David Norris
has a bright future ahead of him in politics. He meets the girl of his dreams by chance. He loses the race and
he soon finds out he is part of a plan by a place called the Adjustment Bureau who manipulate the lives
of many according to the plan the Chairman (from above) sets for humankind. The Adjustment Bureau goes to great
steps to prevent David and the new love of his life, Elise being together. they weren't supposed to meet a second
time, but they do because a moment isn't adjusted in David's life. He walks in on the Adjustment Bureau doing
their adjustment on one of his co-workers and the bureau levels with David on what they do. David is determined to
find Elise again (he takes the same bus for three years- I call that love).
THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU is adapted from a short
story by sci-fi legend Philip K Dick (whose works have been adapted into several other movies including BLADE RUNNER and TOTAL
RECALL) called THE ADJUSTMENT TEAM. It is a metaphysical sci-fi film. It questions whether we have
choice and free will. It also asks how much does chance play in our lives and what would happen if we discover
chance was being manipulated. How far would we risk to be with someone we love?
I believe in
finding the one I love and so THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU's story and the motivation of David Norris.
The bureau sends in one of their heavy hitters, Thompson (Terrence Stamp), to tear David and Elise apart. However, one
of the bureau has reservations about the Plan for David and he levels with David about it. The movie sets up it's rules
like the bureau can't predict things when you're on water or in the rain. Uptown New York City is complex to navigate
because they have so many short cut doors to choose. They need to wear special hats to go through doors.
Matt Damon and Emily
Blunt have great chemistry. You want their characters to be together. Also the direction is great
along with most of the script, but I wish they held off the reveal of the bureau until David stumbles upon them (which they
could have done by editing out a few scenes in the first half hour). Other than that, I loved THE ADJUSTMENT
BUREAU. Go see it for a smartly crafted sci-fi film.
this movie review is (c)3-13-2011 David Blackwell and cannot
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