The Adjuster

this early atom egoyan film is truly the best of his movies that i have seen, and they are "exotica", "felecia's journey", "the sweet hereafter", "speaking parts" and of course "adjuster". egoyan has a very special gift and that is the way he tells the stories, a way that forces the characters to do things you wouldn't think they'll do, or do them in a very un-expected way. egoyan drives you into the story using all the tools included in a film director's case: beautiful, almost dreamy photography, haunting mysterious music,careful attention to movement and color. that is the case with all his films but in "adjuster" this unique style of his really comes to a peak. the strange story of an insurance adjuster being eaten inside by guilt and fear seems to take place in a world where morality and good are disappearing slowly, living the honest man to burn is his own hell, created by his inability to read the reality that lies before him. this is always a very good story material for films, because it allows the filmmaker an investigation of the psyche, tormented, searching, afraid and yet unable to tie all ropes together to make sense of the world. i recommend watching "the adjuster" and then watching it again after a day or two. if you dig movies, you will not forget this one. an exceptional experience.

Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan redefines the black comic satire of his earlier films ('Family Viewing', 'Speaking Parts'), but for all its dark wit and visual sophistication the effort doesn't add up to anything more than a cast of unattractive characters in search of a plot. These include, in ascending order of eccentricity: a handsome insurance agent who uses his control over the victims of catastrophe for sexual favors; his wife, a government film censor who secretly bootlegs violent porn movies for her apathetic sister; a filthy rich couple with a fetish for enacting elaborate exhibitionist fantasies; and so forth. The film is disturbing, perverse, sporadically funny, and totally original, bit also inscrutable to the point of confusion: it gives the impression of depth without clearly saying much about anything at all. Egoyan is a filmmaker of obvious and distinctive talents, but he needs (once again) to build a stronger story around his strange characters.

What a unique and challenging story to work through. The characters are so emotionally unavailable, it is nearly maddening. Even after several days since I watched it, I can't stop thinking about what its purpose is. It requires a second viewing, if one is not too faint of heart. I loved it, even though I did not understand it all the first time. As a recommendation for all of Egoyan's work -- if you're all about the quick fix of action-packed entertainment, look elsewhere. If you want an emotional, suspenseful piece of characterization steeped in a sort of horrid reality, well, this may just be the thing for you. It is a brain teaser. Good luck to all.

*There is also a charming short on the DVD for The Adjuster called "En Passant". It is worth a gander.

This very quirky film by director Atom Egoyan is about an insurance adjuster Noah, played by Elias Koteas. He is very empathetic to the victims of fires to their homes, and all of his clients end up staying in the same motel complex until their claims are settled (which never happens). A parallel story is about Bubba and Mimi, a rich couple who act out fantasies in public (she befriends him as he plays a sleeping derelict on the subway, she's a cheerleader for the football team-she is not a very young woman). The acting is fine, particularly Bubba, who is played by Maury Chaykin. I've seen him in many other projects, I think he'll be familiar to you. My problem is the story is weird for weird's sake. Who'd want to know these people? They are creepy, and the film becomes creepy. Its cutting edge, but I wanted better character development. I felt it just didn't deliver. If you get the DVD, you'll be rewarded. Included are two things which I really liked. One is the almost 20 minute film "En Passant", starring Maury Chaykin and Arsinee Khanijan, who plays Noah's wife in "The Adjuster". It moves along at a good pace and tells a simple, but good story. The other thing is an interview with director Atom Egoyan. He is articulate and I found he is true to his craft. I also realized he directed the excellent "The Sweet Hereafter". I'd recommend that movie before you touch this film. But, if you see the DVD, buy it for the extras. Check the film out. I didn't love it, but others here did.

Here's one of those art house films, out there in weidorama land, where the lead characters have interesting picked careers, that are both explored, which I found informative. Most of the characters are odd, (it's a Atom Egoyan film, remember) and of course no forgetting wild actor, Koteas. It's great to see him in a lead, especially in something like this. He's a very good actor, who I've followed since seeing him as the bitter paraplegic in that Hogan fare, Almost An Angel. He's more impressive, the more stuff I see from this guy. Here he plays an over caring and over sympathetic insurance adjuster to destroyed and devastated folk, who've lost their homes in fires. He sleeps with some of his clients too, and shows real generosity putting the shattered clients up in this motel. He also does one of the maids. His wife, Arsinee Khanjian is a pornographic censor, who gets caught up in her work, one might say, actually furtively, taping her flicks, and taking her work home to get off. Could she be unfilled sexually? I really liked learning a bit, how the censor worked. And who is this real oddball director (Chaykin) who uses their show home as a film location, where the lead actress begins to strip, while surrounded by a circle of little boys sitting. Of course, we don't get past seeing her with her loud red bra, where what's followed is implied. The Adjuster has a few strange moments, including one lesbian, feeling up another on a train in frank view of Khanjian sitting across, fascinated. But none more unforgettable is obviously Chaykin, beating off at Koteas's window. Chaykin too, has formed a weird relationship with Khanjian's younger sister which provides a disturbing twist in it's end. Even though Koteas does his really good part, as a troubled and distressed guy, he's upstaged by Chaykin who I thought rocked. His character was so intriguing, though the performance that really stuck, and it was a small part, was that of the head censor, Hemblen. He was brilliant, almost beyond belief, so naturalistic, he too, providing another weird moment. With it's mini promotional poster, of Elias, holding a bow and arrow (what's with that?) this was movie a movie that got my vested interested, I wasn't disappointed in any way by this movie, except, the High Level Sex Scenes warning, the main one, where Koteas is making love with one of his clients, in a teasing darkness, Koteas and co, practically silhouettes. Yes, it has style, is semi arousing, thought provoking, and of course, remotely original, but at the end of it, in spite of all these plusses, The Adjuster, doesn't really equate to much. There just wasn't enough here, like filling to a sandwich. You walk away feeling unmoved, only that's not how you feel when you watch it. Like many directors, Eyogan went on to cast some of the same actors, for his better 'Exotica'. Definitely, still a recommended view. Don't cross it off. Some David Lynch fans might get a buzz out of it too.