David AllsoppReview: The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
July 31st 2011 23:26
Directed by George Nolfi.
There have been many films made that are based on stories by Phillip K. Dick, and some have worked better and been more memorable than others. What this film does right to make it one of the memorable ones is take the great premise from the original story and add elements that really make it speak to an audience. It manages to be both simultaneously specific in how it deals with the plight of one individual and universal in its themes of free will versus predestination.
The youthful and up-and-coming politician David Norris (Matt Damon) is about to concede defeat in his election campaign for the United States Senate when he encounters free-spirit dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt). The two are instantly drawn to one another, but David’s attempts to forge a relationship with Elise run into a significant obstacle in the form of the Adjustment Bureau. They are intent on making sure the ordained plan for David’s life comes to fruition, and it seems Elise is not a part of those plans.
There are two key factors that either make or break this film: the concept of the Adjustment Bureau and the romance between David & Elise. It is such a pleasure to say that both these elements are superbly handled.
We come to learn about the Adjustment Bureau through the experiences of our protagonist, and this way we are not hit with too much information at once – instead the mystery is revealed as David Norris uncovers more information. The choice of locations for the Bureau headquarters works well to convey that the place and the people who work there are both of this world and yet somehow beyond it. All aspects of their operation have been well realised in the film, and the method of travelling through the doorways is breathtaking. Great supporting performances from Anthony Mackie, John Slattery and Terrance Stamp as men from the Bureau seal the deal in terms of making the concept work.
The most important scene of the both the romance and the film itself is the first encounter between Damn and Blunt, and they really hit the nail on the head. The actors have the instant chemistry that both the scene and the story demand that they have – you can feel the connection they make, and it means the stakes of the film have the same emotional impact for the characters and the audience. You want their characters to be together because the moments they are in the same scene are palpable. Both performances are top-notch, and the dialog is crisp and believable.
The whole film is visually stunning – so much so that New York City itself becomes a character in the film, mysterious and yet beautiful. This is a great debut as a director from George Nolfi, and it will be very interesting to see what he does next.
Four hat-wearing Bananas out of Five.
There have been many films made that are based on stories by Phillip K. Dick, and some have worked better and been more memorable than others. What this film does right to make it one of the memorable ones is take the great premise from the original story and add elements that really make it speak to an audience. It manages to be both simultaneously specific in how it deals with the plight of one individual and universal in its themes of free will versus predestination.
The youthful and up-and-coming politician David Norris (Matt Damon) is about to concede defeat in his election campaign for the United States Senate when he encounters free-spirit dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt). The two are instantly drawn to one another, but David’s attempts to forge a relationship with Elise run into a significant obstacle in the form of the Adjustment Bureau. They are intent on making sure the ordained plan for David’s life comes to fruition, and it seems Elise is not a part of those plans.
There are two key factors that either make or break this film: the concept of the Adjustment Bureau and the romance between David & Elise. It is such a pleasure to say that both these elements are superbly handled.
We come to learn about the Adjustment Bureau through the experiences of our protagonist, and this way we are not hit with too much information at once – instead the mystery is revealed as David Norris uncovers more information. The choice of locations for the Bureau headquarters works well to convey that the place and the people who work there are both of this world and yet somehow beyond it. All aspects of their operation have been well realised in the film, and the method of travelling through the doorways is breathtaking. Great supporting performances from Anthony Mackie, John Slattery and Terrance Stamp as men from the Bureau seal the deal in terms of making the concept work.
The most important scene of the both the romance and the film itself is the first encounter between Damn and Blunt, and they really hit the nail on the head. The actors have the instant chemistry that both the scene and the story demand that they have – you can feel the connection they make, and it means the stakes of the film have the same emotional impact for the characters and the audience. You want their characters to be together because the moments they are in the same scene are palpable. Both performances are top-notch, and the dialog is crisp and believable.
The whole film is visually stunning – so much so that New York City itself becomes a character in the film, mysterious and yet beautiful. This is a great debut as a director from George Nolfi, and it will be very interesting to see what he does next.
Four hat-wearing Bananas out of Five.
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