Rating of
4/4
The Adjustment Bereau
Bizarro - wrote on 09/29/11
As far as directorial debuts go, this has to be one of the best efforts. Being a real fan of George Nolfi's writing for a past couple of years (e.g Ocean's Twelve), I really looked forward to this one. Plus, it's based on a short story by science fiction legend Philip K. Dick, The Adjustment Team, another good reason to go watch it.
It starts of plainly enough. Matt Damon's New York senate candidate coincidentally meets Emily Blunt's contemporary dancer on the eve of his defeat speech, and an unexplainable bond begins between the two. However, he soon realises, through a series of accidents, that there are powers at work here to keep the two of them apart, powers he cannot understand.
So in a nutshell, it's a romance wrapped together in a bundle of science fiction and suspence. Quite an unexpected combination, but results in a fantastic success.
The main reason for this is probably the grounded and endearing performances of Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. With such great chemistry between the two leads, one simply cannot help but root for the two even against such overwhelming odds. The final thirty minutes is pure exhiliration as they race from the mysterious hat-wearing bereau to find answers and be together.
Great supporting characters in the form of Terrence Stamp and Anthony Mackie, and especially John Slattery, who's misinformed and annoyed bereau agent is fantastic.
Fantastic adaptation as well, probably only out-shined by Ridley Scott's adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? into Blade Runner.
A must-see of 2011 and worth getting the DVD.
