Americans are so distant from economic manipulations on Wall Street and political machinations in Washington that conspiracy theories are rife. The Adjustment Bureau, directed by Philip Nolfi, feeds into the latter playbook. Based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, New York Senatorial candidate David Norris (played by Matt Damon) has been picked by the powers that be for the presidency some day. But he loses the race when the opposition reveals that as a college student he was once filmed while mooning. When he makes a statement to acknowledge defeat, he admits that much of the campaign was phony—that consultants, for example, were paid thousands so that his ties would have the politically correct colors. His speech impresses the public as authentic, but he is a loser for the time being. Then, employed by his campaign manager, Charlie Traynor (played by Michael Kelly), a boyhood friend, he waits until the next senatorial contest four years later. But now The Adjustment Bureau will not allow him to make any mistake. Although he met a sexy dancer, Elise Sellas (played by Emily Blunt), by chance on the night he lost the initial senatorial race, and runs into her again, they want him to lose interest despite his passion for her. The story then develops into a conflict between Norris and The Adjustment Bureau, though explained to filmviewers incorrectly as between free will and predestination. MH
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