THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU (2011 - Cert 12A)

'BOURNE MEETS INCEPTION'.

This is what is splayed across the poster for the latest adaptation of a Philip K Dick story. What does that even mean? At it's most basic level, I suppose you can get away with it. Matt Damon (Bourne) is in it, it's directed by George Nolfi who had a hand in scripts for two of the Bourne films and it is about an alternative reality. However, that is where the comparisons, between a grittily real, up-close, spy thriller and one of the greatest mind-bending vision of a dreamworld, end. The Adjustment Bureau is everything that both of those films are not.

But is that good or bad?



Matt Damon isn't an amnesiac assassin here, instead he is David Morris, a charismatic politician on the verge of great things. Running for senator of New York, all seems to be going swimmingly only for a New of The World type tabloid sting that knocks his campaign for six. On the evening of his defeat he is about to make a speech to announce he will be back, when he bumps into Elise (Emily Blunt), a mysterious women in the men's room. One kiss later and he is totally gaga. He improvises a speech that makes his popularity shoot through the roof, but he obsesses over Elise. As he pursues her it becomes clear that a shadowy organisation do not want the two of them to be together. That's all you're getting on the plot front I'm afraid.

Having denied you anything more, it must be said that the film doesn't really have a big reveal, where tensions build to a huge earth shattering plot point. Instead it is very underplayed and is one of the great things about the movie. It doesn't treat the science fiction element as mysterious, attempting to keep you guessing, it just tells you what is happening, has a bit of fun explaining it and then let's the film play out in that way. The other sci-fi tradition that it isn't tempted on is the grey tones often associated with the future/alternative realities. Instead it is brightly coloured, the sun is shining (tellingly until the final sequence), New York looks as good as ever. What all of this works towards is something fun. Inception was a lot of things but it never exactly bounced along in a fun kind of way. The Adjustment Bureau does, never taking itself too seriously, not laughing at itself, but not holding itself up as 'vital' science fiction in a self-important kind of way.

This approach to the material, however, does mean that there has to be a strong degree of suspension of disbelief from the viewer, and the key to that is characters. The relationship at the centre of it really makes the film and keeps it rolling along. Essentially a 'will they, won't they' for a different audience, the fact it stays interesting and kept me engaged is an indication of the quality of the performances of the two leads. Matt Damon who had a bad press since his depiction in Team America, really is a fine actor. Performances like his in The Departed and Invictus really show him to be versatile and in The Adjustment Bureau he is immensely likeable, a good mixture of being confused, resigned, determined and in love. Although it's not exactly Oscar fare, there is enough in the role for him to really show off what he can do. It takes two to tango and thankfully Emily Blunt pulls her weight as well. The early scenes where her and Damon share the screen and the two characters get to know each other are genuinely, well, nice. They spark off one another and create a relationship that is believable. As the films nears it's conclusion she becomes less important as Damon becomes the focus, but her presence in the film is enough to ensure that the romance between the pair is the glue that keeps the film together. With so many ideas flying around it could easily get out of hand but Damon and Blunt keep the film grounded. With Nick and Norah, this is the second film that I've seen recently that really highlights that getting that central combination is key to a movie's success.

Supporting them are the various members of the Bureau itself. A bit Matrix, part traditional FBI agents, John Slattery, Anthony Mackie and good old Terrence Stamp have a ball looking sinister and chasing our heroes. They are ideal for the tone of the film, menace but in a 12A kind of way.

So back to the 'Bourne meets Inception' tag. It's not only incorrect, it also does the Adjustment Bureau a massive disservice. That quote is meant to get people through the door, but if people are going to watch it based on that statement they are going to be disappointed, because it isn't anywhere near as raw as Bourne and it doesn't have the cerebral challenge of Inception, What it is though is a charming, very entertaining, colourful, science fiction that is about love and the lengths people go to for it.