Carl Kozlowski is a journalist and standup comedian who recently won the World-Famous Laugh Factory’s “America’s Funniest Reporter” Contest.
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Writer-director George Nolfi discusses the spiritual takeaway of his new film
George Nolfi is one of Hollywood’s rising writers of intelligent action films, having had a hand in The Bourne Ultimatum and Ocean’s Twelve. Working with Matt Damon on both of those films, he decided to include Damon in his dream project and directing debut: an adaptation of legendary sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick’s short story “The Adjustment Bureau.”
Dick’s books and stories have served as the fodder for some of Hollywood’s most striking films of the past three decades, including the timeless classic Blade Runner. In them, he addresses issues of free will and consciousness, and how much control we really have over our lives and destinies. That theme has never been laid out as strongly as it has in Bureau, a must-see film not only for film buffs but especially for Christian filmgoers who wonder why Hollywood doesn’t deal with spiritual matters in a meaningful way, and who bemoan the lack of entertainment value in independent Christian films.
Nolfi has been involved in a massive national outreach to Christian churches and colleges designed to alert them to this extremely worthy film.
The Interview
Nolfi sat down for a phone interview with RELEVANT to discuss his newest film.
How were you drawn to this subject matter? Were you just a fan of Philip K. Dick, or was there a spiritual element?
I’ve long been fascinated with the question of how much we control our own destiny or how much we’re controlled by larger forces. When I think of that question it’s not explicitly theological, though I think that’s one of the answers. I studied philosophy in grad school and it intertwines with theology. Is it social forces, like what family you’re born into, or God’s plan for you that shapes your life most? We’re set on a path by something much bigger than ourselves, and yet we also know we have choices and that they matter.
Did your own spirituality or religion play a part in the project?
I’ve not talked about my personal views because of this reason: I want the movie to be viewed by people whether religious or not or whatever religion they are. I want them to engage with the central question bringing their faith and views and grappling to the table. So when they leave, the question of how much of your life is handled by outside forces and how much by you is key, and that has been around since the ancient Greeks. I just want to have people have a great time at the movies in a romantic thriller with a sci-fi tinge to it all, leaving with their own questions brought to the table.
As a kid I’ve been interested in this issue. I studied it in college and graduate school, and studied various ways people grapple with that. My own family background dealt with it as well. I was also fascinated with the problem of evil in theology and if there’s a higher power that’s all-powerful, benevolent and all-knowing, then why do bad things happen to good people?
I think that for religious people period, but certainly Christian audiences, it is a part of their daily life to engage in discussions of why are we here…
Finally saw The Adjustment Bureau last night. Four people in my party: 2 thumbs up, 2 thumbs down. My wife (a strong) thumb's down nearly walked out of the theater. She HATED the view of God promoted by the film. The screenwriter in our party hated it because she didn't think the script made any sense. (Good point). The two thumbs up reviewers in our party (obviously I was one o them), thought the movie was seriously flawed, but still found the premise and story fascinating up to stay engaged. So… give it a B- and view at your own peril. You'll be exposed to bad theology, but the questions it raises makes good theology stand out all the clearer. PS Leave time for a dinner or coffee conversation after the film. It is a great conversation starter.