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In 2002, "The Bourne Identity" reminded us what an action film is supposed to be — exciting, with believable characters and a minimum of special effects, except for the occasional breathtaking car chase. The audience must have agreed because the film and its sequel, ’04’s "The Bourne Supremacy," earned more than $500 million worldwide.
"The Bourne Ultimatum" is directed by Paul Greengrass, who was behind the camera for "Supremacy." Although it brought me close to motion sickness with its breakneck speed, it is mostly an exciting and provocative thriller. It also takes a few well-aimed jabs at the increasingly scrutinized American intelligence community.
All this running around gets a little tedious by the middle, but the movie gains a certain gravitas as Jason (Matt Damon) gets closer to his past. It also doesn’t hurt that master thespians David Strathairn and Joan Allen get to do some Ali/Frazier-style verbal fisticuffs that add class to the proceedings. Not that it needed any.
Jason Bourne is more determined than ever to find his true identity. When British journalist Simon Ross (Paddy Considine) gets some inside info about Bourne, he attracts the attentions of both the rogue agent and CIA Deputy Director Noah Vosen (Strathairn). After the usual globe-trotting and butt-kicking, Bourne gets closer than ever to the truth.
Long a fan of both Strathairn and Allen, I was thrilled to see these two heavyweights do their respective thing. More than just dramatic pyrotechnics, their characters engage in a psychopolitical relationship with Bourne.
Allen reprises her role as Agent Pamela Landy from "Supremacy" and almost steals the movie from Damon. Having won a Tony in 1988 for "Burn This," Allen has also received three Oscar nods and brings it every time she appears on screen. Strathairn, also a stage actor, brings a three-dimensionality to his character, Vosen, which makes him even more evil than if he were in the hands of a lesser actor.
But, let’s face it, this is Damon’s show and he’s the main reason to watch. Damon, who just last week received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is that rare actor who can pull off a character like Bourne. Damon is physically imposing, but can convey the pathos of who Jason Bourne ultimately is — a killer with a conscience.
"The Bourne Ultimatum," like its predecessors, is a thinking-person’s action movie. But you don’t have to be a genius to like it.
The Bourne Ultimatum
PG-13
Three reels out of four
In area theaters tomorrow
Director: Paul Greengrass
Screenplay: Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns and George Nolfi
Major Cast:
Matt Damon … Jason Bourne
Julia Stiles … Nicky Parsons
David Strathairn … Noah Vosen
Joan Allen … Pamela Landy
Albert Finney … Dr. Albert Hirsch
Home Theater
The following are all scheduled for a Tuesday release unless otherwise noted.
Disturbia
PG-13
Although not in the same league as Alfred Hitchcock’s deservedly revered "Rear Window," "Disturbia" is not bad as teen thrillers go. It does get silly towards the end, but is worth seeing for the teeny-bopper who has memorized AFI’s top-100 films list and has a crush on Kale (Shia LaBeouf).
A normally reserved high-schooler who one day punches a jerky teacher, Kale has to wear one of those annoying ankle bracelets. He uses this huge lemon to make lemonade and soon is having a great time spying on his neighbors. Unfortunately, one (wonderfully underplayed by David Morse) may be hiding a grisly secret.
The Simpsons – The Complete Tenth Season
Not rated
Either you’re a fan of "The Simpsons" or you’re not. For those of us in the former (guilty as charged), the family from Springfield is at the center of one of the greatest sitcoms in TV history, in the league of such icons as "The Honeymooners," "I Love Lucy" and "All in the Family."
No doubt timed to coincide with last week’s release of "The Simpsons Movie," I present the complete 10th season in a package shaped like Bart’s head. Bonus features include the Bart Butterfinger spots, commentary from the writers and many other cool adds. For you grown-ups, why don’t you go watch "Grey’s Anatomy" or whatever it is that you do.
Girl Happy
Not rated
When the topic of Elvis movies comes up, film buffs lean towards "Jailhouse Rock" and "King Creole." The others tend to be forgettable fluff The King was forced to do by his manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker.
Not one to follow the crowd, I like the fluff and one of the fluffiest, "Girl Happy," has Elvis as Rusty Wells. The latter is a ne’er-do-well rock-and-roller hired by Chicago mobster Big Frank (Harold J. Stone) to secretly babysit his daughter (Shelley Fabares) when she and her friends go to Fort Lauderdale for spring break. Naturally, this being an Elvis movie, he falls in love with her. Silly, but fun.
