The Adjustment Bureau Blu-ray Review

"The Adjustment Bureau" arrives on Blu-ray with a commendable yet not groundbreaking 1080p/VC-1 encode that faithfully represents the filmmakers' vision. John Toll's cinematography, known for its restrained color palette, leans towards cool blue and teal hues, occasionally venturing into sepia tones as per Nolfi's commentary. Despite the intentional filtering, primary colors maintain natural saturation, ensuring vibrant scenes when needed. Skin tones are accurate, showcasing healthy and warm highlights. However, daytime scenes lack brightness while richer blacks sometimes reveal slight crushing, affecting shadow detail clarity. Depth of field during low light segments remains appreciable, providing good visibility into the far distance.

The image is sharp with excellent resolution and consistent fine detail throughout. Although definition can occasionally be inconsistent, especially in wide and mid-level shots, this does not detract significantly from the overall presentation. A subtle, natural grain enhances the film's texture, staying true to its cinematic roots. The VC-1 codec performs efficiently, showing no evident signs of compression artifacts, and any concerns regarding minor crush are mainly due to the film's inherently dim settings. The muted color palette imbues the film with a distinctive style, giving it an appealing depth without losing visual fidelity.

In summary, while "The Adjustment Bureau" may not set new standards for Blu-ray releases, its video presentation remains true to the artistic intent with stable contrast and solid color balance. Though not top-tier among new releases, it offers an engaging visual experience with sharpness, clarity, and detailed resolution that will satisfy most viewers.

The DTS-HD Master Audio presentation of "The Adjustment Bureau" delivers an engaging and immersive auditory experience. The audio design, while not overly aggressive, skillfully creates an enveloping sound field with good channel separation and crisp dialogue. This sci-fi thriller benefits from a well-balanced mix that retains clarity, ensuring intelligibility throughout. The surround mix excels in providing a front-to-rear balance, open atmospherics, and precise panning sequences that establish a stable listening environment.

Surprisingly spacious, the soundmix is at its most immersive during location exterior shots in New York, where the city's vibrant ambience comes alive vividly. Even in interior scenes, such as the final chase, the foley effects are impressively integrated, with everyday sounds like footsteps moving naturally through the soundfield. Dynamics range is commendable, adding power to active scenes and giving low frequencies a solid presence.

However, the audio design is predominantly front-heavy, focusing on delivering clear conversations which can slightly limit the sense of space. Despite this, moments where sound extends to the back speakers, such as in the nightclub scene, showcase excellent clarity and detail, creating a more expansive soundstage with a pleasingly responsive low end. Though not bombastic, this approach benefits the film, balancing dialogue with environmental sound effects to maintain an immersive atmosphere. Overall, while "The Adjustment Bureau" may not leave an indelible audio impression, it achieves a dependable and occasionally exceptional sound presentation.

The Blu-ray release of "The Adjustment Bureau" offers a solid selection of extras that provide valuable insights into the film's production process and character development. The highlight is the feature commentary by writer/director George Nolfi, who shares detailed background information on adapting the original story and overcoming the technical challenges faced during the extensive location shoots in New York City. The interactive "Labyrinth of Doors" map adds an engaging, if somewhat cumbersome, layer to the viewing experience, allowing fans to explore iconic locations from the film via Google Maps. Featurettes such as "Leaping Through New York," which focuses on the logistics of shooting in the city, and "Becoming Elise," which delves into Emily Blunt's dance training, offer a closer look at specific facets of the production. The deleted scenes provide additional context, particularly around a cut character, Henderson.

Extras included in this disc:

• Feature commentary with writer/director George Nolfi: Insights on adaptation and production challenges.
• 6 Deleted Scenes: Include character Henderson who was cut from the final film.
• The labyrinth of doors: Interactive map incorporating behind-the-scenes content and film clips.
• Leaping through New York: Production featurette on location shooting.
• Destined to be: Focus on characters' love story.
• Becoming Elise: Emily Blunt’s dance training.
• My scenes bookmark feature
• D-Box Motion Code enabled
• pocket BLU app
• BD-Live
• Digital Copy

The Adjustment Bureau offers a unique blend of romance and metaphysical intrigue, driven by charismatic performances from Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. Based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, the film weaves a narrative that explores the classic tension between free will and predetermined destiny. Damon stars as David Norris, a New York Congressman whose serendipitous meeting with ballerina Elise Sellas, played by Blunt, sets off a series of events orchestrated by the enigmatic Adjustment Bureau. While marketed as a mind-bending thriller in the vein of "Inception," at its heart, this film is a love story hindered by supernatural middlemen determined to keep the couple apart.

The film's portrayal of bureaucratic intervention in human lives personifies these manipulators as fedora-wearing agents, adding a layer of noir to this romantic thriller. John Slattery and Terence Stamp deliver strong performances as members of the Bureau, adding credibility to some otherwise incredulous plot points. Despite its compelling setup, the narrative occasionally falters due to unexplained details and arbitrary incidents that stretch believability. Still, Damon's and Blunt's on-screen chemistry is palpable, making their characters’ relationship both believable and engaging. Their chance encounters create an authentic connection, fostering audience investment in their struggle against fate.

Although the film raises philosophical questions about predestination and free will, it ultimately uses these themes to drive the romantic plot rather than provoke deeper metaphysical discourse. George Nolfi, in his directorial debut, structures the screenplay well but stumbles with an anticlimactic ending that may leave viewers wanting a more conclusive resolution. Still, The Adjustment Bureau manages to entertain through stylish suspense and captivating performances. Damon's ambition and Blunt's free-spiritedness create an emotional nucleus around which the film revolves, making it a compelling watch despite its shortcomings.

"The Adjustment Bureau," adapted from a Phillip K. Dick short story by first-time director George Nolfi, blends a stylish mix of romantic thriller and metaphysical exploration. Starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, whose chemistry drives the narrative, the film captivates by balancing elements of love against a backdrop of supernatural challenges. While it may not reach the intellectual heights of films like "Inception," its romantic core is engaging and sincere, providing an enjoyable cinematic experience despite some logical inconsistencies and tonal imbalances.

The Blu-ray release of "The Adjustment Bureau" offers an impressive technical presentation, delivering outstanding video quality with crisp, clear visuals that enhance the film's stylistic appeal. The audio component is robust, ensuring an immersive auditory experience that complements the film’s dynamic scenes effectively. The supplementary materials included in the Blu-ray package are solid, though they lack significant depth, offering a satisfactory addition for fans but not quite delving into comprehensive behind-the-scenes insights.

Overall, "The Adjustment Bureau" is a worthwhile watch, particularly for those seeking a blend of romance and mild philosophical intrigue. Its technical presentation on Blu-ray elevates the viewing experience, making it a commendable addition to any film enthusiast’s collection. For those uncertain about committing to a purchase, a rental will serve as a suitable introduction to this thought-provoking narrative.