Movie Review: the Adjustment Bureau

The Adjustment Bureau: A Risk Worthwhile

The Adjustment Bureau is about taking risks. George Nolfi, writer and first time director, took a risk and thought outside the box for his debut film. From casting roles and deciding where to film to the plot of the movie itself, it’s all about risk.

The Adjustment Bureau is a romance thriller based on the sci-fi short story The Adjustment Team (1954) by Philip K. Dick. When David Norris walked in on a group of mysterious men performing a procedure on his best friend, he witnessed something that humans didn’t even know existed. His world was turned upside down, but the only thing he could think about was a mysterious woman, who he had met a month earlier after losing an election. The men told him that because of a “plan,” written for him by “The Chairman,” he was not allowed to be with the woman of his dreams, Elise. Refusing to take no as an answer David decides to risk everything and choose his own fate.

Nolfi took a big risk choosing Matt Damon (The Bourne Trilogy) to hold a romantic role and Damon didn’t disappoint. He exhibited true excellence outside his typical roles of action heroes to portray David Norris, a young New York politician who decided to choose his own fate and not follow the plan that had been written for him by “The Chairman.” By doing so David risks everything for true love. Damon, while not holding a strictly romantic role, was able to balance the thriller aspects of the movie with the romantic.

To fill the role of Elise Sellas, Nolfi needed not only someone to act but someone who could dance. The safe route would have been to hire a professional dancer and teach her the lines, but once again Nolfi took a risk and hired Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada). She didn’t have any experience dancing, but Nolfi chose her because of the wonderful chemistry between her and Damon. Nolfi made the right choice, knowing that while dancing can be learned, great chemistry cannot be taught. Blunt’s performance...