The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

"The Adjustment Bureau" centers around the age-old battle of predestination vs. free will. Are we really in control of our destinies, or has everything been laid out for us ahead of time? According to this film, it's a little bit of both... if we're willing to work for it.

The movie begins with a young politician named David Norris (Matt Damon) who, after a photo of him from his college party days surfaces in the tabloids, realizes he is losing in the New York senate race. As he's preparing to give his "I'll get back up after this" speech in the bathroom, he unexpectedly meets a stunning woman named Elise (Emily Blunt). Their meet-cute inspires him to give a rather honest speech about what goes into politics and the pursuit to be liked, which apparently comes down to details as minute as how shiny a person's shoes are. This essentially wins many people over, which suggests a promising future for Norris.

Some time after that, Norris winds up running into Elise again on a bus, where they exchange more flirty banter and she gives him her number. At this point, we become aware that the Adjustment Bureau does not want these two to be together -- and their running into each other again was a mistake. Anthony Mackie's character Harry was supposed to ensure Norris spilled coffee on himself and did not end up making that particular bus. Harry has been monitoring Norris' activities for what we can only guess has been a very long time. There is a strict plan for everyone, and it's the Adjustment Bureau's job to make sure everyone is on their correct path.

Because Norris catches that bus and arrives to work earlier than planned, he walks in on a behind-the-curtain look at the Adjustment Bureau, which is essentially "going to work" on his campaign manager. Confusion ensues, and Norris is told about the bureau and what they do. John Slattery plays Richardson, who initially leads the effort to get Norris back on track. He's a rather stern guy, and he tells Norris that if he tells anyone about the bureau, they will basically lobotomize him. Also, he is never to see Elise again, although they don't tell him why.

The movie goes on, and Norris rides the same bus everyday for three years in hopes of finding Elise again. See, the bureau has burned her number and will basically thwart any effort he makes to try and reach her. As chance would have it, he sees her walking on the sidewalk three years later and they rekindle their old spark.

Obviously, this upsets the bureau, and the rest of the film is a back-and-forth situation in which Norris employs every tactic possible to be with her and the bureau keeps pushing back.

Eventually the bureau brings out the big guns with a fellow named Thompson (played by Terence Stamp). He's a scary S.O.B. who doesn't put up with Norris' antics. He tells Norris that if he stays with her, he will never be successful politician and Elise will never be a famous, world-renowned ballerina. This seems to work on Norris. Oh, and Thompson further emphasizes his seriousness by causing Elise to fall and sprain her ankle during a dance practice.

Anyway, years later he finds out Elise is getting married to a guy she never really loved. This sends Norris over the edge and he is determined to win her back at any cost. With the help of Harry, he devises a plan to get to her and rewrite their "plan" before the bureau can catch on.

I must say, I enjoyed the film overall. I thought the chemistry between Blunt and Damon was believable, and the acting on both parts was enjoyable. There was wit, humor, suspense, intrigue and passion. I liked Harry's character, too.  Even though he worked for the bureau, you could see that he too questioned their activities. Who made these plans, and why? Ultimately I think that's why he helps Norris in the end.

I learned later that the movie was based on a short story, which made sense to me because I felt this film could have been shorter. It gets a bit muddled towards the middle. I enjoyed the sci-fi aspect to it, and I have always liked the dichotomy of choice/destiny. In the end *spoiler* we find out that the master plans are written by some God-like figure who runs the bureau (which I guess would mean the bureau agents are like angels...), but apparently if you're willing to risk everything to make your own choices, you somehow earn them. All that stuff was kind of odd and preachy, but I guess it had to wrap things up with some kind of Hollywood resolution.

Overall, it was a fun movie with a unique take on life.

-----------------

PG-13, 1 hr. 39 min.
Science Fiction & Fantasy, Romance

Directed By: George Nolfi

Written By: George Nolfi

In Theaters: Mar 4, 2011 Wide
On DVD: Jun 21, 2011
Box Office:$62.5M

Universal Pictures

True Grit (2010)

For the Coen brothers, a movie is a piece of art. Every scene and every line is selected with purpose to create a stunning masterpiece, and 'True Grit' is no exception. 

With an all-star cast including Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin, the movie already promises to be an instant success. Bridges plays Rooster Cogburn, the "shoot first, ask questions later" gunslinging U.S. Marshal who, as the film puts it, "likes to pull a cork." Damon plays LaBoeuf, the goofy and arrogant Texas Ranger, while Brolin plays the notorious Tom Chaney. 

Also joining the cast is newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, who plays the young Mattie Ross whose father was ruthlessly killed by the fugitive Chaney. Steinfeld delivers an endearing performance and truly exhibits the classic female gumption rarely seen in modern cinema. 

The film follows the story of the silver-tongued Ross, who hires Cogburn in her quest to find and hang her father's killer. LaBoeuf, who has been searching for Chaney in regards to another murder, joins forces with the pair. 

I am an avid fan of westerns, so I was thrilled when I initially heard the Coens were remaking the classic. A good quality western in the box office has been long overdue. 

The Coen brothers said they were trying to focus the film around the 1968 novel by Charles Portis rather than making an exact replica of the Wayne film. While both films exhibit the same general story and much of the same dialogue, the Coen brothers brought a fresher and darker take on the classic. The characters also display much more depth as they truly come alive on screen.

Replacing 'The Duke' with 'The Dude' was an interesting, yet successful, choice. In the original, Wayne's role was a bit more tame and clownish. Bridges, however, provided more dimension. Yes, he was still a drunken mess who lived in the back of a Chinese man's restaurant, but you could also see there was more to his character than that. Bridges had a seamless way of transitioning from witty one-liners to a stern take-no-prisoners bravado. It was a stark contrast from Lebowski, but believable just the same.

Critics and fans alike were skeptical when the brothers announced they were remaking the classic western that won John Wayne his first and only Best Actor Oscar, but the Coens have once again created a cinematic masterpiece. With 'True Grit,' the Coen brothers address the age-old question of how to define courage, and the audience gets to go along for the ride.

-----

Genre: Western, Drama, Action & Adventure
Synopsis: A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer. A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer.

Rated: PG-13 
Running Time: 1 hr. 50 min.
In Theaters: Dec 22, 2010
Box Office:$126.2M

Distributor:Paramount Pictures
Directed By: Ethan Coen , Joel Coen
Written By: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen