The Adjustment Bureau Review

The Adjustment Bureau is George Nolfi's directorial debut, but it is not the first time you've seen his work take place on the big screen. Nolfi shares writing credits on four other screenplays, The Bourne Ultimatum, Ocean's Twelve, The Sentinel, and Timeline. Fortunately, George Nolfi has sole writing credit for The Adjustment Bureau, which is loosely based on the Philip K. Dick short story, Adjustment Team. It's worth mentioning that Phillip K. Dick made many Hollywood heads stinkin' rich, long after his death in 1982, with his stories that often feature metaphysical themes, authoritarian governments, and altered states. His fiction, often pulled from his own life experiences, have been adapted into movies such as Blade Runner, Minority Report, and A Scanner Darkly

Matt Damon (True Grit, Invictus) stars as David Norris, a young and dynamic political figure running for the U.S. Senate. His sincere working-man charms have practically won every vote, but his impulsive past becomes front page news, crushing his campaign. As he prepares a defeat speech while in the men's washroom of a ritzy hotel, he is surprised to find himself in the company of a vivacious woman (Emily Blunt of The Wolfman, and Sunshine Cleaning) named Elise, who just happened to be hiding out. Elise, a dancer, is so alluring and reactive to David that they end up in quick-witted conversation and almost immediately share a kiss, but are interrupted by David's PR sidekick, Charlie Traynor (played by Michael Kelly of Unbreakable, Dawn of the Dead) and never exchanged phone numbers before departing. But as fate wouldn't have it any other way, things begin to turn strange and intriguing. Because fate wears fedora hats.

David and Elise were never supposed to meet the first time. And since David was going to spill his coffee at 7:05am in order to miss the bus in which Elise was sitting, they would never meet again. But the adjustment was mistakenly never made, so he and Elise were once again reunited.

David is then chased down by Security working for the Adjustment Bureau and placed within a classified industrial crypt where he is confronted by a group of serious-faced men in fedora hats and tailored suits. He is warned that any relationship he wished to have with Elise is, and has always been, totally off-limits. To make matters worse, if he ever takes the secret of the Bureau out into the 'real world', his memory will be erased, and devoid of any personality.

-Universal

The plot really takes off from here and throws you into very robust twists and turns, but it does not make you go stupid trying to keep up. Throughout the story, David is like a rat in a maze in search of a prized golden cheese, but it never becomes boring to watch. The future, according the Bureau, can be either very dismal or full of wonderful achievements for both David and Elise, each outcome depending on if they stay together, or live separate lives.

The Adjustment Bureau is a thriller and a romance with doorways that lead into science fiction and the supernatural. The drama plays out very well on-screen, however, besides a lot of running around, don't expect a whole lot of action. Still, it is very entertaining because of its originality, and is propelled by the awesome chemistry between Damon and Blunt.

Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker, Million Dollar Baby) plays Harry Mitchell as a member of the Adjustment Bureau responsible for manipulating David's free-will, and he plays the part well. Though his portrayal is a bit too solemn at times, by the third act he begins to ease into his role as a more reflective and compassionate confidant than his Bureau buddies. John Slattery (Iron Man 2, Mad Men) and Terrance Stamp (Valkyrie, Yes Man) both stimulate the film and fill the screen with their exceptional performances as two big heads that help maintain the design of the Adjustment Bureau.

The Adjustment Bureau is a memorable film, and so far one of 2011's best, with solid performances by all involved. First-time director George Nolfi deserves a round of applause, and a standing ovation for his writing. Oscar -winning Cinematographer John Toll (Braveheart, Tropic Thunder, The Last Samurai) has once again shown immense skill in beautifying the look and feel of a film, as well as renowned editor Jay Rabinowitz (The Fountain, Requiem for a Dream, The Stepford Wives).

It's a movie that reinvents the romance flick, with a refreshing dose of originality that is all very well executed. It will make you laugh, put you on the edge of your seat, leave you feeling rather curious and in the end, quite satisfied. I expect it to have high replay value when the DVD is released.

ReelHard Score: A-



Content Advisory:
The Adjustment Bureau is  PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexuality and a violent image. 

Sex and Nudity:
A woman wears a variety of cleavage-exposing dresses and short skirts.
One sex scene with implied nudity; bare backs, passionate kissing.
One scene where a woman dancing in a recital that shows cover-up 'dance' panties.

Gore & Violence:
A car crash with a little blood spatter.
A few physical punching scenes.
1 or 2 F-words, a dozen S-words, and a few usages of the word "ass".

Drugs & Alcohol :
A club scene with drinking