The Bourne Ultimatum

Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Joan Allen, Scott Glenn, Albert Finney

Dir. Paul Greengrass
Scr. Tony Gilroy, Scott Z Burns, George Nolfi

What do you call a trilogy that gets better with each instalment? A very, very rare thing. The Bourne Trilogy is that rare thing – Ultimatum is the most exciting, intense and entertaining of the three Bourne movies. Supremacy was better than Identity, and Ultimatum is better than the first two combined. Thanks largely to a perfectly cast lead actor and a visionary director, the Bourne Ultimatum will go down in the record books as one of the finest of its genre.

The Bourne Ultimatum picks up exactly where The Bourne Supremacy left off and, just like that, it’s full on action as Jason Bourne tries desperately to find out who he really is. While there is a going on, this is really the heart of the film (and the first two Bourne films) – a man chasing his identity, armed with skills that he can’t remember how he gained, trained by men he doesn’t remember knowing. It’s been a strong enough premise to keep the first two films compelling and it continues to engage the audience in Ultimatum.

The joy of Ultimatum is the pace. It’s an action film that’s all about action. Not CGI action, but hands-on, in your face action. Director Greengrass (who jumped on board the franchise with Supremacy) does not let the audience rest for long, as we are treated to a frenzied and compelling espionage thriller. And Bourne is at his cunning best, outsmarting everything and everyone that his wannabe captors throw at him. The scene at Waterloo Station is fantastic – “how is he going to get out of this one!?!” we cry. And, yet, he does. While this is certainly not an inconsistency-free zone, Greengrass doesn’t let you dwell on any holes the script might expose for long before Bourne is in yet another tight spot.

I never used to give Matt Damon any credit for being much of an actor. And perhaps he’s not, but he is perfectly suited to the role of the understated and guarded Bourne. I guess he thanks his lucky stars every day for getting this role – it certainly has assured him a place in cinematic history that otherwise may well have eluded him. It doesn’t hurt that he is surrounded by a cast of fine actors who give extremely solid performances in Ultimatum. Joan Allen is back as the Pamela Landy, the only person left in the CIA with any morality and who actually wants to give Bourne a chance to survive. Allen is, as usual, compelling and believable. Strathairn, playing CIA Deputy Director Vosen, is fantastic – in my opinion, one of the best character actors working today. We hate him in this film, just as we’re supposed to. Nice turns too from Scott Glenn (what a weathered face!) and Albert Finney. Julia Stiles (back in Ultimatum as CIA worker-bee Nicky Parsons) has a much larger role to play in this film (including an involved history with Bourne which is very strongly hinted at) and is solid in support.

There is, of course, the question of a fourth film. While we are not cheated of some closure in Ultimatum (there’s plenty of that), we are also left with some unanswered questions and loads of potential for another instalment. Would it be a HUGE mistake? My initial instinct was yes. But, having deviated so drastically from the Ludlam novels from which this trilogy takes its name, there is potential to return to the third book and lift a plot that might work. I dunno. Damon has said that if the script is good and Greengrass is directing, he would consider returning. And if Damon is on board, the script is good and Greengrass is directing, I have to admit I would consider returning to the cinema too.

The Bourne Ultimatum is what an action thriller should be – sharp, suspenseful, and packing a punch. Other franchises would be smart to take a few pages out of Bourne’s book – make your audience keep up, keep them guessing, don’t pander to them and, for goodness sake, keep the action coming!

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Pamela Landy: Bourne is really good at staying alive, and trying to kill him and failing... just pisses him off.