The Bourne Ultimatum

There's no better middle ground when it comes to summer blockbusters than this consistent espionage franchise. In the wake of endless cartoonish superheroes and Hasbro toys turned action stars, The Bourne Ultimatum plays like a jolt back to reality, a combination of spectacle appeal and true artistry. Shot largely on location and through the inventive eye of returning helmer Paul Greengrass (hot off an Oscar nomination for United 93), it's the kind of action movie that makes other action movies seem lazy. The story picks up after the climactic, dizzying car chase of 2004's The Bourne Supremacy and follows Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) as he continues on his quest to figure out who he is and what exactly the government has done to him. He gets a lead when a London based journalist (Paddy Considine) scores vital info from an inside government source, but the CIA, led by the ruthless and snide Noah Vosen (David Stathairn) gets to the reporter first. Bourne and Vosen collide in a breathless chase sequence at Waterloo Station and from that moment on they each embark in hot pursuit of the journalist's unknown source. The chase very quickly goes global and we're treated to another round of worldly, sophisticated spy vs. spy excitement.

Damon is once again a stoic delight as the brooding Jason Bourne and in his third outing in this role gives maybe the most subtle, unforced performance of his career. His embodiment of Bourne seems almost effortless and for that, the character seems even more authentic in his haunting detachment and sly wit. Similar things could be said for Greengrass in the director's chair. Where The Bourne Supremacy was a whirling, sometimes unfollowable action blur, The Bourne Ultimatum shows him perfecting this style into something far more deliberate and specifically crafted. He keeps the freewheeling camera style intact without letting it overbear the logical narrative rhythms. Instead of just basking in mania, he grabs the reins and makes the mania work at his hill. In retrospect, The Bourne Supremacy, feels even more like an experiment of discovery for both men that tested the limits of what they were capable of and helped them to redefine a franchise, and perhaps the entire action genre for a new generation. There would be no gritty Casino Royale if Jason Bourne hadn't stolen the thunder away from campy summer spectacle of yesteryear. Greengrass and Damon are making the action franchise that could define blockbuster trends for the current decade.

There's just no way to express how refreshing a film of this nature is for someone bored by typical summer films. There's hardly anything this well written, acted, and directed anywhere in multiplexes or arthouses at the moment. The Bourne Ultimatum is not just a brilliant film, it's an unspoken argument for the potential of the action genre and a slap in the face to anyone who bemoans the notion of a sequel. It proves that there's no inherent flaw in films in either or both of those categories. This is an action sequel for the ages.

Grade: A