Friday, March 11, 2011

The Adjustment Bureau

Matt Damon stars as an ambitious congressman facing supernatural opposition in this very original, high concept thriller. When Damon’s character discovers mysterious men altering a friend’s mind, he is exposed to a behind the scenes look at how humanity operates. He then learns that he is not meant to be with his new lady friend (Emily Blunt) and drastically tries to prove them wrong. Based on the Philip K. Dick short story, Bureau is one of those rare movies that give over-saturated moviegoers a well-executed, unique story. I would put it just a step behind Inception in the realm of sci-fi creativity.

As cool as the plot is, there are some holes. There are instances where a solution could be easily solved. For example, Damon’s character’s inability to find Blunt’s character for months at a time doesn’t really make sense. He’s a famous political figure; she could just call his office. Somehow that never crosses her mind. This hole doesn’t make or break anything, but just lowers the level of authenticity a bit. In terms of action, there are too many chase scenes. It’s not so easy to run in fancy suits and shoes, but you would think the cast is wearing track shorts for the amount of times they’re sprinting after each other.

The film has a swift pace for an intellectual plot consisting of very little fighting. The nonverbal acting of the bureau members makes for an ominous mood throughout. In fact, the first half has incredible tension. But once the audience learns about the bureau, that tension drops, which is to be expected. John Slattery, Terence Stamp and the other men in the dapper suits give the movie the feel of a classic drama that fits well with Damon’s contemporary acting chops. Religious undertones add to the mystique of the final product without alienating any portion of the audience. The Adjustment Bureau toes the line between preachy and campy without becoming either. It’s the most unique film of 2011…so far. (9.2 out of 10)

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