The Adjuster

Released 1991
Stars Elias Koteas, Arsinee Khanjian, Maury Chaykin, David Hemblen
Directed by Atom Egoyan

The Adjuster starts out with a relatively normal premise, but that's the only thing about this film that can be classified as "normal". [It] is about just what the title suggests -- an insurance adjuster (Elias Koteas). This man goes from client-to-client, examining the wreckage of their lives, being sympathetic, and doing what he can to help them put the pieces back together. Frequently, his efforts go above and beyond the call of duty. If a woman is in need of sexual release, for example, the adjuster is more than willing to provide it.

The movie takes unusual characters and puts them in surreal situations. Everything in The Adjuster is done to extremes. There are moments during the course of the movie when this filmmaking philosophy works, and a scene gels or an image triggers the perfect emotional response. As often, however, the director's atypical methods create confusion for the audience while fracturing the story's flow. 

Summary by James Berardinelli