Hot on the heels of AVATAR comes THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU (September 2010), Hollywood’s next big budget science fiction romance. Adapted from the 1954 short story Adjustment Team by renowned author Philip K. Dick, the forthcoming film, which stars Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, is about an “…affair between a politician and a ballerina [that] is affected by mysterious forces keeping the lovers apart.”
Here’s the trailer:
Does the trailer promise a heckuva science fiction romance film, or what?! When I looked it up at Wikipedia, the entry even described it as “an upcoming science fiction romance film”! Fingers crossed it has a happily ever after (and knowing how much Hollywood studios love an upbeat ending, I’m feeling pretty darn optimistic). Methinks that if you’re a fan of DARK CITY, you will enjoy THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU.
Now here’s the veeeerrry interesting part: In Dick Does Chick Flick, SF Signal staff blogger JP Frantz bemoans the fact that the original story had been tweaked in the process of adapting it for the big screen. Here are his feelings in his own words:
Is this some sort of mad attempt by the writers to cram a romance storyline into a PKD novel?
I’m sorry—what what what? “Mad” attempt?! Writers are insane for wanting to include a romance in a science fiction story? One might think them’s fightin’ words. Here’s my response to Mr. Frantz’s statement:
Not that there's anything wrong with a little romance, right?! *kiss kiss*
I just re-watched BLADE RUNNER a few weeks ago (many years since my first viewing), and loved revisiting the romantic subplot just as much as the other elements. It supplemented the main plot quite nicely. It's all in the execution.
And besides, at the risk of splitting hairs, the writers would be including a romance in the movie, not the novel. So it'd be more like an alternate universe (albeit by way of Hollywood marketing departments) version of the original story. Hey, it worked for AVATAR, right? Besides, it might attract more women to the movie, and by extension, SF. Let's just hope the writers included a romance that feels organic to the story. If it's not, then we can chalk it up to another #Hollywoodfail.
I will definitely watch this move and if the romance has a happy ending it will make for a good blog post. On my science fiction *romance* blog.
*hugs*
Unfortunately, Mr. Frantz isn’t alone in his distaste for the inclusion of a romance. An io9 article about the film expresses the sentiment that “…scribe George Nolfi is taking a lot of liberties with the story. Instead of being married, Damon's character [is] single — until he meets a lovely ballerina, played by Blunt.”
Ding ding ding! But wait! Another contender has just entered the ring:
The io9 article included a quote by actor Emily Blunt, who had this to say about the film: “…the focus of the story is not so much on Damon discovering that his world is a lie, or figuring out why everything is fabricated, but on the dark forces keeping the couple apart, and their will-they-or-won't-they romance.”
Regardless of what the naysayers are saying, count me in for THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU. I'll even pony up the cash to see it in the theater.
What are your thoughts about screenwriters adding a romance when adapting SF stories for film? Are they doing it simply to exploit romance—and by extension, the wallets of female moviegoers? Or could they be tapping into romantic elements already present in the source material, and simply expanding upon those in order to enhance the original story?
On a related note, given that folks are consistently describing this film as "science fiction romance," do you think there’s a takeaway lesson for book publishers who release such books?
Joyfully yours,
Heather
5 comments:
It alllllll depends on the ending. I don't think romances are added to attract female viewers necessarily since women read and see all types of stuff. Maybe it was here, but it cannot be denied the dudes are the ones who are less able to cross over to the perceived girly side.
My 8yr old just asked why such a high proportion of kids' cartoons have male protagonists and I didn't know what to tell her beyond "Boys aren't as open minded as girls" *laugh*. Not saying there aren't cartoons with female protags out there, but the PBS block we sometimes turn on in the morning is definitely lopsided.
Anyway. That's your morning tangent, brought to you by "not enough coffee to teach my young children about the subtle evils of sexism".
That looks so awesome! I like to bitch that Hollywood regurgitates the same plot over and over, but I have to admit that this one sounds pretty new and interesting. I definitely want to see it.
The clip isn't working for me : (
Darn slow connection.!
But by your description, this sounds like a good movie. I love Matt Damon and Emily Blunt, so bonus points there.
As for "cramming" romance into science fiction or into any other genre....*sigh*...Why all the freak out? Are we not capable of handling the idea of sci fi/thriller/mystery/whatever story line A being enhanced with romance story line B? Do you not let your peas and mashed potatoes touch either? Grow up.
Loved your reply, Heather : )
Oh, and as for your question about publishers and a takeaway lesson: Man, I sure hope so : )
That looks so cool!!! Squee moment! (And yes, hoping for a happy ending. I like happy endings.)
I love stories that mess with time. I read Dick's comments and while I can feel his pain (have HATED some of the Alastair Maclean movie adaptations), the anti-romance vibes are there. LOL! Loved your reply, too, Heather. Good one!
One thing I came to understand (somewhat) is that a book story is (or can be) very different from a film story. Film makes get excited by a *concept* with in a book or short story and run with it. Readers get annoyed because they arrive in a theater with expectations of seeing what they read reflected on film. I know I do, even knowing that's probably not what is going to happen. I did a minor stint in movie world when I had a script adaptation of a book optioned. Working with them, getting all the inevitable input, watching my story turn to vapor...LOL! It made me a dedicated novelist because I have control over *that* story. The only time you see "faithful" adaptations is when the author has the power to retain control (like JK Rowling) or they do it themselves. So why not add romance (or other elements) to get viewers into the theater? Making money is the end goal of making a movie, after all.
I guess I wonder if a movie like that can spur readers into looking for stories "like" it or how authors tap into that vein (if the movie does well and opens that vein. grin)
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