The Adjustment Bureau

Running Time: 1hr 45 min
Release Date: March 4, 2011
Director: George Nolfi
Starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie
Dropps: 7.5/10

In life many people have thought over whether their life is predetermined or if they have complete control or their own action.  In the film The Adjustment Bureau audience members are given this idea of fate versus free will is addressed.
The Adjustment Bureau is about David Norris (Matt Damon), a New York politician with a bright looking future.  After he meets a woman, named Elise (Emily Blunt), in two night and then again a month later in a coincidental moment his life is turned upside down.  A mysterious task force warns David from contacting Elise because it is not in the cards.  Can David change his fate and keep the girl or will his life be stuck others’ laid out plans?
The film is based on the short story that was written by Philip K. Dick.  Through out the last three decades his short stories and literary works have been adapted for the screen.  If you have heard of or seen such films as Blade Runner, Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly or Minority Report you know what his stories are like.  With this in mind you can understand how the film is works in the thriller genre but there is romance added.   It may also give you a good indicator at how the film will play out on the screen.
Besides having a good story to build the basis of the film, there was one major driving force and his name is George Nolfi.  Nolfi has only worked as a writer on such films as The Bourne Ultimatum, The Sentinel, Ocean’s Twelve and Timeline as well as co-producing The Sentinel.  Nolfi upped his resume by directing, producing and writing the screenplay for The Adjustment Bureau.  The story is well sculpted and flows well in a linear fashion, the audience doesn’t leave with huge unanswered questions.
The actors in the film did a really great job bringing that words to life and maintaining the world of the film.  Matt Damon and Emily Blunt have a lot of chemistry between the two of them as David and Elise.  While watching the film it is easy to see the draw invisible link between the two very different people.  Other than the two main characters there was a great casting in the use of Terence Stamp and John Slattery as members of the Bureau.  Slattery brings the logical aspect to the pure belief that whatever he is ordered to do is correct. Stamp is great as the scary enforcer angle of the Bureau.  If you have seen Stamp you know that he can just be scary standing still and looking then adding in the threatening tones to his voice or just voicing threats he makes you feel small.
In the end the film is more than you could really imagine.  There is romance, suspense, a little action and some unexpected little comic moments so, different film tastes are covered.  To be quiet clear for those reading this film is worth the money of a theater ticket.
- Ashlynn Williams