"The Adjustment Bureau" review: Matt Damon and Emily Blunt fight fate
(CBS) More of a true romance than the sci-fi thriller it's being advertised as, George Nolfi's directorial debut takes a fresh, yet somewhat old-fangled approach to the question "Is the power of love and free will greater than the power of fate?"
"The Adjustment Bureau" is based on a loose adaptation of a short story, "The Adjustment Theme," penned by the now legendary science fiction writer Phillip K. Dick, whose writing has spawned such blockbusters as "Total Recall" and "Minority Report." Writer-director Nolfi has taken the premise of Dick's visionary story that pokes at supernatural themes, including fate and unforeseen forces that predetermine our lives and manages to inject a sense of humor and old school intrigue into a genre of film that for the most part has evolved into sci-fi films that are often dark and unrelenting.
Instead, Nolfi (who co-wrote "The Bourne Ultimatum") has created a love story that takes center-stage amidst some mind-bending, sometimes sinister and oftentimes dubious concepts that swirl about the film, but never in a way that leaves the viewer feeling uncomfortable. To the contrary, the film is an interesting mix of romance, mystery and light-hearted humor. Quite a novelty in today's landscape of Tinseltown releases.
Creating one half of a passionate love affair that ignites on screen is Matt Damon ("Invictus," "Bourne Ultimatum," "Good Will Hunting") as David Norris, a self-motivated, driven man who overcame a rough childhood growing up in Brooklyn, to become the frontrunner for a New York Senate seat. (A cameo by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg lends to the authenticity.) His luck takes a turn when the New York Post gets hold of a less than flattering picture of Norris from his impassioned youth and prints it on their front page the day of the election.
Needless to say Norris' ratings tank and his future as a politician becomes precarious. Preparing to make his concession speech at the famed Waldorf Hotel, he heads into the bathroom to formulate what he will say. Only to find a young woman, Elise Sellas, played by Emily Blunt ("The Young Victoria," "The Devil Wears Prada") walk out of one of the stalls. She says she's hiding from hotel security after gate crashing a wedding at the hotel.
Sparks fly almost instantly between this seemingly mismatched couple. Blunt is winning, charming and flirtatious and instantly captures Damon's more predictable, button-downed character's attention. He is intrigued by her free-spiritedness. The chemistry between the two in undeniable, but it is Blunt's fiery personality, subdued good looks and intense flirtatiousness that is the essence of the energy created in this love story. Not to say that Damon's passion and charming good looks in any way fail to live up to their full potential. Damon is a pro at going it solo in much of his body of work thus far , including the Bourne franchise films and most recently as a verbose Texas ranger in "True Grit," so it is a nice departure to see him in a romantic role as one half of a dynamic couple. It is the pair's charisma that really ground the film.
The two go their separate ways, only to reconnect randomly while on a bus. Elise hands David her number expecting him to call, but a twist of fate intervenes and threatens to split them up forever.
Also making an impact is John Slattery ("Mad Men") who plays Mr.. Richardson, a member of the Adjustment Bureau. Together with Anthony Mackie and Terence Stamp, these fedora and top-coat clad "agents" are charged with keeping the two lovers apart - in order to keep their life paths on track. The team is the real reason, they explain, why people take a certain path in life or choose one thing over another. Life is all part of a master plan that is determined by "The Chairman." Being with Elise is not an option for David. The Bureau has loftier goals - intending him to become the President of the United States one day.
As David tries to escape his "fate" and exercise free will, he embarks on a dangerous journey to outwit his minders and track down the woman he loves and change his destiny forever.
Clever photography that incorporates some of New York city's most iconic images help add some credibility to a story that is in large part hard to believe. Yet, despite a plot context that often times leaves you scratching your head because of its implausibility, one cannot help but be drawn into the journey this couple is on. They are completely captivating on screen and help bring a sense of reality to an otherwise, at times, kooky plot.
The result is a feature that is both oddly unique, entertaining and intriguing at the same time.