Our view of life influences how we approach seemingly random events – not that we take all that much notice – unless it’s a coincidental series of related happenings or a significant interlude on life’s journey, like a shadow on an x-ray, an unexpected relocation or even a romantic encounter. Are these things predetermined according to some underlying plan? Are they purely the result of chance upon which we, to the extent we desire order, attempt to force some grid of meaning? Is it some of both? To what extent can interference in “the Plan” be tolerated? After all there would be no advances in human knowledge if we totally and passively capitulated to the series of events that make up our lives.
The Adjustment Bureau seeks to use a nice Hollywood romantic story to explore some of these questions. It is a rather convoluted attempt to arrive at an “answer in a box”, but, for me, this failed – not that my expectations were high. After all the followers of Augustine and Pelagius, Calvin and Arminius, empirical determinism and quantum physics still haven’t satisfactorily resolved the degree to which our views of fate and free will orientate us to our life choices.
Still, after the vein of Inception and The Matrix, it has the potential to expose many to fresh engagement with the big questions of who we are and why we are here. Otherwise – it’s just another story.
Wondering Pilgrim 
It packs a little of everything into an entertaining package: love story, mystery, action and discussion about free will and fate. Good review, check out mine when you can!
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