Movie Talks Archives

Posted by: Adam J. Hakari at June 14, 2002, 11:47 pm

Topic: Reviews: The Bourne Identity Forum: JoBlo

I've never read the Robert Ludlum novel both the 1988 TV mini-series THE BOURNE IDENTITY and 2002's summer actioner THE BOURNE IDENTITY were based upon. I just want to get that off my chest right away. Now let me continue by saying that while I still believe the mini-series is a much deeper, more intriguing spy thriller, director Doug Liman's new version does a pretty good job of condensing over three hours of spy stuff into an enjoyable two-hour block of slickness. Matt Damon plays a man who's found floating in the Mediterranean Sea, with two bullet holes in his back and an account number for a Zurich bank in his hip. He also can't remember who he is or why he got a couple bullets in the back, so after two weeks, he decides to embark on a trip to Zurich to possibly figure out who he is. Meanwhile, a CIA executive (Chris Cooper) learns of the man's resurfacing in Europe. Turns out he has some answers as to who the amnesiac is, which has something to do with the attempted assassination of an African diplomat. Back in Europe, the man, who takes the name of Jason Bourne after finding about six passports, a lot of money, and a gun in a safe deposit box, is slowly piecing together bits of his past, with unknown abilities such as great fighting skills and a knowledge of foreign languages coming back to him all the time. But now Bourne realizes the danger he's in and, after an incident at the American consulate in Zurich, pays a bystander named Marie (Franka Potente) to drive him to Paris, where some answers might await him. But getting there means having to fight through the numerous agents dispatched by the Cooper character, all just as well-trained as Bourne, to bring him in and kill him. The first thing I found myself doing during THE BOURNE IDENTITY was noting the differences between it and the very good mini-series. Bourne was found on the beach in the mini-series. He formed a more tight bond with the doctor who nursed him back to health. The woman he teamed up with was American. There was a subplot about Carlos the Jackal in there. And where was that great graveyard scene? But the second thing I did, after telling my silly self to shut up and watch the movie, was how good of a job THE BOURNE IDENTITY did at just being an above-average summer shoot-'em-up. The best part about the flick was how Damon's character was developed. Some might think it'd be cool to suddenly gain fighting powers you haven't previously known, but when Bourne accidentally takes out two policemen who caught him sleeping in a park, he's scared out of his freakin' mind. Then he finds out that going the one place he wants to be, home, will lead to even more danger and confusion. Bourne just wants to chill and sort things out, but Cooper, a CIA boss (Brian Cox), and all the agents hired to bring him in think he's a rogue agent who needs to take a permanent vacation. Matt Damon's unexpected role of being an action hero of sorts actually fits the character; neither of them would ever expect they'd kick serious ass in their lifetime. In terms of acting, Damon does well as the confused Bourne, Potente, though not as great as she was in RUN LOLA RUN or sweet in BLOW, performs well in a throwaway part, and character actors like Cooper, Cox, and Clive Owen, playing a silent and deadly agent who goes by "The Professor," shine in supporting parts. Only Julia Stiles, who isn't bad here but is in a "OK, she's a good actress, but why her for this tiny role?", sticks out like a sore thumb. In directing, Doug Liman does a nice job handling his largest-scale production to date. He captures the beauty of the European locales and sets it as the backdrop for various action pieces, the best being a nifty car chase (Marie's Mini vs. a fleet of police cars and motorcycles) and Bourne playing cat-and-mouse with another agent in a vast field. Funny, how Liman seems like he can handle doing a car chase...I must remind people that the "Magic Carpet Ride" chase in GO was pretty damn cool, didn't ya think? You probably figured out from this review that I enjoyed THE BOURNE IDENTITY (despite a "make nice" ending), and that I enjoyed the mini-series better. But I'm here to say that if you like a good spy thriller, if you like solid action sequences, and if you like just being entertained, THE BOURNE IDENTITY isn't a bad choice. IMHO, it's a pretty good flick. My rating: *** out of ****

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