Run Time: 1 hr. 51 min.
Rating: PG-13 - violence and
intense sequences of action
Cast: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles,
David Strathairn, Glenn Scott, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez, Albert Finney,
Joan Allen
Director: Paul Greengrass
Genre: Action Thriller, Action,
Unglamorized Spy Film
Dang.
Matt Damon is not an action hero. Matt Damon is not an action hero. I keep trying to tell myself that. Even Paul Rudd called him a “Streisand” in the 40-Year-Old Virgin. Dang. He really is an action hero, though. He kicks major ass. The only other Jason I know of that can go through death-defying feats and still live to open a can of whup ass wears a hockey mask.
Dang.
For anyone who has been on Mars the last five years, Matt Damon’s signature role has been that of Jason Bourne – a man searching for his identity. Standing in the way of that search are various assassins (assets as they are called by the mysterious company, Treadstone) sent to kill him.
When we last left Jason off, he was attempting to atone for the entire killing he's done, leading him to a showdown in Moscow. He warned Bureau director, Pam Landy (excellent and kinda still hot) Joan Allen) to not search for him. Or he would bring it to them.
They did. And he does.
The Bourne Ultimatum begins with Jason living in Italy and still mourning his girlfriend Marie. He comes across a series of articles written by a British journalist played by Paddy Considine. Turns out, he has a source who knows all about Bourne, the mysterious Treadstone and a project called Black Briar.
This gets the attention of CIA directors Scott Glenn and David Stratham. And the chase is on – one spectacular rollercoaster fight that leaves you saying…
Dang.
Besides the fighting, I really enjoy the themes director Paul Greengrass and writers, Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns and George Nolfi put out there in a post 9/11 world, especially with what is going on in the US politically today. They really pose the questions are we justified using alternative methods for interrogating and how far we should really take these methods.
But back to the action. Paul Greengrass just kicks major ass in setting up chase scenes. Just when he has raised the bar for car chases, he brings to a whole new level with Vespas…jumping not from rooftop to rooftop, but from one building window to another and another….
In a summer of three-quels, this is by far the best one - Julia Stiles, as Nicky Parsons, actually gets to do a lot more than sit on a chair, wearing a headset - and the best of the Bourne series. I hope there’s a fourth.
Dang.
Five Ball Point Pens.