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Men In Black 3

It’s not a sequel that needed to be made, but thanks to the charm of its leads and a tone that harks back to the wit and humour of the original, it’s a pretty enjoyable trip.

Bel Ami

The excellent female support cast saves this patchy effort, which is let down by its leading man and a flat screenplay.

The Dictator

A disappointing, often repulsive and mean-spirited mess of a film with seemingly only one real criterion on its agenda: to shock and offend.

The Woman In Black

Packed with atmosphere, this old-fashioned but deftly told ghost story delivers ample chills and thrills.

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The Adjustment Bureau (Film)

by Belinda Hazleton | February 28, 2011 12:22 | Edited February 28, 2011 12:23

Despite the thought-provoking premise and talent involved, this is let down by a lagging pace and a failure to elicit any real surprises.

This overly long film deals with the notion of fate, and who, or what, is in control of our destiny. Based on a short story by science fiction author Philip K. Dick (Total Recall, Blade Runner), it has an appealing premise, but the translation to film is uneven and somewhat disappointing.

 

David Norris (Matt Damon) is an ambitious politician, working hard on the campaign trail for a seat in the US senate. Following a major blunder in his run for election, he meets Elise (Emily Blunt), and is instantly drawn to her. As the two plan to get to know each other better, outside forces conspire to keep them apart. David is kidnapped and threatened; if he ever sees Elise again, both will suffer, as she is not a part of his predetermined path in life. David must accept the dire warnings from the men of The Adjustment Bureau, or follow his heart, confront fate, and deal with the consequences.

 

Although boasting enjoyable elements (Emily Blunt's appealing performance, and the setting, with its many fabulous and unusual New York locations), The Adjustment Bureau is not entirely satisfying, and at times, quite silly. The trilby hats, which bestow special powers when worn by the members of the Bureau, are especially hard to take seriously!

 

The pace is problematic; the film's first hour is slow and repetitive, then it gathers momentum in the second half and starts to grab our attention, only to end abruptly, without any surprises or compelling twists.

 

Also, Matt Damon, who is such a skilled actor, seems in danger of being typecast in these types of roles, which call for a firm jaw and determination not to be beaten, and not much more. He is wasted here, and is capable of a much better performance than he delivers.