Strong, Satisfying contemplation on The Nature of God

Rating: 8/10 (6 March 2011)

I splurged yesterday and went to the movies: THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU (based, as a surprising number of satisfying sci-fi films have been, on a Philip K. Dick short story). The film proved to be a delightful romantic comedy adventure companion to Arthur C. Clarke's contemplation on the nature of God, the 2001 Space Odyssey series. This one's much more down to earth and does indulge in a dizzying mid-film chase sequence which will strike some as INCEPTION-lite, but even then, what a delight to see films again where the words (from writer/director George Nolfi) actually matter - when characters talk to each other we can care what they say because it's so well said. The romantic relationship rings true without ever risking cliché or sticky sweetness and details of the action are scrupulously foreshadowed and set up as well as in the best down to earth mysteries - right down to the importance of which way you turn a door-knob when using special "doors" engineered by "higher powers."
Matt Damon is a successful young politician who has lost all his blood relations years before but who has developed a caring and very tight "official family" over the intervening years, and who meets and becomes fascinated with a delightfully off-center young ballerina, Emily Blunt, on the evening of a stumble in his upward political career path. They seemed destined to be together until odd engineered barriers seem to be moving heaven and earth to keep them apart (engineered to involve the smallest possible "footprints"). Maybe they are "meant" to be together. Maybe they were but something changed? Is there a "plan" for our lives? Is it immutable? The film takes these deadly serious issues and plays with them in a warm, romantic action comedy frame that actually makes them more fun to think about.
If the film ultimately ends in an almost too pat "uplifting" resolution, it's one that goes down well - and one the audience is almost certainly pulling for for the last half of the film (is it possible we're reluctant to respect the film *because* it ends the way we hope it will?). Over all, it is VERY satisfying piece that will leave you thinking about the issues it uses for days afterward - if you want to - or simply entertain you for a wonderful hundred minutes if you're not in the mood for deeper thought. Either way, you WILL be entertained, and your intelligence will not be insulted.
I recommend it highly if you like Philip K. Dick's work (films of BLADE RUNNER, TOTAL RECALL, MINORITY REPORT, PAY CHECK and others started in his fertile imagination), Matt Damon's or Emily Blunt's (the female lead who dances FAR better than Natailie Portman ever managed in BLACK SWAN and has a perfectly lovely chemistry with Damon). Even the city (Manhattan), its sub- and superstructure, becomes an active character as Damon's life is turned upside down and he tries to right it. John Slattery is not only practically perfect as the mysterious, slightly slimy "heavy," but when revealed as essentially a mid-level functionary who doesn't necessarily know what's going on, adds a wonderful level of comically mystified humanity - if, in context, that's the proper word.
THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU is ultimately probably too "small" a film to be Academy Award fodder, but you WILL have fun. It's something of a delightful surprise in that how many romantic comedy sci-fi speculations on the nature of god actually come along? Decidedly recommended to anyone with a mind who enjoys playing with it occasionally. If you loved INCEPTION, you won't want to miss THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU - if this one is not the great one that was, it's in the same ball park.