While we’ve already seen plenty of set-photos from “The Adjustment Bureau,” the George Nolfi-directed sci-fi-ish, thriller/romance starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, Universal has finally released the first few official photos of the film.
Based off a short story by Philip K. Dick the film is due in theaters later this summer on July 30th.
Many of Dick’s stories have been transferred to the screen (“Blade Runner” and “Minority Report” being two of the better ones) and this plot, based off his story “The Adjustment Team” revolves around the character of David Norris (Damon), a young politician running for a seat in the senate. He meets and falls in love with a ballet dancer named Elise Sellas played by Blunt, but the two are separated by mysterious circumstances. Norris finds himself fighting against Fate and an organization called “The Adjustment Bureau” to be with Elise, veering from the path pre-determined for the both of them.
Billed as a “thriller,” though also described as a “science fiction romance,” it’s the feature film directorial debut of George Nolfi, the writer whose previous credits include “Oceans Twelve” and “The Bourne Ultimatum” (he was also hired to write “Bourne 4,” before Josh Zetumer was hired to write the “parallel” script. Though that’s moot now).
The cast also includes Anthony Mackie of “The Hurt Locker,“ John Slattery of “Mad Men,” Shohreh Aghdashloo (TV’s “FlashForward,” the indie “Lemon Tree”) Michael Kelly of “Generation Kill,” and Daniel Dae Kim of “Lost.”
“The Adjustment Bureau” trailer was shown this weekend before the movie “Date Night” in some select cities — a reader in Atlanta told us she wasn’t “overly impressed,” but also said, “Matt and Emily had really great chemistry” — and presumably will be available online sometime later this week. Though not yet rated, our guess is it will probably be PG-13 to pick up a young summer action-flick audience (and the script didn’t seem to call for an R-rating anyhow).
James Horner (“Avatar,” “Titanic”) wrote the score and he’ll surely provide mainstream orchestral swell and bombast, but the film might have an uphill battle this summer as its really the thinking man’s sci-fi film that possibly should have been developed at a mid-specialty division like Focus Features (releasing it outside the summer blockbuster frame might have been a better move, but the picture will likely face audience adversity no matter when it lands). Universal will likely have a hard time turning this one into a hit and we’ve already been told it won’t be heading towards Comic Con despite its loose sci-fi associations. — Rachel Morgandale
