The Adjustment Bureau

Where did you get that hat?

This is a slick film. Arminianism takes on Calvinism head-on in a postmodern roller coaster of an action movie. Wow! Go see it.

Here's one for the guys. If you thought that the longer and harder you kissed Emily Blunt the greater the chance of a perfect future for you and her together, would you give it a try? Well, I'm not going to spoil the outcome, but there is an interesting twist at the end.

For me, the premise of the story is based on Psalm 139:16:

Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.  

That is, 'The Chairman' (Him upstairs) writes the plan for everyone in a series of books and his minions, whom some call angels, intervene to ensure things are kept on track to give the best outcome for humanity. The whole thing pivots on the idea of an interventionist God and the free-will/predestination debate and is a wonderful theological exploration of cause and effect based on a short story by Philip K Dick (Blade Runner).

The minions move around the space-time substrate of Manhattan by going through doors that enable them to jump from one place to another. The key to making it work is the hat! Next time you are out walking and someone wearing a hat passes you by - beware!

This is also a love story - a predestined love story. It also includes an angel motivated by guilt who breaks the rules. It is commendable for being a contemporary action film that has minimal violence and as far as I can remember no weapons!

Matt Damon stars as the action-hero as he chases after Emily Blunt time and time again. He tests her patience to beyond breaking point but in the land of Disney - well, I'll leave you to discover if there is a happy ending or not. Emily Blunt plays the archetypal attractive girl but delivers more than that in a strong performance with some top class dancing. There is more than a hint of Men in Black lurking in the visuals and conceptualisation too.

This is well worth seeing. I can now add the Empire Newcastle to my list of cinemas. I commend this film to you. I'll give it 8/10.