What a remarkable ending to the “Bourne” series. Paul Greengrass, the director of the first and second films, brings the story of Jason Bourne full circle in this intense, character-driven spy thriller. The movie shows Hollywood has not lost its edge or that three-quels can sometimes surpass their predecessors. “The Bourne Ultimatum” is the best film I have seen this summer, and it will leave both those who have followed the series and newcomers satisfied.
Matt Damon returns as the super-efficient government spy who suffers from amnesia, having lost his memory of who he was before becoming a CIA-controlled killing machine. Hiding from the agency who attempted to kill him and those close to him in the last two films, Bourne comes out of hiding when he learns someone has new information about his past. A secret government program is unveiled as Bourne must again evade the CIA and battle other super agents to get to the truth. Joan Allen and Julia Stiles return in this third chapter of the series, along with talented newcomers David Strathairn (“We Are Marshall”) and Albert Finney (“Big Fish”).
This globetrotting adventure takes us to Paris, London, Moscow and Virginia - all within the first 30 minutes. Greengrass keeps the pace fast and furious as you leap back and forth between the hunters and the hunted, and the action sequences are very sparse and bare bones, giving us what seem to be very realistic fight scenes. Damon has the look of a killing machine - all focused around his eyes - and plays the emotionless Bourne ready to always spring into action perfectly. The exception here is Bourne also comes off as different from the other “programmed” agents – he occasionally lets people in to see his humanity, which makes him a very compelling character to follow.
These films play perfectly to an audience possibly distrustful of its own government, the spy technology government uses and potential shady missions taking place without oversight. It is empowering to watch Bourne disappear in plain sight, showing a single person is able to outsmart the system. We root for Bourne because the very government who trained him has wronged him, and he only wants back what they took from him.
I was fully satisfied as the loose ends were neatly tied up, all while creating a stand-alone, action-packed story. Having the brilliant character actor Finney introduced into the story at the very end was like a cherry on top of this real treat of a movie. Without a moment to catch your breath, “The Bourne Ultimatum” propels itself to a satisfying and exceptional end.
Rated PG-13 for violence and intense sequences of action.
