Movie Review: ‘The Adjustment Bureau’

Few movies can achieve the feat of both challenging the mind and appealing to a mass audience at the same time. “Inception” set the standard for cognitive thrillers by delivering in both categories in 2010, and this week’s release of “The Adjustment Bureau” didn’t let the genre down in 2011. George Nolfi’s directorial debut not only rides on the coattails that “Inception” left behind, but also thoroughly challenges the mind in a unique and captivating way.

“The Adjustment Bureau” did not manage to surpass “Rango” in the box office on its opening weekend, and in fact made significantly less than the animated movie featuring Johnny Depp. I suppose the mysterious coolness that Depp still exudes at the age of 48 has a stronger appeal than the ever-boyish charm of Matt Damon.

Both Damon and his co-star Emily Blunt deliver powerful performances in “The Adjustment Bureau.” Their mature quips, modern romance and acting prowess help to keep the movie flowing lightly through all of the heavy concepts.

The trailers for “The Adjustment Bureau” do not nearly breach the surface of the movie’s intrigue, but do adequately sum up the basic plot. Congressman David Norris (Damon) falls in love with a beautiful and alluring woman, Elise (Blunt), after an unsuccessful bid for the Senate. But a team of mysterious well-dressed men known as The Adjustment Bureau does everything in its power to stop Norris from seeing Elise in order to adhere to a predetermined plan.

The intrigue of “The Adjustment Bureau” comes from its masterful use of suspense and its ability to leave the big questions for the audience to ask itself. The real centerpiece of the film, the concept of theistic predetermination, is left up to the audience to consider.

“Humanity just isn’t mature enough to handle the big decisions.”

That line, said by one of the agents of The Adjustment Bureau in the film, struck a chord with me. I found it as a piece of compelling evidence in the argument for the existence of God. Without a deity’s guiding hand, could humanity thrive as we have for as long as we have?

“Free will is a gift that you just won’t know how to use unless you fight for it.”

The film further suggests that humanity can fight to escape its predetermined fate. This controversial idea provides counter-evidence for humanity’s self-preservation without a god. Although the movie does not blatantly pronounce these ideas, letting the audience interpret it instead.

One of the other most powerful aspects of “The Adjustment Bureau’s” intrigue is its ability to cross and blur the lines of conventional cinematic genres. Of course, it is a sort of psychological thriller, but focuses more on a societal perspective than more introspective movies, such as “Black Swan” or “The Machinist.”

The trailers for “The Adjustment Bureau” make the movie seem like a pure action movie, tantamount to a Jason Bourne or James Bond mystery. This certainly does hold true for the action junkies, but the romantics in the crowd will also be drawn to the complex relationship that blooms between David and Elise. Children will certainly not understand the complex ideas behind the plot, but I would think that most other audiences would enjoy “The Adjustment Bureau.”

The highest grade I have ever given out in my tenure of reviewing movies was an A- for the most recent installment of “Wall Street,” and that was given grudgingly. However, I fully believe that “The Adjustment Bureau” truly deserves its grade. It is a nearly-perfect movie, and only falters when pitted up against a movie like “Inception.” I would recommend for everyone to go see it, if not in theaters than when it comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray. Or don’t – you do have the right of free will.

Grade: A-