The Bourne Ultimatum: Review

The Bourne Ultimatum, for the lack of a better term, is an espionage masterpiece, a fierce piece of filmmaking that, as a feat of storytelling, is never short of staggering. From the gut punch start to the face slap finish, Paul Greengrass has crafted an amazing piece of summer entertainment, a thriller that easily eclipses everything (excerpt for a certain third trimester comedy) on screen so far this year. To borrow a trite and overused phrase, the concluding chapter of the Bourne trilogy is a thinking man's actioner, a fiendishly clever thrill ride that is more or less one extended and exhilarating chase.

Greengrass has quickly shot up the ranks in the minds of the critics and if opening weekend returns say anything at all, this may be the film to solidify him in the minds of the general public. As a director of action, he has few equals (Michael Mann is really the only person who comes to mind that can match him), with each sequence heightening the tension further. However, Greengrass understands the relief and joy that comes with the release of that aforementioned tension and he ably demonstrates that throughout Ultimatum. Every chase ends in a satisfying manner, never leaving the viewer wishing it was still going on or never ruining the first two thirds of a sequence by finishing it weakly.

What most immediately comes to mind is the almost 20 minute sequence taking place in Tangier which begins as a Moped chase, morphs into a rooftop escape and finishes with one of the most memorable hand to hand fights this side of The Matrix. The entirety of it is stunning, a white knuckle, breathless race through the tight streets of Morocco that finishes precisely at the right time. In fact, the film is paced almost perfectly from beginning to end, moving quickly from scene to scene, never staying too long on a single moment. Greengrass never lets up and by the end, the audience is pleasurably invigorated and exhausted, wanting more while also begging for a break.

For those who haven't been following the trilogy, which with this final chapter must start to be considered one of the best of all time, the Ultimatum picks up where The Bourne Supremacy left off, with Jason Bourne (played by Matt Damon) still on the run from his CIA handlers as he desperately attempts to discover his true identity. See, Bourne was a part of a super secret government spy program (are they any other kinds?) that left him with no idea as to who he was, what he was doing, etc. The trilogy tracks his journey to discover his past and by the time the Ultimatum begins, his search is rapidly coming to an end.

Here's a disclaimer: if you haven't seen the first two, don't start here. Go back and watch The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy, they are well worth your time. That being said, The Bourne Ultimatum is head and shoulders above those first two films, equaling their cumulative thrill in individual sequences. Much like 2006's Miami Vice, which took genre filmmaking to artistic heights not seen since John Ford was reinventing American ideas of the West, The Bourne Ultimatum is as artistic and refined as an actioner gets.

Greengrass' camera work hums along briskly, never stopping and always engaged in a quick, kinetic manner. Many critics have unfairly dubbed his style as "Shaky-Cam" and for those who can't see the genius in his cinematographic style, its their loss. It perfectly fits the controlled chaos that fills the screen, lending each scene an increased energy that enriches every frame. This style, which is quickly becoming Greengrass' staple (he used it convincingly and intelligently in Bloody Sunday, United 93 and The Bourne Supremacy), molds itself to the film like a well-tailored suit to the point where one could logically find it impossible to imagine The Bourne Ultimatum shot in any other way.

The cast here is star studded and up to the task, with each link proving to be as strong as the next with the exception of Damon who, quite simply, transcends action hero trappings as only the largest stars can and makes Bourne into a character we can sincerely care about. As a star, Damon is much like his director here, rarely equaled, if only by a select few. His consistently excellent performances, range of characters and projects has become a staple for him and the young man who captured Hollywood's heart with 1997's Good Will Hunting, has become one of the most creative assured workers in the industry. The rest of the cast, as mentioned previously, are all up to task with the reliable David Strathairn, Paddy Considine, Julia Stiles and Joan Allen all doing excellent work. Albert Finny is even featured in a small role that he makes the most of, keeping the climactic moments of the film tense and engrossing.

The Bourne Ultimatum is a roaring success and should be considered a must see for any one who enjoys a entertaining, intelligent film. If you don't fall in that category, I'm sorry to say that you might be in the wrong place. With Ultimatum, Greengrass continues to solidify his standing as one of the great modern directors, adding this thriller to his other masterpieces Bloody Sunday and United 93. What differentiates Bourne from its competitors is its organic, never overly flashy storytelling. Take, for example, Live Free or Die Hard, which I thoroughly enjoyed, a film that lives and dies (no pun intended) with its spectacularly outrageous stunts and explosions. For the large part, The Bourne Ultimatum largely eschews those trappings, instead relying on good old filmmaking technique to tell its riveting and exciting story allowing it, in the process, to become a bona fide action classic, one that will be watched for generations to come.

*****