The Adjuster
April 2001 Reviewed by: Roger Kanno Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

If you have ever thought that you take your job too seriously, then you should check out The Adjuster, a film by Atom Egoyan. It stars Elias Koteas as an insurance adjuster who spends most of his time performing job-related duties, but also going to extremes to provide comfort to his clients. Of all Egoyan’s early films, The Adjuster is perhaps the least obscure, but it is just now being released on DVD.

The story revolves around Koteas’ character, Noah, who offers sympathy and compassion to his clients who have all suffered the catastrophic loss of their homes and most of their possessions. He arranges to have them stay in a motel that he recommends, where he provides them with emotional and physical comfort. He must then compel them to itemize and place values on all of the possessions they have lost, which seems to trivialize and cheapen their lives and memories. Noah lives with his wife, Hera, their son, and his rather mysterious sister-in-law who does not speak throughout the entire film. Hera works as a film censor who spends her days watching, classifying, and secretly videotaping pornography. Weird enough for you yet? Wait, it gets better. The other main characters are a wealthy husband and wife, Bubba and Mimi, played by Maury Chaykin and Gabrielle Rose, who act out bizarre and complicated sexual fantasies.

The performances are all good, including supporting roles by David Hemblen as the head censor, and Don McKellar as the young censor. Gabrielle Rose and Arsinée Khanjian are also excellent as Mimi and Hera, but it is Koteas and Chaykin who are most fascinating in their portrayals of two very similar characters. One who only feels alive when he is transferring his feelings to the shattered lives of his clients, and the other, a man who can only connect with his wife through their outlandish sexual games. As with most Egoyan films, nothing is as it seems on the surface; neither Noah and Hera’s home, their marriage, nor anything else in this film are as they appear.

The picture quality of The Adjuster is acceptable for an independent film from the early nineties. The picture is inconsistent, however, with a washed-out look at times, but with some scenes exhibiting slightly over-saturated colors. There is adequate detail, with a relatively sharp look to most of the film, but the many dark scenes lack shadow detail, which results in a loss of much of the picture information. The soundtrack is undistinguished two-channel stereo that is passable, but does little to heighten the onscreen drama.

The extras provided with this DVD are also quite ordinary, save for the commentary track by Egoyan who provides some of the most interesting and informative audio commentary of any director. He usually has more to say about his work in just the first few scenes than most directors have to say during an entire film, as is evidenced by his work on this disc as well as The Sweet Hereafter, and Felicia’s Journey. The other extras include a biography and interview with Egoyan, a trailer, and a short subject titled "En Passant" starring Maury Chaykin and Arsinée Khanjian. It should be noted that the DVD reviewed here is the Canadian release from Alliance. The upcoming US release from MGM may contain different bonus materials.

The Adjuster is a bit raw and unpolished, but for fans of Egoyan’s work this film is worth owning on DVD. It is similar in style to Exotica, but without the same energy and power which made that film much more palatable to a wider audience.

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