The Adjustment Bureau

First Hit: A really wonderful, well-acted, romantic thriller.

There was very little that I didn’t like about this film. In fact the only thing I wanted more of was outrageousness and anger by David Norris (played by Matt Damon) at being told that “The Adjustment Bureau” was going to erase (“reset”) his brain if he told anyone of the bureau’s presence.

This is a film about fate versus free will and encased in an amazing love story. David is a young, engaging and occasionally reactive politician who unfortunately loses an election because of a New York Post publication of an old picture of him giving a moon shot.

While practicing his concession speech in the men’s restroom Elise Sellas (played by Emily Blunt) pops out of a restroom stall where she was hiding from hotel security for crashing a wedding party. Their immediate connection through witty conversation is so strong and palpable that I felt I was secretly watching a real and wild romance in the making.

Yes that's what good acting is about – creating belief. I believed David and Elise were truly and deeply connected after the first meeting.

The rest of the film is based on how well this scene is acted. Because it was so good the whole film works. The Adjustment Bureau are a group of guys (why weren’t there any women adjusters?) who influence small things, like a spilled cup of coffee, which change people’s actions and keeping them on their course as dictated by “The Chairman”.

Why is the bureau here? There is a scene where Thompson (played by Terence Stamp) tells Daemon (and us) why the bureau is adjusting human behavior. It is a quick history lesson as to how we are not only killing our fellow human beings but we're killing the planet as well.

Damon is believable and truly wonderful as Norris. Damon always gives strong performances and again here, he is perfect. Blunt is extraordinary. Her voice, beauty, witticisms, attitude and vulnerability is so present and alive in her character. Together I would rate Damon and Blunt as having the most amazing chemistry between couples of anyone on the screen since Jolie and Pitt in "Mr. and Ms. Smith". Anthony Mackie excellently plays Harry Mitchell the adjuster (and occasional Chairman) assigned to David but struggles to keep him in line with his destiny. Stamp was great as the “hammer” and higher-up who can straighten out Damon. Overall the entire cast was great. George Nolfi wrote a great screenplay and directed this film with expert aplomb.

Overall: Sure there may be unanswered questions in this film about fate and free-will, but sit back enjoy the acting and be transported into a great entertaining love story.

Get Smart

First Hit: I couldn’t tell if it wanted to be an action film or a comedy.

I use to enjoy the television program by the same name because it was very campy and tongue in cheek.

However, this film never seemed to find traction in any genre. It wasn’t campy, it wasn’t tongue in cheek, nor was it a serious action film. It virtually had no identity.

The overall premise is the KAOS wants to blackmail the U.S. for $200,000,000,000.00 (A very large sum but actually less than we’re spending on our current engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan). If they do not get this money they will set off nuclear devices all over the world, including the U.S.

The U.S. scoffs at this threat and CONTROLL decides it might know how to find out who is making this threat and if it is real. Maxwell Smart (played by Steve Carell) along with Agent 99 (played by Anne Hathaway) are assigned by CONTROLL to find the source of the weapons. They play their roles a little bit too seriously, or the writing and direction didn’t let the actors breathe into the campy fun part of the real Get Smart. However, at least Maxwell and Agent 99 do get to show their affection for each other, which was a nice touch.

A couple of funny bits are played out by Dwayne Johnson as Agent 23 and David Koechner playing Larabee. Terence Stamp playing KAOS’ Siegfried appears as a straight part all the way and there could have been much more done with some of the gizmos to add some lightheartedness and campy nature to this endeavor.

Overall: Mediocre film, which never found its footing in action, comedy or satyr. It could have been a wonderfully funny reflection of our bumbling government’s secret services, but instead it just fell flat.