“All I have are the choices I make.” – David Norris, The Adjustment Bureau

Really? Is this quote a truism about humanity, or a truth we really want to live with? I left this film with an acrid taste in my mouth, though not for the reasons one might expect. True, I was in the minority that didn’t really resonate with the chemistry between Matt Damon and Emily Blunt (though the latter gave a great performance – I blame Damon), but this wasn’t the problem. The issue at hand was any interpretation in which a viewer might actually believe they’d witnessed a happy ending.

The Bureau in the film, and the chairman, provide the viewer with a very skewed view of sovereignty, a vision of overseeing powers that are short-handed, short-sighted, and desperately trying to keep up. If this film’s vision of reality’s “chairman” were true, I wouldn’t have any faith either… in love, in life, or in God.

Despite my unsettled feelings regarding the film, it remained a fantastic time unpacking ideas of chance, choices, and chairman with a live audience after a showing of the film, delving into the nature of “true love”, kismet, cause and effect, and creator. (WARNING: the audio talk contains spoilers).

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

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