The Adjustment Bureau

When I saw advertising for The Adjustment Bureau, the thing that bothered me the most was why are the guys who control our fate dressed like extras from Mad Men? (One of them, John Slattery, is an actual Mad Men cast member). Do the guys who control people in the Middle East where white robes? When they did this back in olden times did they wear togas, or powdered wigs? And what's with the hats?

It turns out that the hats actually mean something, and it seems that George Nolfi, who wrote and directed the picture, has anticipated my concerns and run with them, giving the picture a sense of humor that heightens it considerably. What could have been a tired, bloated Twilight Zone episode is instead a fairly enjoyable adventure that may actually have you thinking as you walk out of the theater.

Matt Damon plays a candidate for the U.S. Senate. His campaign is derailed by an indiscretion from his past (frankly, it's not realistic that he would be torpedoed by it, not today). Right before he makes his concession speech, he meets Emily Blunt, who inspires him to toss aside his scripted speech and make off-the-cuff remarks that make him popular all over again.

A few years later he runs into Blunt again on a bus. We learn that he's not supposed to have met her again, though. It turns out that one of those guys in hats, Anthony Mackie, dozed a bit before he was supposed to make Damon spill his coffee.

In some rather lengthy exposition, Damon is informed by Slattery, who runs the crew of these guys, that they make sure the "plan" is adhered to. The plan is written by the "Chairman," who we are led to believe is another name for God. The hat squad are sort-of angels, or, as Mackie calls them, case workers. They are extremely concerned that Damon never see Blunt again, as it would mess up an especially important plan.

Of course, this being the movies, Damon does not go quietly. He continues to search for Blunt, and when he finds her again he is able to elude Slattery's attempts to stop him. A heavier hitter hat guy (Terence Stamp) is brought in, and he levels with Damon as to the importance of the plan. Damon accedes, but something nags at him and, in the grand tradition of Hollywood, fights fate to win the girl of his dreams.

The film was adapted from a story by Philip K. Dick, which I'm sure wasn't quite so romantic. I've seen other stories like this, that tell us that those inexplicable times when we misplace our keys are moments when these adjusters are fixing the imbalances in life. It can be viewed as a religious way of looking at things--we have guardian angels who are watching over us--or an extremly paranoid way of viewing things. It's a fascinating topic though--do we have free will? According to this film, we don't. When humans had free will it led to the Dark Ages and World War II.

Damon, who is more and more becoming the thinking man's movie star, is very appealing in the lead role. Blunt has less to do, and didn't strike me as the woman you would go all the way to God to try to win, but that's just me. The direction and cinematography are quite good, especially the climactic chase scene, in which Damon makes use of a series of doorways that allow him to move through Manhattan very, very quickly (it all has to do with the hats).

This isn't a great film, but it's easy to take and I like a movie that anticipates an objection and then addresses it. It makes me feel smarter than I am.

My grade for The Adjustment Bureau: B+