Have you ever asked yourself, “Is this real?” That seems to be a question that we, as humans, often ask. A myriad of films have echoed this query. “The Matrix” led us to wonder whether life is just a computer-generated dream. “The Truman Show” mirrored the self-important idea that life could be a television show — starring me.
Now, a film currently in theaters questions whether there’s such a thing as free will. Might there be people behind the scenes helping us to make the important choices?
Matt Damon and Emily Blount star in “The Adjustment Bureau,” a romantic sci-fi thriller based on a short story by Phillip K. Dick. The author’s stories have become other Hollywood films, including “Blade Runner,” “Total Recall” and “Minority Report.” And that’s a pretty impressive resume.
The film suggests that a secret team of mystically powered men in hats is monitoring the world and making little adjustments to effect the outcomes of all our lives. Q: Are they bureaucratic angels?
A: Perhaps.
For me, “The Adjustment Bureau” was very elegant. Too often sci-fi tales become huge, unwieldy and difficult to follow. Not so here.
Infectious characters, a great cast and a cool story all make me … a fan.
But will you be?
If you prefer Matt Damon to be chased by government assassins, you’ll prefer his “Bourne Identity” trilogy to this film.
But for those of you who don’t think science fiction is silly, be sure to check out this movie.