimate professional success.  

The film embodies higher power and control over the human race in the form of the Adjustment Bureau, a superhuman organization run like a corporate business, to add the metaphor of God and his work in fate. This film does what all good movies (and pieces of art) do: it makes the viewer question his or her own humanity. 

Throughout the film, Nofli demonstrates his premise that love conquers all, even the promise of fulfillment of the most highest ambition. He suggests that while fate may be one’s biggest enemy, the forces of human will are strong enough to inspire those who control our “plans.”    

“The Adjustment Bureau” in effect lets Matt Damon be a part of a film that combines everything he seems to like in movies (except that it’s not set in Boston). He gets to be outwardly strong and yet vulnerable on the inside (“Good Will Hunting”). He gets to run around a bit and punch some guys ("Bourne" series). And he gets to fall in love and be serious about it, which is something most movies, and movie-goers, quite like to see.

Reach reporter Michael Juliani here.