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Matt Damon is doing things a lot of top movie stars are once in a while affrighted to do: spreading his effigy thin amidst a range of roles, directors, and material. His forays away from the big successes of, say, the Bourne movies or the Ocean’s series which have highlighted his wholly realized amount of energy as a buff action hero who may likewise slip effortlessly into natural comic charm aren’t precisely risky. His effigy as a leading-man movie star is pretty much sealed, but in movies like The Informant, Invictus, Hereafter, True Grit, and others, he’s stretching numerous dissimilar muscles that take him closer to character-actor territory. That has for the most part been a good thing for his fans, if not for his box-office stats. The Adjustment Bureau takes him someplace in between–he’s in leading-man territory with the Damon charisma in full bore and giving his all to a story that needs the toned actorly muscle he provides.
Based on a novelette by science-fiction icon Philip K. Dick, The Adjustment Bureau discloses a cadre of people who are either superhuman or nonhumans and control the world by magically influencing the fate of each single person in it. Damon plays David Norris, an aspiring politician who rose from working-class origins in Brooklyn (a not-so-closeted skeleton that now and then comes back to haunt him) to wealth and the likely promise of high office. Unfortunately, David takes galore liberties with his fate that don’t correspond with the narrative laid out by “the Chairman,” the entity in charge of the Adjustment Bureau autocrats whose sameness fedoras are none-too-subtle symbols for wings. The movie evades any mention of religion, but those hats and references to the Chairman are huge winks. Emily Blunt is the evenly likeable presence who screws up the Chairman’s plan in concert with Norris. They fall for each other hard again and again, constantly thwarting and confounding the bureau’s best-laid adjusting tricks at each turn. Though it is often times simplistic in it is plot contrivances, the movie is nifty, clever, nimbly paced, and filled with ingenuous special effects. Especially impressive is the recurring motif of doors that are virtual wormholes–a closet that leads to the middle of Yankee stadium, an Escher-like maze of group discussion rooms that constantly double back on themselves (shades of the dizzying door sequence in Monsters, Inc.). Another cool visual prop are the plain bound books bureau functionaries carry that are filled with intricate, animated schematic diagrams that chart the course of a life and how it interacts with others. John Slattery, Anthony Mackie, and Terence Stamp round out the uniformly magnificent cast headed by Damon and Blunt, and with the slick production design and inventive effects, the shiny performances go a long way in adjusting up any dramatic shortcomings The Adjustment Bureau may have improperly calibrated. –Ted Fry
David Norris (Matt Damon) glances the future Fate has planned for him…and chooses to fight for his own destiny. Battling the powerful Adjustment Bureau across, underneath and through the streets of New York, he risks his destined greatness to be with the only woman he’s ever loved (Emily Blunt).
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #1793 in DVD
- Brand: Universal
- Released on: 2011-06-21
- Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Original language: English
- Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
- Dubbed in: French, Spanish
- Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
- Running time: 106 minutes
Reviews
58 of 70 people found the following review helpful.
A romantic sci-fi suspense thrill ride!
By amerdale876
Just as Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (Widescreen Edition) was a love story with a slightly different angle of sci-fi-type themes, “The Adjustment Bureau” is a sci-fi/suspense love story. It may seem a bit out there or far-fetched, but, trust me, it works! Matt Damon and Emily Blunt have amazing chemistry together; it’s easy to root for these two as they take on the agency that’s doing everything within their unlimited power to keep them apart. The movie, based on a story by Philip K. Dick (also responsible for Blade Runner – The Final Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition), Paycheck (Special Collector’s Edition), Minority Report (Widescreen Two-Disc Special Edition), Total Recall, A Scanner Darkly, Screamers, Next), does well with its story and pacing. The acting is well done and it definitely has “multiple viewing” potential (especially for fans of Damon and Blunt). The great thing about this film, though, is not just the overall idea of the film, but also the questions that arise from such a film. Would you sacrifice a better life for your love? This film explores that idea with both sides being equally explored. “Adjustment Bureau” is one of the best of the year so far and highly enjoyable.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful.
Not surprised to see negative reviews but that means..
By BeijingEr
Not surprised to see negative reviews but that means the movie is not for everyone. I like movies with a meaning. If you do too, then don’t miss this one. Some reviews referred it to Matrix, well this is a Matrix movie, only unfortunately when people watched the Bourne trilogy the Matrix, they were attracted more by it’s drama, tense, fighting and visual effects. Not too much like that in the Adjustment Bureau. BUT, in the sense of meaning, a beautiful woman who’s born to be the soul-mate of any intelligent/remarkable guy, this movie is outstanding. It’s sharing the same ‘truth’ of the Matrix, explaining that our mind has always been imprisoned and our freewill never will get us what we could have had. We were born to believe what THEY want us to believe, adjusted if you dare for anything more. Ever had the impulse that you had to do something no matter what, but suddenly some accident hit you? Ever wondered when you are desperate and was asked: are you OK? Do you ever have the chance to say: No, actually I’m not OK. I did that once and the person who tried to show some concern simply froze with a wide open mouth. You are a performer wearing masks to say and do what you are supposed to, who cares about what you really wanted? You do multiple-choices as if you have freewill, but pretty often none of the choices reflect your liking. As a woman you are supposed to please your guy and even sleep with guys you don’t like. As a man you have to kiss asses and keep your mouth shut, qualities more important than any of your glorious credentials. On the surface, it’s a peaceful world in perfect order around you, deep in the heart you might felt you are always being watched. Why do we go to sleep 1/3 our time here on earth? You never knew where your soul had been in the darkness: adjusted? Remixed? or Replaced? Ever wanted a soul mate who will understand you totally unconditionally like you can give up the entire world just to have her? Do I need to go on? A 5 star movie.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful.I liked it alot
By L. J. P. Boros
This film was well done. Without ever once bringing religion into it, it covered the discussion of Free Will vs Destiny as it relates to two people in love.
Someone may quibble over the one mention of angels but seriously not once did I feel like any one was proselytizing for any viewpoint over another. Delightfully refreshing in this time of polarization and fanatacism.
Watch it and decide for your self. I plan to buy this one for my library.
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