The Adjustment Bureau

Director: George Nolfi

Writer: George Nolfi

“The Adjustment Bureau” was a box office success as a result of its two stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. Damon plays David Norris, a charismatic and impulsive politician who while seeking a career in the senate, simultaneously fights for the love of dancer Elise Sellas, played by the extraordinary Emily Blunt (whom I freaking love!). Their opponents turn out to be supernatural and take the form of a Adjustment Bureau or bureau of angels who intervene with the mysterious objective of separating the two lovers and keeping them “on track.” This is the perfect layout for the short story written by Philip K. Dick, however, does not nearly reach its full potential as a movie. The Bureau becomes overdone and extraneous causing the film to be so jam-packed that the audience neither processes the plot, nor fully understands the conflict. How could this problem have been fixed?

Not to be a complaining fool, but why didn’t they just make the film about the couple!? I have yet to read the short story, and after seeing this movie twice (a second time on a plane - out of sheer boredom) I have no interest. But in this presentation, the group of angels becomes completely melodramatic and laughable.

The introduction and nugget of the film takes place in the beginning when Norris goes into the men’s bathroom to prepare a speech for his candidacy. He calls out to make sure the restroom is clear and then begins to practice. After fifteen minutes, and once his speech becomes personal, we realize that hiding in the bathroom is the adorable Elise Sellas. After an awkward acknowledgement of each other’s presence, they begin to playfully banter and make the audience fall instantly in love them. This relationship between the two is what the Adjustment Bureau must end. Once again, if the film had just continued on from this bathroom scene and avoided the super natural aspect (which I would normally love) the movie would have been wonderful. We understand this pair of characters and could easily have enjoyed a movie following their romance. Instead, the conflict shifts to the supernatural and moves to being unjustified and unexplained.

I love supernatural, sci-fi fantasy movies… if they are done well. But in this instance, the over coat and fedora wearing angels become extraneous and just confusing. Half way through the film we are told that angels don’t like water. Also that the angels only have super powers if they wear their hats...awk? These tools are unexplained and thrown into the film to further the conflict. George Nolfi choses to tell the audience and not show the arch of the characters and, therefore, loses all momentum. If the angels only obstruct the plot and do not reveal further character growth, they have no job being in the movie.

I REALLY wanted to like George Nolfi’s interpretation of “The Adjustment Bureau.” With extremely likeable leads and a charming backstory, the film should have been a cinematic success. Due to the success of the stars, the film was a hit commercially but will not be remembered in the years to come.