Starring: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Terence Stamp
Plot: Rising politician David Norris (Matt Damon) meets charismatic dancer Elise (Emily Blunt) during a chance encounter on election night and the sparks of attraction are ignited. A second accidental meeting months later and the sparks become a flame. But in a world where everyone’s path through life is pre-arranged, it’s an encounter that should never have taken place. Enter the homburg wearing Adjustment Bureau whose objective is to persuade Norris to turn his back on love and get back on his pre-ordained track”¦ and they’re prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve their objective.
TM Rating: The Adjustment Bureau has been touted as Bourne meets Inception. It’s a marketing strategy that has disappointed many a young lad expecting hi-octane action mixed with a mind-hurting premise and gasp-inducing special effects”¦but only those spotty ones who start to pout if anything resembling romance threatens to interfere with the action.
Based on a short story by Sci-Fi legend Philip K. Dick (in the same way that the Bourne plots were based on Ludlum – i.e. loosely), scripted and directed by Bourne Ultimatum writer George Nolfi and starring Matt Damon (hence the Bourne connection), The Adjustment Bureau is actually more Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind meets The Matrix“¦ albeit with a touch of Bourne and Inception added for good measure.
The idea that our paths through life are already planned isn’t exactly original. For many people who conform to society’s conventions, it more or less is. But not, as far as we know anyway, to the extent that our routes are managed by an external force. This questioning of whether we enjoy free will or not is one of the factors that makes The Adjustment Bureau an above average romantic thriller. It’s exciting, makes you ponder and the romance between Matt Damon and feisty Emily Blunt is credible enough to make us believe they would risk everything to take on the fates.
8/10 ““ Manages to be deliver good solid Hollywood entertainment whilst tackling some thought provoking ideas without giving us all the answers (just like Inception). Maybe a brain dead actioner might have been a better post carnavel week choice though.
Screening Times: 5.30pm daily from 11th to 17th March.
Tickets: €6.50 Buy YourTickets Here
