The Adjustment Bureau

I say it all the time: Do you want an original sci-fi idea? Close your eyes, stick your hand in the pile of Phillip K Dick's unfilmed thoughts, don't mess it up and success is guaranteed. Like, for example, The Adjustment Bureau. The short and unremarkable short story “Adjustment Team" (which begins with a dialogue between two clerks, one of whom is a man and the other a dog, the dog being big and black, and I'll bet that in the film adaptation he became the black janitor, because they both make practically the same mistake - they fall asleep) has become an original sci-fi "angel-god" fairy tale without unnecessary action scenes, without violence and without expensive special effects, which is very pleasant to watch. The debuting director handled it well, The Adjustment Bureau is pleasantly magical from start to finish, the actors also played their part... Yes, I am satisfied.__P.S. Anyone who wants to read the story will find it in the second volume of the collection “Second Variety".__P.P.S. Now, Hollywood, please make me a movie of that blackly humorous book “Counter-Clock World". Thank you. (09/08/2011)

A story from life. Except for the fact that my "angels" don't wear stylish hats. Plus there’s the excellent Damon, the great Blunt, a good soundtrack, and on top of that the visual fetish of Manhattan. Maybe in time, it will fade, but now it hit harder than anything else in the last year or so. [Spoiler possibility: I'll have to read Dick’s book, if only for the fact that I’m interested to see if the same wave of positive feelings spills over at the end as with the movie. :)] (06/21/2011)

Matt Damon almost forgot what it's like to have the role of an honest nice guy. Fortunately, he definitely hasn't forgotten the art of acting, and it was mainly him, along with the excellent and natural Emily Blunt, who carried this peculiar film forward. Excellent dialogues, screenplay, and dramaturgy, some of the sci-fi elements may be unnecessary and the overall philosophy of the film is slightly over the top. But it is satisfactory within the realm of intelligent and undemanding popcorn entertainment, satisfaction. It is certainly a creation that, although fairly original in terms of premise, will not have a specific audience, but will captivate a wide range of dumb people. In most things, it is very uncontroversial and organized. I see it as a slight flaw, but fans of dumb movies will appreciate it. (09/25/2011)

This film may not be great within the genre, but it’s so original that it's above average. A great combination of a romantic plot with a sci-fi theme, excellent casting and Newman's rhythmic soundtrack. The main character stunned me with his behaviour, he was going against his destiny for his desired love, and I wished him luck. The final happy ending felt a bit contrived, but as I said, I was really looking forward to it this time. 75% (02/05/2013)

Most people say it’s a pleasant surprise, but I knew at the beginning of the year that The Adjustment Bureau would be a hit, so the resulting 70% impression remains slightly below my expectations. In any case, it’s a pleasant and playful film in every sense. The outlined mythology of the gentlemen with hats is interesting and I would love to look deeper into it, maybe at the expense of the romantic retro line of a man in trouble and a woman unaware. But I’m being unnecessarily critical. The Adjustment Bureau works perfectly as a romantic sci-fi/fantasy snack, there’s no reason to complain. The ending it’s a pity, though, everything is sorted out almost too smoothly. A successful début no doubt. (03/05/2011)