Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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98 of 108 people found the following review helpful:
Where in the World is Jason Bourne?, August 22, 2007
(4 1/2 *'s) `The Bourne Ultimatum' is a non-stop thriller ride that easily propels itself to the top of the three-peat super summer. The third in the series, Jason Bourne (played superbly by a tough and tormented Matt Damon) still suffers his same identity crisis, this time criss-crossing his way across the globe with breakneck speed. Suspenseful for more than the thrill of the chase, we are given a gripping sense of drama as CIA director, Noah Vosen (played with tough officiousness by David Strathairn in another great performance) and his sparring co-leader, Pamela Landy (Joan Allen in an admirably complex role) come to grips with Bourne and his alleged treason against their assassination operation. Hooking up with a fellow operative Nicky Parsons (a sleight-of-hand Julia Stiles), Bourne and associates provide enough development to keep us guessing throughout.
Besides all of the identity intrigue, the action is relentless without being predictable. All the scenes of chase and violence are fresh and invigorating. Flashbacks from Jason's fragmented memory add substance to the fray, and the board room tension at control central, both at the CIA and the UK are formidable. Creeping into his memory at various times, senior CIA figure, Dr. Albert Hirsch (in a welcome sunset role by Albert Finney), gives the mystery proper credence. While I found Greengrass's direction a mastery of timing, drama, and movement, I do have a quibble with the editing. Although an acquired taste, too many scenes are presented as an enhanced blur, both in the thick of the chase and with the flashback sequences. Just as an observation, the revelations presented are satisfying with the resolution of his identity being one of the least compelling.
`The Bourne Ultimatum' deserves approximately the same accolades as 'Casino Royale' with its stunning development, pace, and execution. For those who love action pictures, this film is a list-topping must-see movie for the end of summer.
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100 of 115 people found the following review helpful:
ReBourne, August 4, 2007
The enigma that is Jason Bourne (a focused, determined, conflicted performance by the terrific Matt Damon) is almost (there is indeed room for a Bourne4) un-masked by the end of this film: the newest installment of a series of now three excellent films; the last two directed by Paul Greengrass who also directed the staggeringly focused and shatteringly emotional "Flight 93."
On the very basic level, through all three films, Bourne has been on a quest to find himself: who he is, who he was and why he does the things that he does. His memory is limited to a few flashes of memory here and there about his history which leads him in "Ultimatum" to where he began: C.I.A. training HQ.
Director Greengrass directs this film with intelligence and a thoughtfulness this type of film rarely gets: in fact this type of international thriller is non-existent in the New Millennium outside the Bourne series. Antecedents of this series lead you back to the 1960's and 1970's in films like "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" or "Three Days of the Condor." Despite this, Greengrass and his writers and of course the source material: the novels of Robert Ludlum make this all of the now and of the today mostly because they focus on the plight of one man so it is easy for us to identify: aren't we all on a quest to find ourselves our entire lives?
Matt Damon, once thought of as lightweight after films like "Oceans 11" and "Good Will Hunting" has proven the naysayers wrong by playing Jason Bourne from the center of his heart and soul: he is bruised, beat-up, tortured, and whipped not only on the physical level but more importantly on the ethical and cosmic one. His Bourne is suffering, bleeding from within with not only the blood that the life of a murderer for hire produces but also from the bile and acid that shreds and eats at his the life-force. He doesn't eat, he hardly drinks, he has no life to speak of and when he dares to love...that is taken away also. Bourne is empty.
Towards the end of "The Bourne Ultimatum," Jason confronts a man who has been sent to kill him and he asks: "Do you have any idea why you want to kill me" "Do you have any idea why you do the things that you do? The movie comes to a dead stop after an hour and a half of car and foot chases, hand-to-hand combat, gunfire ricocheting about and we all take a deep breath of recognition for Bourne is not only commenting on himself and on the man who would be his murderer but on all of us sitting there in the theater with our hearts in our throats.
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134 of 142 people found the following review helpful:
A Breathless, Intelligent, Finely Honed Part 3 of the Bourne Series, November 4, 2007
Paul Greengrass has stepped into the director's shoes for this third installment of the Jason Bourne identity crisis and in doing so has created nearly two hours of tension that would make Robert Ludlum proud! This is an example of how Hollywood can shine when it integrates all of the components of an 'action suspense thriller' by capitalizing on finding the best contributors available - actors, producers, cameramen, stunt men, script (Tony Gilroy, George Nolfi and Scott Z. Burns), composer of music (John Powell), editors - everyone of the hundreds required to pull off this superlative film. It is as fine as any thriller can be and reflects the intensity of concentration and understatement and respect for the viewers' intellect that crowned his excellent UNITED 93 and THE BOURNE SUPREMACY. The result is a polished movie that remains compelling form the opening frame to the final credits.
For those who have read or watched Ludlum's Bourne trilogy the story line is at core very simple: Jason Bourne has lost his memory and struggles through terrifying confrontations with all governments and potential assassins, endures relentless chases, and defies the machinations of the world's intelligence sources to discover his true identity. The rest of the novels and films are the how.
Matt Damon has come into his own as an electrifying screen presence as Jason Bourne: his acting is keen and his ability to hold our concern through impossible situations would be difficult to duplicate by other actors of this genre. The supporting cast includes such superb actors as Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Albert Finney, Paddy Considine, Daniel Brühl, Joey Ansah and a very large cast of others. The pacing and use of Intelligence techniques is extraordinary and is beautifully captured by the cinematography of DP Oliver Wood and finessed by the editing of Christopher Rouse.
One aspect of this film that is the most frightening is to observe just how invasive the Intelligence portions of our government can be: there seemingly are no secrets about even the most personal aspects of our lives that cannot be flashed on multiscreens in the war room of the CIA and associated organizations. Perhaps this film will be a red flag to alert public attention as to how our right to privacy has been so visibly raped by the government in the name of security - a factor that makes watching this excellent movie even more terrifying! Grady Harp, November 07
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