The Bourne Ultimatum (B or 3/4 stars)
The Bourne Ultimatum' is a spy-action thriller directed by Paul Greengrass (earning critical acclaim for 2006's United 93). This is the last filmic installment of the Bourne series. For 3 unsuccessful years, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) has tried, desperately, to dodge bullets, trained killers, an ill-suspecting government, and all other perils en route to recovering from amnesia and getting his memory back. Hunted by the very people who have made him the assassin that he is, Bourne needs to go back to the basics. Not as brilliant as Identity, but ions better than Supremacy, this sequel is small on story but huge on appeal, intrigue & action.
The CIA are after Rogue agent, Jason Bourne. But Jason's in hiding, still relenting to the fact that Marie (Franka Potente) is dead. But he is lured back into action to help save a journalist, Simon Ross (good 'ole Paddy Considine), from imminent danger. Ross had been covering the Bourne 'story', but the CIA are after him now. They, lead by gov't official Noah Vosen (decent villain, David Strathairn) want him dead because he also knows about their secret Treadstone and BlackBriar organizations. Vosen 'thinks' Bourne would sell inside info to CNN. So, not knowing her true intentions, Vosen makes a gut-reaction in asking Pam Landy (Joan Allen) to help track down Jason Bourne. Thing is, she knows Bourne's unfortunate story and is secretly willing to help him in any way she can.
But she can't do everything. Bourne has to fend for himself and defy all perils (CIA-hired killers such as Paz, played by Edgar Ramirez). Bourne has to use his quick mind (outsmarting cell phone/ technology intelligence) and agile body to hide, crawl, run, escape, leap, out-maneuver, and drive to safety. It's a thrilling ride. The film starts, basically, where Supremacy leaves off. He's in Moscow and is chased by the cops (insert flashbacks of his past, coming back in fuzzy bursts of memory). Bourne defies death in Turin, Italy. Then he escapes again in an extended chase scene in Tangiers (sweaty palms, much?) His misfortune then takes him scrambling through London's Waterloo station. And Bourne cleverly finds a way to defend himself using a heavy book in one particularly genius brawl.
I like that Bourne asks an enemy assassin, 'Do you know WHY you're trying to kill me?' So it's part morality tale on how some sectors of our government really operate. Matt Damon is curtly efficient as Bourne. He takes an ass-kicking, & gives them back tenfold. His car chases are enthralling; the roof jumping is heart stopping. Though, you wonder how he could survive any of this. The cast, including Strathairn, Allen, Albert Finney, & Julia Stiles (she's back in a pivotal way, though she says very little) are stellar here. The dialogue in the film isn't the best, but it's delivery by these fine actors makes it work. This series has run dry of a truly compelling plot. So this film works best as a great as a late-Summer action flick. I can't believe how quickly 110 minutes flew by!
The CIA are after Rogue agent, Jason Bourne. But Jason's in hiding, still relenting to the fact that Marie (Franka Potente) is dead. But he is lured back into action to help save a journalist, Simon Ross (good 'ole Paddy Considine), from imminent danger. Ross had been covering the Bourne 'story', but the CIA are after him now. They, lead by gov't official Noah Vosen (decent villain, David Strathairn) want him dead because he also knows about their secret Treadstone and BlackBriar organizations. Vosen 'thinks' Bourne would sell inside info to CNN. So, not knowing her true intentions, Vosen makes a gut-reaction in asking Pam Landy (Joan Allen) to help track down Jason Bourne. Thing is, she knows Bourne's unfortunate story and is secretly willing to help him in any way she can.
But she can't do everything. Bourne has to fend for himself and defy all perils (CIA-hired killers such as Paz, played by Edgar Ramirez). Bourne has to use his quick mind (outsmarting cell phone/ technology intelligence) and agile body to hide, crawl, run, escape, leap, out-maneuver, and drive to safety. It's a thrilling ride. The film starts, basically, where Supremacy leaves off. He's in Moscow and is chased by the cops (insert flashbacks of his past, coming back in fuzzy bursts of memory). Bourne defies death in Turin, Italy. Then he escapes again in an extended chase scene in Tangiers (sweaty palms, much?) His misfortune then takes him scrambling through London's Waterloo station. And Bourne cleverly finds a way to defend himself using a heavy book in one particularly genius brawl.
I like that Bourne asks an enemy assassin, 'Do you know WHY you're trying to kill me?' So it's part morality tale on how some sectors of our government really operate. Matt Damon is curtly efficient as Bourne. He takes an ass-kicking, & gives them back tenfold. His car chases are enthralling; the roof jumping is heart stopping. Though, you wonder how he could survive any of this. The cast, including Strathairn, Allen, Albert Finney, & Julia Stiles (she's back in a pivotal way, though she says very little) are stellar here. The dialogue in the film isn't the best, but it's delivery by these fine actors makes it work. This series has run dry of a truly compelling plot. So this film works best as a great as a late-Summer action flick. I can't believe how quickly 110 minutes flew by!