The Adjustment Bureau (Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie, John Slattery, Terence Stamp) – Chemistry is a wonderful and elusive element on the big screen. As viewers, we know it when we see it. In watching Proof of Life, I remember wondering how then-lovers Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe could possibly have so little chemistry on screen. On the other hand, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt definitely have it in The Adjustment Bureau. The movie is a sci-fi, romantic thriller with an impossible premise but a deep philosophical question – do you believe in fate or free will?
As science fiction, I’d give it a B-. We see these men in dark suits and hats (Anthony Mackie of The Hurt Locker and We Are Marshall; John Slattery of Mad Men; Terence Stamp of Smallville, Wall Street, Get Smart, Yes Man and scores of others) in their secret hallways, basements, empty warehouses and massive libraries who walk through secret doors all over New York City, able to move at will and a great distances in an instant. It’s been done before.
As a romance, the film is an A. Matt Damon plays Congressman David Norris, a straight-talking bad boy who serves Brooklyn and is running for the Senate. His past comes back to haunt him and he loses the election but meets the girl of his dreams, Elise, on the night of his election loss. They banter easily, and the flame is ignited. On screen, it’s palpable. But there is something amiss, and we soon find out it is The Adjustment Bureau, aka the guys in the dark suits and hats. Apparently, David is destined to become a senator and perhaps president but Elise is not part of “the plan” as determined by The Chairman … you know, the guy upstairs. We’re everything but hit over the head that he/she is God since nobody has met him/her. We even find out why The Chairman and his Adjustment Bureau decided to take over and leave free will behind. The movie centers on David and Elise’s bond and total love, even as they are forced apart as David gets another shot at getting elected and Elise becomes a renowned ballet dancer.
As a thriller, The Adjustment Bureau is a solid B. It never disappoints in that it never bores us or threatens to put us to sleep. But it also never really surprises us. David and Elise run a lot – through the streets of New York, through corridors, and up and down steps. You have to be in shape to be in this film. And Matt is still in Bourne condition and Emily is quite a dancer. They are both incredibly versatile actors, too, having played serious and light roles adeptly.
As a total film, I really enjoyed it. I found the story more predictable than I expected but a lot of Philip K. Dick novels or short stories are like that (Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report). But as cinema, it is the kind of movie to enjoy once and never watch again.