The Adjustment Bureau

Director: George Nolfi, Bill Carraro, Michael Hackett George Nolfi

Overview

The budding romance between a rising U.S. congressman and a gifted ballet dancer is unexpectedly complicated by otherworldly forces seeking to drive them apart by altering the very fabric of reality in this high-concept sci-fi thriller based on a story by famed author Philip K. Dick. David Norris (Matt Damon) is a rising New York congressmen whose everyman charisma has earned him a loyal following among locals. One night, after suffering a crushing political defeat, David is rehearsing his concession speech in a hotel bathroom when out of a stall wanders Elise (Emily Blunt), who was hiding out from security guards after crashing a wedding. The chemistry between David and Elise is instant and electric. But as fast as she appeared, Elise has vanished, leaving David to wonder if he will ever see her again. A few days later, as if by chance, David is boarding a bus for work when he spots Elise in a window seat. Though he manages to get her number this time, David is terrified when he arrives at his new job and discovers a mysterious group of men performing an unusual procedure on his paralyzed co-workers. Informed by the imposing and sharp-dressed Richardson (John Slattery) that he has just seen behind a curtain that few will ever know even exists, David agrees never to tell anyone of their encounter or talk to Elise again lest his entire memory be completely erased. But three years later, when David spots Elise walking down the street from the window of a city bus, he can't resist the urge to rekindle their romance. Unfortunately for the two young lovers, the mysterious agents at the Adjustment Bureau are determined to keep them apart at all costs in order to ensure there is no deviation from the master plan drawn up by "The Chairman" for the future of all humankind.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/21/2011
UPC:	0025192060571
Original Release:	2011
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:46:00

Special Features

Deleted and extended scenes ; Leaping through New York ; Destined to Be ; Becoming Elise ; Feature commentary with writer/director George Nolfi

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Emily Blunt	Elise Sellas
John Slattery	Richardson
Anthony Ruivivar	McCrady,Actor
Lisa Thoreson	Suburban Mom
Florence Kastriner	Suburban Mom
Phyllis McBryde	Suburban Neighbor
Gregory Hitchen	Actor
Darrell James LeNormand	Upstate Farmer
Kar	Political Consultant
R.J. Konner	Political Consultant,Political Consultant
Susan D. Michaels	Reporter
Gregory Lay	Albert, Campaign Aide
Lauren Hodges	Robyn, Campaign Aide
Sandhi Santini	Norris Supporter
Laurie Dawn	Norris Supporter
Christine Lucas	Christine, Charlie's Assistant
Jim Edward Gately	Man in Madison Square Park
Don J. Hewitt	Actor
Venida Evans	Bus Passenger
Kyoko Bruguera	Bus Passenger
David Gregoire	Bus Passenger
Julie Hays	RSR Receptionist
Fabrizio Brienza	Miller
David Bishins	Burdensky
Kate Nowlin	Junior Partner
Rob Yang	Junior Partner
Johnny Cicco	Johnny from Red Hook
Michael Boyne	New Leaf Waiter
Sarah Bradford	New Leaf Waitress
Peter Epstein	Taxi Driver
Brian Haley	Police Officer Maes
Kirsty Meares	Police Sergeant
Jessica Keller	Lauren, Elise's Best Friend
Donnie Keshawarz	Donaldson
Kieran Campion	Donaldson's Aide
Sandi Carroll	Orthopedic Surgeon
Shane McRae	Adrian Troussand, Elise's Fiancé
Meghan Andrews	Cedar Lake REceptionist
Sandra Berrios	Court Registrar
Joel de la Fuente	Thompson's Aide
Michael DiSalvo	Thompson's Aide
Dina Cataldi	DMV Clerk
Paul DiPaola	Courthouse Security Officer
Peter Fernández	Actor
Lawrence Leritz	Court Officer
Peter Benson	Actor
Leroy McClain	Bureau Headquarters Staff
Brit Whittle	Bureau Headquarters Staff
Wayne Scott Miller	Bureau Headquarters Staff
Lorenzo Pisoni	Bureau Headquarters Staff
Bart Wilder	Bureau Headquarters Staff
Chuck Scarborough	Himself
Michael Bloomberg	Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
James Carville	James Carville
Mary Matalin	Mary Matalin
Amanda Warren	Senior Campaign Aide
Betty Liu	Betty Liu
Liam Ferguson	l'avocat d'état
Natalie Carter	Suburban Neighbor
Captain Gregory P. Hitchen	U.S. Coast Guard Officer
Peter Jay Fernandez	County Clerk

Technical Credits

George Nolfi

Philip K. Dick

George Nolfi	Director,Producer,Screenwriter
Bill Carraro	Director
Michael Hackett	Director,Producer,Producer,Executive Producer
Chris Moore	Producer
Michael Bederman	Producer
Joel Viertel	Producer
Jonathan Gordon	Producer
Eric Kripke	Producer
Philip K. Dick	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

In his feature directorial debut, The Adjustment Bureau, screenwriter George Nolfi (Ocean's Twelve, The Bourne Ultimatum) may well have discovered the formula for the perfect date movie. By striking a particularly skillful balance between heart-fluttering romance and heady sci-fi thrills, this mind-bending tale of forbidden love in a world devoid of true freedom offers something genuinely engaging for men and women alike, and blankets it all with a sugary sprinkle of self-conscious humor that perfectly offsets the heavier themes of fate versus free will. David Norris (Matt Damon) is a rising New York congressmen whose everyman charisma has earned him a loyal following among locals. One night, after suffering a crushing political defeat, David is rehearsing his concession speech in a hotel bathroom when out of a stall wanders Elise (Emily Blunt), who was hiding out from security guards after crashing a wedding. The chemistry between David and Elise is instant and electric. But as fast as she appeared, Elise vanishes, leaving David to wonder if he will ever see her again. A few days later, as if by chance, David is boarding a bus for work when he spots Elise in a window seat. Though he manages to get her number this time, David is terrified when he arrives at his new job and discovers a mysterious group of men performing an unusual procedure on his paralyzed co-workers. Informed by the imposing and sharp-dressed Richardson (John Slattery) that he has just seen behind a curtain that few will ever know even exists, David agrees never to tell anyone of their encounter or talk to Elise again lest his entire memory be completely erased. Three years later, though, when David spots Elise from the window of a city bus as she walks down the street, he can't resist the urge to rekindle their romance. Unfortunately for the two young lovers, however, the mysterious agents at the Adjustment Bureau are determined to keep them apart at all costs in order to ensure there is no deviation from the master plan drawn up by "The Chairman" for the future of all humankind. Starting out firmly rooted in reality, then gradually introducing the more fantastical elements as the plot picks up the pace, The Adjustment Bureau draws us in with the chemistry of its two capable leads, then lets us root for them as otherworldly forces endeavor with all of their might to drive them apart. The more that charm gives way to menace, the more Nolfi's screenplay begins utilizing a tantalizing series of vague clues to let us know whom the Adjustment Bureau serves, and how they operate. From the mysterious books carried by the agents to the stylish hats that adorn their crowns, Nolfi continually drops subtle hints to prime our imagination as the stakes grow increasingly higher. The key scene early in the film that finds David Norris mistakenly catching a glimpse of the Adjustment Bureau hard at work offers a highly effective blend of humor and creepiness, culminating in a confrontation that reveals just enough about the organization's mysterious motivations to set the main plot into motion. Once that happens, the action shifts into high gear and only pauses to let us know precisely what's at risk should Norris resist his orders from a higher power. Later, when the Bureau decides to bring in their secret weapon, all bets are off. At a point in both of their careers when Damon and Blunt appear to be tempting overexposure, The Adjustment Bureau offers compelling proof that their successes are well deserved. This becomes particularly evident during one pivotal scene in which a member of the Adjustment Bureau observes that Harry and Elise were meant to be together in "an earlier version of 'The Plan.'" Thanks to strong performances by both, this concept comes through powerfully from the moment they first meet -- well before that line is even spoken. Likewise, the deep-rooted friendship between David and Charlie (Michael Kelly), his main campaign aide, also comes off as endearingly authentic, while John Slattery's imposing presence adds a palpable sense of urgency to the whole affair, and Anthony Mackie plays up the more sensitive side of The Chairman's hat squad in a way that lets us know they do indeed have a conscience. Veteran actor Terence Stamp displays an intense sense of gravity as Thompson, the Bureau member who's called in when all else fails, and an all-star cast of political and pop-culture cameos convincingly places the action against a contemporary backdrop. Though it's likely that some detractors may cite the screenplay's staunch refusal to explicitly spell out the larger-scale consequences should Harry and Elise remain together as an insurmountable oversight, a revealing speech by Thompson concerning The Chairman's approach to free will hints that the couple's affair could in fact alter the course of human history, effectively launching the film's romance factor into the stratosphere while giving us just enough detail to draw our own conclusions. For those who don't mind using their imaginations to connect the dots, The Adjustment Bureau offers a fast-paced sci-fi thrill ride directly into the tunnel of love.