Movie Review: The Bourne Ultimatum

When Paul Greengrass took on The Bourne Supremacy there was a kinetic energy, a freshness, that turned the sequel into a better film than the original. Well, lightning doesn't strike the same franchise twice.

The Bourne Ultimatum may be the smartest film of the bunch, taking aim and finally pulling the trigger on unchecked CIA power. Yet after watching writer Tony Gilroy's film Michael Clayton, I can't help but see The Bourne Ultimatum as a lesser work. Sure there's action, but after three films, I think the audience has grasped the fact that Jason Bourne isn't going to die at the hands of this CIA.

Full of incompetent, power-tripping right-wingers, this CIA is in panic mode. Specifics on a top secret program known as Blackbriar were leaked to a reporter (Paddy Constantine). The leak needs to be found and the story terminated at all costs. But there's a problem. Super spy Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is looking for the leak, too. That leak is his last, best chance at finding out about his mysterious past.

Bourne is still on the run, but off the grid (as franchise fans will know). So when he intercepts the reporter who knows the leak's name, he is put back in the CIA's sights. The reporter doesn't quite make it because this CIA can off reporters without anyone finding out who did it. Bourne does escape the scene, as he always does, and continues his global trek to find out his true identity.

Bourne's encounter with the reporter is the highlight of the film, a tense, well-scripted chase sequence that thankfully doesn't look like it was filmed with a camera strapped to Damon. Yes, that's a Greengrass slam. The art of his often unintelligible camera work is lost on me, at least in this film. Like Tim Burton's inability to tell a story thanks to focusing elsewhere, Greengrass lets his meticulous attention to tense, manic action leave Bourne floundering.

Article Author: Daniel J. Stasiewski

Daniel J. Stasiewski resides in Cleveland where he is the webmaster and editor of The Film Chair. He has an unhealthy obsession with movies and popular culture, for which his therapist suggested joining Blogcritics.

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