The Adjustment Bureau

January 12, 2013 - Watch out for men wearing hats. They may be controlling – or trying to control – your life. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt learn this lesson the hard way in this 2011 film, based on a story by Philip K. Dick. The supporting cast includes Anthony Mackie, John Slattery and Terence Stamp. You'll also notice cameos by the likes of Jon Stewart and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Damon plays David Norris, a promising young Congressman from New York City. However, as the movie begins, his political career is going down the tubes. A juvenile prank ended up on the front page of a New York tabloid and brought his campaign for Senate to a crashing halt. Norris steps into the men's room to prepare his concession speech, and that's where he meets Elise (Blunt). They talk, they kiss, and Norris gives the best concession speech ever.

Not long after, Norris meets Elise again on a city bus. He gets her number, but before he can call, mysterious men wearing hats intercept him. They say that being with Elise is not in their plan for him, and they warn David to forget about her. Of course, he can't. For the rest of the movie, he fights to be with Elise even if that's not what the plan called for.

Overall review: ** The men with hats (i.e. angels) are agents of "the Chairman" (i.e. god). The Chairman writes the plan, and the agents are charged with making sure it's carried out. But, what happens when the plan meets free will? A supernatural chase through New York City, that's what. The movie raises some interesting questions about free will vs. predestination, but then it reverts to a fairly standard chase sequence and an ending you can see coming from a mile away.