The Adjustment Bureau

[funthing29]

I saw this today using the Cineworld voucher from last week's Sunday Times. I was really excited to see this and I thought the trailer looked pretty decent but sadly I found the film lacking.

It seemed like such a lazy effort. The pacing was inconsistent and there was no urgency until the end. The central theme of free will vs. determinism is never explored in depth, only casually mentioned in one scene, which means the overall result is a soppy melodrama. The two leads had strong chemistry but I think Damon's acting was all over the place. Blunt wasn't in enough scenes, IMO, and there was no character development - she was basically a love interest with no story of her own. She was rather charmingly played by Blunt and it was easy to believe one could fall in love with her at first sight.

The Adjustment Bureau workers' dialogue was poorly written. Why is one a good guy and the rest bad? What was the nonsense about "above my p*y grade" when these are meant to be immortal creatures who have been on Earth forever? I thought these characters (with the exception of Stamp) seemed cartoonish.

This film did not live up to its potential and wasted an opportunity to engage the audience in a lively debate about the illusion of free will. I rate it 6/10 (with an extra point given for the chemistry between Blunt and Damon). Such a disappointment.

[alythonian]

I also saw this with my free Times voucher.

I enjoyed the film, possibly more so than it deserved due to the presence of Mr Damon?!

Yes, it was clever and fast paced, but I preferred Limitless this morning which wasrather similar in style and substance.

Emily Blunt had her own accent but she kept slipping into an American twang which was quite annoying.

It was a good film but it could have been better 7/10

[hdaniel82]

I really rather liked this. Used 2 Vue vouchers at the Vue Light in Leeds on my weekend away. Thought the chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt was believable, and I came away having a little bit of a crush on her!!!

8/10 from me!

[lilacstem]

Visually this movie was done very well and I enjoyed watching the scenes of New York; Brooklyn Bridge and the Hudson River water taxis. The storyline reminded me a lot of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with all the running, escapism and the alternative fate concept. I felt there were some contradictions regarding the Bureau’s operation but overall it was good film. 7/10 from me.

[darren25n]

I really want to watch this film. The trailer looked good.

[Kaybeelon]

Same here!

[Mesa7719]

Am off to see this film tomorrow..... I hope its worth it!

[Mesa7719]

Altho I enjoyed this, I didnt think it was great, and wont be rushing out to tell my friends they really really have to see it!
Thought the ending was a bit poop, but glad they kinda didnt leave it open to make another one!

[raj101]

This might be for those who grew out of the Matrix films years ago but still think the general idea of a 'matrix' is great (although essentially its not about a constructed reality, but in the construction of reality/fate). Matrix for adults, then? A romantic, lighter daytime version 'Dark City' might be a bit closer.


Theres a believable romance between the leading pair, plus good performances from the bureau itself, and the film flies and glides and materialises around New York well til a sadly lame ending. Excusable really, since nearly every film that deals with metaphysical issues like this has a letdown ending anyway. So I liked it. 8/10

[raj101]

on reading the above reviews I have to agree that it could have been much more. This could easily have been this year's Inception with a bit more work. Yet few mainstream American films really go that extra mile. This film felt like a remake of a fine French film at times, like Twelve Monkeys and Next Three Days.

and finally a note from a medical student - Matt's face has reddening up far too quick for his age, a sign of high blood pressure. He needs to get down the gym and shape up that heart to reduce its pressure. Quit those ciggies, Matt!