The Adjustment Bureau

“The Adjustment Bureau” is a suspenseful drama (with a little bit of love) film set in current day New York. Stars include Matt Damon as Congressman David Norris, Emily Blunt as the dancer Elise Sellas, and Anthony Mackie as Adjuster Harry Mitchell.

The movie begins with David Norris running for office as a US Senator for New York. He is very young and has a bad boy reputation to precede him. Elise’s entry into David’s world was snappy and entertaining in the men’s room at the Waldorf Hotel in New York. His run for office faces many of the typical challenges. After his bid for Senator, and against the will of the Adjustment Team, he reunites with her on a New York Metro bus. This encounter was not part of ‘the plan’ and begins the drama that unfolds and creates this wonderful movie. The two are separated by the team, but by chance David encounters her again on the same bus route about three years later. David is forced to make life altering decisions in dealing with the Elsie dilemma and the Adjustment Team’s options presented to him. David leaps through many doors to try and make his “reality” work. He tries to balance his professional needs, his love life, and his political career in split second decisions.

The Adjustment Team’s entry into the movie was a bit abrupt and abrasive, but necessary for the story. It just felt rushed as a viewer. Yes, the outfits are terribly cliché and tacky with the fedora hats and the tacky suits, but it works. The terms used by the team are not as important as paying attention to the big picture. Don’t get hung up or confused while watching….it will all come together for you as you watch. There is always a plan, but the entities involved only see part of it.

This all comes back to a “big brother” issue. Is there something bigger than us out there controlling our future? There are unseen characters in the film that leave the viewer some discretion to explore their own avenues. There is the Chairman who is the only one who knows and writes the whole plan. There are the unknowns in the everyday life, people wearing hats, doors that lead places, coincidences that may often serve a legitimate purpose in our destiny, yet we just don’t know it. The issue of free will is profound in this movie. Do we have it, or is it all just a plan?

“The Adjustment Bureau” provides an amazing mix of comedy, suspense, action and drama. There is some love in there as well. All audiences can take something wonderful from this movie. The PG-13 rating is spot on. The previews and trailers for this movie do not do it any justice. The movie is not as predictable as you might be predicting, LOL. If you are a fan of “Mad Men”, “City of Angels”, “Matrix”, or “Inception” then this film may work great for your next night out. There isn’t much to bring this movie down or to bag on, it was a very pleasant surprise. “The Adjustment Bureau” will earn a rare 5 out of 5 Cyclones.

-Jeremy Brickner-
CycloneMovies.com Critic