Wednesday, August 29, 2007

The Bourne Ultimatum

In a year or two of mostly meh films, and an overwhelmingly meh, it's nice to see a film break apart from the pack and excel. It's even nicer when you don't expect that film to be as good as it actually is. But, that certainly couldn't happen this summer, right? With all the dreadful threequels? Wrong. Ready for a third installment of a trilogy that not only doesn't suck, but blows away the first two installments?
Say hello to The Bourne Ultimatum.
Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is still on the run. At the opening of the movie, he is wounded and evading capture in Russia, continuing the story directly from the end of the second film. This time, he is focused on finding out who he was, and how he got to where he is. Meanwhile, the CIA is heavily tracking him, under the watchful eye of Noah Vosen (David Strathairn), providing a calculating counterpoint to Pamela Landy (Joan Allen). Will Bourne evade his captors? Will he find out the truth? Will the truth leave him more broken than before?
Although you obviously get the answers to all of the above questions, it doesn't really matter.....but in a good way. TBU features one of the most skeletal plots in recent memory, and there's nothing wrong with that at all. TBU is a tour-de-force of action and suspense, like Ronin on an adrenaline dump. I wasn't expecting all that much from TBU after the 2nd movie, but my expectations were dashed apart not long in. There's an extended sequence of suspense where we see Bourne using the business of London to stay one step ahead of his CIA pursuers. A chase through the streets of Tangier that keeps the raised bar from Ronin and The Transporter. A jaw-dropping (that modifier comes from somebody whose martial arts films viewings is somewhere in triple-digits, BTW) fight scene with Bourne and one of his opposite numbers in the CIA, that features new and innovative uses for books (sorry, Eve.....) and towels. A harrowing car chase/crash in the streets of New York. All this followed by an ending that makes you want to hold your breath, but lets you breathe again by the time the credits roll.
Paul Greengrass puts himself squarely on the map as a great director with the one-two punch of United 93 and this film, but credit must be shared. The "less is more" script by Tony Gilroy, George Nolfi and Scott Burns maintains a consistent tone throughout, and veteran cinematographer Oliver Wood furthers that tone with a shaky, verite feel to the filming that greatly heightens the realism. Might wanna pack some Dramamine with the popcorn if you're the seasick type, though.
Let's also not forget the performances. After watching Matt Damon in this film, I'm convinced he's sufficiently badass to fill the boots of Captain America, so I hope Marvel takes note. David Strathairn also doesn't disappoint as the villain of the piece, minus the mustache-twirling.
The Bourne Ultimatum gets a 19 out of 22 on the 22 scale, and deserves every point of it.

Memorable Quotes:

Pamela Landy (briefing her team on Bourne): "This is Jason Bourne, the toughest target that you have ever tracked. He is really good at staying alive, and trying to kill him and failing... just pisses him off....."

7 comments:

Neal Paradise said...

did you know, YRF, that Paul Greengrass also directed the 2nd Bourne film?

Stormy Pinkness said...

I enjoyed the review. I have been skeptical about seeing that movie but I keep on hearing how great it is, and seeing you give it a nineteen is definitely helping.
If I could make one critique of the review, What is this Ronin movie you keep mentioning? I have no clue and I am sure there are many others who don't which makes the reader feel lost while reading, because then they have very little to compare the movie too. However, I could just be grasping at straws here.

CmdLuke said...

I heartily agree, my racist friend! It took me a few weeks to actually get into the theaters to see it. The one thing I noticed was that, like most sequels, it doesn't have too many slow points. since it is the end of a trilogy, they have many looses ends to tie up and just keep going until the whole thing is over, however, unlike many other end-of-trilogy films, the nonstop pace keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
The intensity of the film really does get you to really care for the character to the point where you want to cheer for him in his successes and fear for his safety.
Love the site and the reviews guy! keep up the great work!

Mike said...

I did know that PM, which is why I was so pleasantly surprised, since I didn't love the second film that much.

Ronin is a film with Robert DeNiro, Jean Reno, and Stellan Skarsgard, among others. It was directed and written by David Mamet, and has a minor cult following. It's really good, you should rent it. LOTR alum Sean Bean is in it too.

Welcome to the site, Colin!

Wicked Little Critta said...

Great review, YRF! I was leaning towards seeing it, and now I definitely want to. You definitely know your action flicks. :)
Is the fast-paced suspense exhausting at all? Sometimes being on the edge of my seat all the way through feels like too much. Is it a long film?
Welcome, cmdluke! Yay for more people reading our blog!

CmdLuke said...

thanks everyone
the action isn't really exhausting. when i say the movie doesn't reallystop, its not so much non stop action, it just moves at an excellent pace. there are plenty of times where he is showing how much better he is then the people tracking him and its great fun to watch!

Mike said...

No, I wouldn't categorize the action as exhausting.