Film Comment: The Adjustment Bureau

The Adjustment Bureau (2011) is a film based on “Adjustment Team,” a science fiction short story by the writer, Philip K. Dick.  The plot goes like this, David Norris (actor Matt Damon), a failed United States Congressional candidate, has a random romantic encounter with a woman (actress Emily Blunt) he does not know and, as a result, is inspired to give a concession speech which launches him as a strong favorite for the upcoming United States Senate competition.   This sets in motion events which are not prevented because a man in the park is a few seconds late and fails in his assignment to spill coffee on David,

Soon Dvid realizes he is being followed by men in suits and hats, who become increasingly open in their pursuit of David.  Soon, David awakens, tied up in chair,  surrounded by men in suits and hats.  The leader of the mysterious men explains to David that he must not see the woman again or it will jeopardize “the plan” which has been written by “the Chairman.”  If David persists after this warning, he will be “reset; ” he will be adjusted to return him to “the plan.”  Of course, David refuses to adjust his actions, and the chase begins.

“The Chairman” is clearly God and the “agents” are clearly angels.   The film raises questions about free will, predestination, the function of angels, God’s omnipotence and omniscience, whether God is an “absentee landlord” or involved in the world second by second, whether or not God is concerned with each individual person, whether or not God has dealt with the world differently during different historical periods, whether or not we are able to influence or change God’s plan for the universe, the possibility of consequences for refusal to follow God's plan, whether of not we can take God "by surprise,"what is the exact nature of "time" and "eternity," and what God ultimately wants: what is the ultimate purpose of God's plan. 

The cosmological view presented by the film is not consistent with orthodox Christianity.