flicks and bits
Anthony Mackie adds to his growing list of top-notch performances as a member of the Adjustment Bureau in George Nolfi’s romantic mystery-thriller ‘The Adjustment Bureau,’ further establishing himself as one of the finest young talents working in film today.
The film follows Matt Damon as a man who glimpses the future Fate has planned for him and realizes he wants something else. To get it, he must pursue the only woman he’s ever loved across, under and through the streets of modern-day New York. On the brink of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate, ambitious politician David Norris (Damon) meets beautiful contemporary ballet dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt)–a woman like none he’s ever known.
But just as he realizes he’s falling for her, mysterious men conspire to keep the two apart, the agents of Fate itself, the Adjustment Bureau, who will do everything in their considerable power to prevent David and Elise from being together. In the face of overwhelming odds, he must either let her go and accept a predetermined path…or risk everything to defy Fate and be with her.
Can you describe your character Harry?
Anthony Mackie: Harry is a very thoughtful, creative individual, he’s the junior member on the Adjustment Bureau, and he’s just trying to make a name for himself with the first case he’s been given from beginning to end in Matt Damon’s character.
How does the Bureau work?
Anthony Mackie: Basically we are just watchers of fate. We don’t initiate or make anything happen, but we are the guys who sit back and nudge you in the right direction. When we see you going off plain or going off path we sort of steer you back on path to the right way, we help you on your path to what you’re fated to become.
There’s great chemistry with all the actors.
Anthony Mackie: It’s funny watching the movie because Matt’s such a great guy and Emily is really just so sweet and nice that everybody on set became really good friends, I think when you look at John Slattery and Terence Stamp it’s like we had so much fun making this movie, being in New York and hanging out and chilling, the weather was ok, everyone really enjoyed being around each other, so you see that chemistry and camaraderie with every person in the movie between each other.
Fate is a big theme in the film.
Anthony Mackie: Yeah, I think when you look at the movie and you think about fate, there’s these two people who are meant to be together, our soul job in the movie is to keep them apart, but they keep finding each other(laughs). I think that’s kind of like the stories of our lives, everything we’re not supposed to have we REALLY want it, and everything we’re supposed to have we never touch it (laughs).
The look of the film is great.
Anthony Mackie: Yeah, the look of ‘The Adjustment Bureau’ is very 1950’s, 1960’s, very clean cut, very well put together, but the look of the city is so urban and rough at times that it really sets itself apart. We stand out. I think that’s one thing Nolfi did that was really cool was that he didn’t make us blend into everyone else. There’s a clear set defined line with who’s in the Bureau, and who’s not. I think New York being such an amazing city, and such an amazing hub of culture it kind of lends itself to that. And there were certain places where we shot that Matt and Emily looked out of place and we fit in.
The films great at combining the romantic and supernatural elements?
Anthony Mackie: The different story lines in the movie kind of go together hand in hand. I feel like the romantic story line between Matt and Emily, and then the harsh long life storyline that goes along with being in the Bureau….their love and romance just makes our life so hard that it wears on us, and just pulls us down in every minute of this movie. It’s kind of cool how everything goes on it’s own path and comes back together so well at the end. It’s a smart thought-provoking film.
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