BOURNE, again

Although I didn't have a chance to write something up for "Now Playing" on THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM this summer, since the show was on hiatus, the release of the film's DVD has inspired me to crank something out for my blog.

I often see critics describe summer action blockbusters as non-stop action thrill rides. Such statements always scream cliched, but I can honestly say that THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM is probably the first summer action blockbuster to earn the distinction of being a "non-stop thrill ride".

The film, just like the first two BOURNE films, races through multiple countries and various popular, international landscapes. I enjoyed the first two films, which provided fairly exhilarating action sequences and a decent plot to paste together Jason's running escapades. This third, and presumably final, installment in the BOURNE series is a notch above it's predecessors. It's concern is not as much with Jason revealing clues to reach his final destination, but rather to race him at hyper-speed, running him through everything and everyone like a buzz-saw, set on reaching his final dark and revealing conclusion.

Damon is on the mark again as Bourne, and Julia Stiles is given a greater role than window dressing (see past BOURNE roles, which amount to cameos). Albert Finney and Joan Allen turn in solid performances as Dr. Albert Hirsh and Pamela Lindy, but the real star of THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM is director Paul Greengrass. Greengrass took over the directorial duties of the BOURNE series with THE BOURNE SUPREMACY and seems much more comfortable with THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM. His signature hand-held camera action is still present as it was in SUPREMACY, but not to a nauseating extent. It's mixed in with other techniques which heighten the level of thrills, intensity and drama.

What's refreshing, particularly as an action film, and makes the film so rewarding is the fact that I was generally and legitimately thrilled. Almost every big Hollywood blockbuster is predictable, in the sense that we know that are hero will be standing from the first to the last frame, but what is not predictable is whether or not the director can divert and subvert our attention in an instant (or several instances) and make us lose our sensibility for that moment (or moments). All the great suspense and action directors perform this feat, whether it's Spielberg, Hitchcock or even M. Night Shymalan. With THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, Greengrass steps into this league with an exhilarating, suspense-filled and nearly exhausting (in a good way) action spectacular.

Grade: B+

FYI, the film is being released on DVD today (Tuesday, December 11) and I'll be picking it up for someone for Christmas.