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The Adjustment Bureau

Name: The Adjustment Bureau
Director: George Nolfi
Released: 2011
Duration: 106 min

Representation Score

2.7/10

Limited

2011

PG-13

Director

George Nolfi

Runtime

106 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film is primarily a metaphysical thriller exploring the philosophical debate between free will and predestination. While it offers a nuanced portrayal of gender by giving the female lead a significant role in driving the story, it remains limited in terms of demographic diversity. The narrative focuses on critiquing a centralized system rather than addressing issues related to social or identity-based liberation. This leads to a lack of depth in representing various aspects of identity. Overall, the film's strength lies in its critique of institutional control, but it falls short in providing a diverse cast and broad representation of human experiences.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Adjustment Bureau have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses solely on a heterosexual relationship and does not include any visible LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender identities.

How does The Adjustment Bureau portray gender?

Fair

Elise Sellars, the female lead, plays a significant role in the resistance and showcases strong intellect and tactics. She is not just a passive romantic interest.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Adjustment Bureau?

Limited

The cast is mostly white, with both protagonists and antagonists being of similar ethnicity. There is a lack of significant minority representation in key roles.

How does The Adjustment Bureau represent religion and culture?

Good

The story critiques a deterministic, bureaucratic system using the metaphor of the Bureau. It emphasizes individual freedom over a rigid institutional order.

Does The Adjustment Bureau include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any prominent characters with visible or invisible disabilities, nor does it use such characters as central plot devices.

Present on Screen

The female lead is given a significant role in driving the story and intellectual depth, going beyond the traditional role of a romantic interest.
The narrative offers a compelling critique of a deterministic, bureaucratic system and institutionalized control.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks racial and ethnic diversity, featuring a predominantly white cast in central roles.
There is no LGBTQ+ representation or non-cisgender identities.
The story does not include characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

A man glimpses the future Fate has planned for him – and chooses to fight for his own destiny. Battling the powerful Adjustment Bureau across, under and through the streets of New York, he risks his destined greatness to be with the only woman he's ever loved.

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