The Bourne Ultimatum

I've seen and enjoyed all three Bourne pictures, but there's something about them that doesn't stick with me. They're like snack food. But I don't want to give the impression that that's a bad thing. These pictures are all about relentless motion, because I think if they stopped for a rest the canny viewer may realize that there's really nothing there.

In this third tale of super spy Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon, who is seeking to find out his true identity and the people responsible for turning into what he is, we hit the ground running. I haven't seen the first two pictures again since I saw them in theaters at the time of their release, but thankfully I remembered enough to keep me afloat, and some necessary exposition was woven into the dialogue. In the second film, Bourne avenged the murder of his girlfriend. In this film, he's still on the run, tracked by a CIA bureaucrat played by David Strathairn, who brings on Joan Allen, who is more sympathetic to Bourne and would prefer to leave him alone. Bourne is starting to remember his indoctrination, and wants to go back to the source of his transformation.

Along the way he gets out of one tight spot after another. The film is full of masterful set pieces, ably choreographed by director Paul Greengrass. There's a cat and mouse scene in a London train station, a rooftop chase in Tangier, and a car chase through the streets of Manhattan, all thrillingly done. We even get a return appearance by Julia Stiles, whose parts in these films have gotten larger with each successive one. I thought maybe in this one she and Matt Damon would finally hook up. I won't spoil that here, though.

The main appeal of the Bourne films is seeing a hero is completely competent using every bit of his skill and wiles to get out of impossible situations. There is something inherently satisfying about that, even after seeing it over and over again. Also, these films are much sleeker and more intelligent than typical Michael Bay "blow shit up" films, which lends them a certain snob appeal. They are the action thrillers for people who don't like action thrillers.