THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU

GENRE:  Romance/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller
MADE:  2011
CAST:  Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Lisa Thoreson
DIRECTOR:  George Nolfi
WRITER:  George Nolfi, Philip K. Dick

PLOT:  David Norris is the youngest politician to be elected into congress, in the middle of his campaign he has a chance meeting with his soul-mate, in his attempt to pursue her he finds that there is a stronger force trying to keep them apart.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE:  Gattaca, Vanilla Sky, Inception

SCORE:

GOOD WILL HUNTING

GENRE:  Drama
MADE:  1997
CAST:  Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver
DIRECTOR:  Gus Van Sant
WRITER:  Matt Damon, Ben Affleck

PLOT:  Will Hunting is a young math genius from the wrong side of the tracks, with the proper guidance he has a chance to change his life.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE:  Rain Man, Dead Poets Society, Mona Lisa Smile

SCORE:

BOURNE IDENTITY

GENRE:  Action/ Mystery/ Thriller
MADE:  2002
CAST:  Franka Potente, Matt Damon, Chris Cooper
DIRECTOR:  Doug Liman
WRITER:  Tony Gilroy, W. Blake Herron, Robert Ludlum

PLOT:  Jason Bourne suffers from amnesia when he is picked up by a fishing boat, while trying to remember and pick up on clues as to who he is he must dodge bullets and run from assassins.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE:  Bourne Ultimatum, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Bourne Supremacy, Salt

SCORE:

DOGMA

GENRE:  Comedy/ Fantasy
MADE:  1999
CAST:  Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Alan Rickman, Linda Fiorentino
DIRECTOR:  Kevin Smith
WRITER:  Kevin Smith

PLOT:  An abortion clinic employee has a calling to save humanity from two fallen angels who are trying to re-enter heaven.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE:  Mallrats, Children Of Men, Constantine

SCORE:

THE DEPARTED

GENRE:  Crime/ Drama/ Mystery
MADE:  2006
CAST:  Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson
DIRECTOR:  Martin Scorsese
WRITER:  William Monahan, Alan Mak, Felix Chong

PLOT:  Two men from opposites sides of the law go under cover, their targets: the police and the Irish mafia.  Things go down badly when they are made.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE:  Blood Diamond, Munich, Training Day

SCORE:

TRUE GRIT

GENRE:  Western/ Drama/ Adventure
MADE:  2010
CAST:  Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper
DIRECTOR:  Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
WRITER:  Joen Coel, Ethan Coen, Charles Portis

PLOT:  A re-make of a 1969 film and based of the novel by Charles Portis, a story of a young girls adventure to avenge her father's death by teaming up with two marshals and hunting down Tom Chaney, the infamous murderer.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE:  3:10 To Yuma, Tombstone, The Quick And The Dead

SCORE:

NOTE:  A few people raved about this new film still in theaters so I went to go have a watch for myself.  What I saw was a genuinely good western, there was not much action and a lot more drama which seems to be the norm amongst western films.  As you already know Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon both play major roles in "True Grit" and portrayed their part very well as did new-comer in the film industry, Hailee Steinfeld.  The costumes and make-up were done superbly, but I was most taken with was the dialogue which I could only describe as being the most realistic western verbiage I have ever heard.

PONYO

GENRE:  Japanese animation
MADE:  2008
CAST:  Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Noah Cyrus
DIRECTOR:  Hayao Miyazaki
WRITER:  Hayao Miyazaki

PLOT:  When a young boy rescues a goldfish trapped in a jar in his small home town in a Japanese fishing village, the weather takes a turn for the worse.  Magical things begin to happen as the goldfish is the daughter of a powerful wizard and sea goddess.  Sosuke and Ponyo, the goldfish go on an unexpected journey saving the world by restoring the balance and making Ponyo's wish to be human come true.

PARALLEL UNIVERSE:  Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro

SCORE:

NOTE:  Another of Miyazaki's animations that I absolutely love.  The animation, of course, is unique and beautiful to look at and of course the story is nothing less than great.  Touches lightly on environmental awareness regarding pollution in our oceans but not to the extent that it is annoying.  I thought the film was great and is a must watch for kids and adults too.