Review
The Bourne Ultimatum
- Director
- Paul Greengrass
- Year
- 2007
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- Gon Curiel a.k.a. Groucho
- Review date
- Wednesday, September 19, 2007
I expected the same from the third film, but instead I found that it goes back to the sort of procedures from the first one. Furthermore, the few revelations that we finally get seem rather obligatory and aren’t altogether surprising, the little romance that is put into the process doesn’t feel right and feels more like a cliffhanger for a future installment than something that moves the present plot forward, and most of the time it seems that Bourne’s quest has finally become just something to do…
This is because of the way it’s handled, of course, because there’s no denying that the premise is intense: Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) finds out that there’s a journalist, Simon Ross (Paddy Considine), that seems to know a lot about him, and goes after him quickly, clearly suspecting that the CIA will do the same, thus saving Ross from his former employers while trying to trace the source of all the information that he’s got. This happens in what I thought of as the film’s best moments, a chase sequence by foot that’s as exciting as anything the best action films do, except relying much more on suspense. The CIA spots Bourne and this is just the beginning of a hunt throughout Europe, and ending up in New York City. There’s now a new boss, CIA Deputy Director Noah Vosen (David Strathairn), who wants to get rid of Bourne like there’s no tomorrow. Pam Landy (Joan Allen), this time more than ever on Bourne’s side (if only to help him in a more humanistic way), gets the catch of what truly happened to him and what’s to be done.
Another old character, Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles), comes back to surprisingly help Bourne, almost throwing everything away to do this. I remember that I was Stiles’ fan when the previous Bourne films came out, and was disappointed that she didn’t have a juicier role. Now I’m not that much of a fan anymore, and still I was even more disappointed to see that promises were made and nothing was delivered. I didn’t believe this subplot and thought of it as a cheap hook for future entries. Let’s hope they make it interesting, but I’m not that excited about a fourth installment anyhow, as I’m almost sure (and I hope I’m wrong) that the quality will diminish.
I had many problems with the plot and the way it’s handled by screenwriters Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns and George Nolfi. For some unexplainable reason, the motivations and procedures seemed harder to believe than they were before. For instance, when Bourne calls a guy from his own office, it seems reckless, completely out of place and done only to add some “coolness” to the movie without really justifying it. What comes from it is interesting and the resolution is satisfying but why be careless if your whole life depends on how you handle things? The showdown with one of the main men responsible for his situation, Dr. Albert Hirsch (Albert Finney in a very welcome if short appearance), isn’t up to Bourne standards, but adds some believable drama. An exchange with a fellow assassin turns out way more poignant and I’m not sure that’s the way it should be. In short, I felt a bit more could’ve been done here and there, but at least the structure of the story (by Gilroy) was very satisfying.
What can’t be complained about is the action, again top-notch, again innovative, again masterfully realized. The editing (Christopher Rouse), cinematography (Oliver Wood) and music (John Powell) must be praised. The whole technical team works wonders. And director Greengrass never misses for a second.
As for the performances, there are two that stand out: Damon’s and Allen’s. I missed this Damon, he’s great in the role. Strathairn is up to the task and does it well, and Considine has little chance to prove himself but is also an asset. Stiles has very little to do and doesn’t do much of it either, and Albert Finney is good as always, I mean, he’s Albert Finney.
Yep, I have mixed feelings. But still this is top-notch entertainment and probably the best kind of blockbuster we can get nowadays. Let’s see what more we get in the future. I’m still a fan of the saga.
“Look at us. Look at what they make you give.”
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Other reviews of The Bourne Ultimatum (2007): Morris
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Review
The Bourne Ultimatum
- Director
- Paul Greengrass
- Year
- 2007
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Thursday, October 04, 2007
Six weeks after Jason (Matt Damon) ended up in Moscow opening his heart to the daughter of two of his victims, he finds himself interested in a reporter, Simon Ross (Paddy Considine), who seems to know more about him than he does, even though he’s starting to recover some of his memory; so he sets out after him, something that makes him reappear in the eyes of the CIA, where Deputy Director Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) is desperately trying to get rid of him while agent Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) disagrees and wants to help him.
Director Paul Greengrass is back at the helm, working from a script by Tony Gilroy, Scott Z Burns and George Nolfi, very loosely based on Robert Ludlum’s novels. The Bourne Ultimatum follows the same formula that made the previous installments such a great treat: locations all around the world, political intrigue with plot twists galore, raw action sequences and a tragic antihero at its center who is looking for closure. The movie starts fast and ends fast, there’s barely any room to breathe; it is intelligent entertainment at its best.
It’s also impressive how simple it is without appearing to be so. We finally get some answers in this chapter, but there barely are any moments of exposition; dialogue scenes are quick, information is delivered without much hoopla, and hints of past situations are dropped without any fanfare. I really respect the approach, because there continues to be material for more installments (I cross my fingers) but it’s satisfying enough as it is. It’s also interesting to see how the characters have believably evolved. Jason is an even more afflicted man still looking for answers, and Pamela Landy and Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) are now on his side while important political figures treat their lives as if they were flesh-and-blood chess figures. It says a lot about the shady procedures that we don’t know about but which inevitably take place behind the masks of people with power; a scary scenario that nevertheless is completely true.
The action sequences are visceral and very much real, with the highlight being a chase sequence through the roofs of Tangier in which there’s a lot going on and at stake for Bourne. There’s also a fascinating sequence in London’s Waterloo station as he guides reporter Ross out of being exposed. And the whole climax in New York is short on action, but large in suspense; very well-handled.
Greengrass and his writers also do something very cool around the middle portion that ties it with its predecessor in a truly unexpected way and which is sheer brilliance.
Many people might be bothered by the shaky camera and frenetic cutting, but I think Oliver Wood’s cinematography and Christopher Rouse’s editing are spot-on for the kind of story being told. It almost never bothered me. John Powell returns to provide the score and it is, once again, excellent.
Matt Damon is very comfortable in the role of Bourne and he continues to do an admirable job in conveying a lot with very little. He is deadly and dangerous, but he doesn’t enjoy killing and wants nothing more than peace. Joan Allen is such a pleasure to watch that the saga wouldn’t be the same without her, she’s regal. David Strathairn joins the cast and proves a formidable enemy, the same of which can be said of Albert Finney’s brief yet pivotal appearance. Julia Stiles has a bit of a forced entrance, but once she’s in she’s a more-than-welcomed presence. Edgar Ramirez, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine and all the supporting cast are top-notch.
“Look at us. Look at what they make you give.”
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Other reviews of The Bourne Ultimatum (2007): Groucho
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