The "Inception" comparison assumedly stems from the contemporary sci-fi feel the film has to it, and it seems a smart idea to promote the film with a name-drop of Christopher Nolan's epic mind-boggler -- it was one of the mega-hits of last year, after all. And the origin of the "Bourne" mention, well, one only has to look at the poster and see Matt Damon's baby face to understand where that came from.
The film is one of many that are based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, the original having been titled "Adjustment Team." I guess the word "bureau" is more promotable, no? Dick's wild imagination, I might add, has inspired such visionary slices of cinema as Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner," Paul Verhoeven's "Total Recall," Steven Spielberg's "Minority Report" and Richard Linklater's "A Scanner Darkly." And now "The Adjustment Bureau" takes a comfortable place amongst these classics -- it ain't no "Blade Runner," though.
Damon ("True Grit") is in the role of David Norris, a politician running for the United States Senate. He is the youngest congressman in America, a fact of which he is regularly reminded. Having grown up in a not-so-upper-class neighbourhood, he is considered a success story and the sure lead in the current election.
However, a picture of his bare ass at a college reunion prank gets splattered all over the papers, and his stance as the front-runner dims ever so slightly. While preparing his speech about getting back up from his election loss in a public bathroom, he meets Elise (Emily Blunt, "Gulliver's Travels"), a dancer who has apparently just crashed a wedding and is hiding from security. It's an instant spark between them, as if they're meant to be together. Only, they're not.
They part ways after their kiss is interrupted and soon meet each other once again, this time on a bus. Problem is, they were never meant to set eyes on each other after that night in the hotel. According to whom? The Adjustment Bureau, a team of well-suited men in fedora hats.
It's their job to adjust things, to influence people's actions when they go off course from their fate, which is entirely planned out. They may make people misplace keys, spill coffee on themselves or alter their decision making. After a mistake by one member of the bureau, David has gone rapidly off course, and, upon learning of what the bureau does, the politician becomes determined to make sure he stays this way.
The core of "The Adjustment Bureau" is the romance between David and Elise, which is thankfully the film's strongest suit. Damon and Blunt have a passionate on-screen chemistry, which is accomplished without contrived sentimentality -- we feel for them and their longing to be together despite a higher power's attempts to keep them apart.
This higher power doesn't necessarily establish itself as a grinning, vicious overlord. Instead, most members of the team are somewhat understanding of David's desires, yet they still have to do their jobs to keep things in order. On the other hand, superior Thompson (Terence Stamp, "Yes Man") is more forceful in his actions, damn near breaking Elise's leg with his mind to show that he can hurt her without moving a muscle. What a mean old bastard.
The film is not necessarily action-packed, surprisingly concentrating a lot of attention on its central characters, though the odd chase scene and sci-fi element (freezing time, teleportation through doors, etc.) sneaks in to much effect. Still, the film thrills, if only for an intriguing premise that surprisingly manages to be stretched to over 90 minutes of gripping fun. And it's all from 8138 words scribed by Philip K. Dick.
There's talk of fate, of destiny, of soul-searching and free will -- it's all very thought-provoking. Writer/director George Nolfi (who's had writing stints on "Ocean's Twelve" and "The Bourne Ultimatum") has crafted a romantic sci-fi thriller that's smarter than most of its kind, a March-released summer blockbuster with a brain and a heart. It's a relief, to say the least.
It may not be "Blade Runner" or "Minority Report," but "The Adjustment Bureau" is still a solid piece of clever entertainment inspired by the mind of Philip K. Dick. Its premise is enticing, its cast is fabulous, and its level of captivation never yields. This is a film that doesn't need much adjusting. Now, about that "Bourne meets Inception" concept I proposed...
8/10
No comments:
Post a Comment