'The Adjustment Bureau' (English, Sci-Fiction)
Director: George Nolfi
Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Anthony Mackie
The theme of waking up one day to realise that you have been living a life not of free will, but controlled by someone else, has been the staple diet of science fiction. And indeed ‘The Adjustment Bureau’ was a story by the master of sci-fi, Philip K. Dick, titled ‘The Adjustment Team’.
But to see it transformed into a love story is delightful for both romance and sci-fi fans, despite its shortcomings.
David (Matt Damon), after losing his US Senate seat, meets Elise (Emily Blunt). He meets her again the next day and takes her number. However, he finds out that this second meeting was not supposed to happen and he is not supposed to meet her ever, his destiny being controlled by a group of beings who track every individual's path and ensure they stay on course in compliance with a grand plan.
Every small incident that goes off-plan has a ripple effect and throws the world out off balance.
Despite knowing the truth, he refuses to give up, unable as he is to get Elise out of his mind. After three years of travelling in the same bus, he finally meets her. He fights against the adjustment bureau, leading to a cat and mouse game with two things at stake - love and exercise of free will.
The intention of the film was to make another 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'. And there are glaring similarities between the two, with both basically being science fiction plots that effectively turn into love stories.
Though ‘The Adjustment Bureau’ falls short of reaching there, it makes for a delightful, witty and romantic watch.
The analogy of the film is perhaps that you cannot take anything for granted, not even free will. That free will is a gift you have to fight for and that fate is not pre-ordained, but what we make of it by our determination.
The chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt is what makes this unbelievable story believable. Seeing them together on screen, it seems they are actually in love.
Screenwriter George Nolfi, who has written films like ‘Ocean's Twelve’ and ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’, and was the adjustment man behind adapting the Philip K. Dick story, does a good job in his first directorial venture.
The film gives enough material for all kinds – sci-fi, romance and free will philosophies.