They can never take your Freedom!

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2011)

The "Adjustment Bureau" is an abstract movie. In the same way that an abstract painting leaves the viewer to ponder its meaning, so too must the viewer conclude what this movie is really all about.
To some it will be a modern love story, to others a fable on the frailty of human nature, and the terrible costs some sections of society, and some might say our planet itself, have had to pay due to the idiosyncrasies and whims of those in positions of power.
Others still might relate it to their religion, with the "Chairman" perhaps being their God, and there are many, many other interpretations too numerous, and unknown, to mention.
To me it is a clever and intelligent fantasy sci-fi movie carrying a very uplifting message. I tend to look to the main character of the movie, David Norris (the ubiquitous Matt Damon) as inspiration for my interpretation, as it is basically his tenacity and stubbornness that win the day (and the girl). Emily Blunt is, as always, enchanting as the understated and slightly quirky English dancer, Elise Sellas and it is David's obsession with Elise that drives the movie's plot.
Anthony Mackie plays Harry Mitchell, an unlikely Cupid whom ultimately strings David's bow with the desperately needed arrows. And it is really Harry Mitchell's retort towards the end of the movie that resonated with me, and provided the final piece of the jigsaw. He says something akin to "we wouldn't need to plan for you at all if you could plan things properly yourself".
And therein lies my take-away from this wonderfully enigmatic movie. If you think about it, each and every one of us probably features in the plans of others, whether they be individuals, groups or organisations and whether we know them and their plans or not.
This movie tells us that when someone has a plan for us, we don't necessarily have to go along with it, even when it appears to be the mother of all planners - the unseen "Chairman" – in whose plans we feature.
We all have choices and it is David Norris' final choice, to turn the door knob anti-clockwise - which he'd been warned not to - that finally sees the "Chairman" allowing a replan that has David and Elise together.
So if we all want a happy ending we should ditch the plans of others, and make our own choices in life. We should plan our own lives and refuse to become victims of "higher" plans that others may have us.
Don't let the unseen "Chairman" of the world dictate to you – they can never take your freedom!