Rent The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
3.5 of 5 from 195 ratings
1h 41min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Do we control our destiny, or do unseen forces manipulate us? Matt Damon stars as a man who glimpses the future Fate has planned for him and realizes he wants something else. On the brink of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate politician David Norris (Matt Damon) meets beautiful contemporary ballet dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt) - a woman like none he's ever known. But just as he realizes he's falling for her, mysterious men conspire to keep the two apart.
- Actors:
- Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Lisa Thoreson, Florence Kastriner, Michael Kelly, Phyllis MacBryde, Natalie Carter, Chuck Scarborough, Jon Stewart, Gregory P. Hitchen, Darrell Lenormand, Michael Bloomberg, Kar, RJ Konner, Susan D. Michaels, Anthony Mackie, Gregory Lay, Lauren Hodges, James Carville, Mary Matalin
- Directors:
- George Nolfi
- Producers:
- Bill Carraro, Michael Hackett, Chris Moore, George Nolfi
- Writers:
- George Nolfi, Philip K. Dick
- Studio:
- Universal Pictures
- Genres:
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Thrillers
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 04/07/2011
- Run Time:
- 106 minutes
- Languages:
- Canadian French DTS 5.1, English Audio Description DTS 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Latin American Spanish DTS 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing, French, Spanish
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- The Labyrinth of Doors: Interactive map of New York
- Leaping Through New York
- Destined To Be
- Becoming Elise
- Deleted and Extended Scenes
- Feature Commentary
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Reviews (2) of The Adjustment Bureau
A good film that mixes romance with science-fiction in an original way - The Adjustment Bureau review by Philip in Paradiso
This is a film that is both what one could call a romantic/ sentimental drama and a science-fiction thriller. It is highly implausible, of course, so, in a way, it is more some sort of cautionary tale -- and a little bit of a fairy tale.
The premise is quite profound and philosophical, which is reflected in the intriguing storyline: what if our every action was pre-determined by a faceless 'Bureau' that makes sure 'the plan' is carried out and things happen as they 'should'? There would be no free will. The Bureau in question is, in a way, a metaphor for God. But, precisely, in the Old Testament, God grants human beings free will, as they wish to experiment and discover things for themselves. And that's when problems start and things go wrong! On a philosophical level, therefore, this is the tussle between conditioning/ causation (or fate?) and free will, since we are all free agents -- up to a point.
The movie, however, is not at all a philosophical tale: it is an entertaining romantic sci-fi story. I enjoyed it and Matt Damon, as the fast-rising US politician, falling in love with a beautiful ballerina (Emily Blunt), is convincing and his acting is good (better than E Blunt's in my view). Despite what the Bureau says, those 2 want to be free to live their passion as they wish to... Things get complicated and even nerve-wracking at times.
With all of this, the film could have been a fascinating masterpiece. It is not. It is just a good piece of entertainment. Somehow, something is lacking and the story is a bit shallow, and so are the 2 lead characters' love affair: I couldn't quite believe in it, maybe because it is so quick and so 'perfect', at first sight at any rate.
Still, I would certainly recommend this film, which is unusual in some ways and genuinely charming and entertaining.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Wussy - The Adjustment Bureau review by CP Customer
A missed oportunity, just because one film maker has made a very watered down version doesnt mean someone without an agenda cant make an accurate version.
This is not the twisted evil nightmare of sadistic secret police intent on bringing hell to earth that the late great Philip K Dick wrote.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Critic review
The Adjustment Bureau review by Alyse Garner - Cinema Paradiso
The Adjustment Bureau is a film whose title lets it down. A US politician finds himself in the company of a daring and beautiful ballerina who makes him feel as he has never done before. They have several chance meetings and the politician, David Norris (Matt Damon) decides that she, Elise (Emily Blunt) is the woman of his dreams. However his encounters with Elise lead to the accidental revelation of a secret authoritarian group of non-human males who have been controlling his actions and decision his entire life. This team, known as the “Adjustment Bureau” work for someone known only as “The Chairman”, and have special powers that enable them to travel through space simply by walking through a door and a form of telepathy.
Much of the film is spent watching Damon struggle to decide whether to adhere to the Bureau’s demands and stay away from his beloved or instead to follow his heart. It is revealed that the original “Plan” showed that Elise and Norris were meant to be together, however a change made by the Chairman several years ago means that they must now be kept apart at all costs.
The film has a very interesting concept and in the final quarter really gets your intrigue flowing and heart pumping, however the end is a little rushed and is played too safely to for fill it’s potential for adventure. Thematically the film falls into some kind of muddle between romance, thriller and fantasy and based on a short story by Phillip K. Dick {The Adjustment Team}. However, as with many short story adaptations, proportionately the film devotes too much energy to the middle and therefore the end seems a little abrupt.
The film’s biggest let down was its failure to fully indulge in the quirks and tropes of science fiction and fantasy. It has some elements of religious mythology about it however the film seems only to touch on them. Even this is not enough to satisfy the need for depth and explanation however, and rather than creating an intriguing and adult fantasy, leaves it feeling somewhat unfinished. Which is a terrible shame because in actual fact the film was enjoyable, the characters and performances agreeable and the premise very promising. One can not help but feel if only the writing had been a little more adventurous then the film could easily have crossed the line into great.