| A man (Richard Chamberlain) wakes up on a French beach. He has no idea where he is, how he got there...or who he is. Once a local doctor fixes him up, the man treks across Europe in hopes of finding clues leading to his identity. He hits the jackpot in Zurich, where he learns that his name is Jason Bourne and, somehow, $15 million is in a Swiss bank account in his name. But Bourne ends up going on the run from men he doesn't know but is sure are determined to kill him. In the midst of all the action, Bourne kidnaps a Canadian economist (Jaclyn Smith) and continues on his quest, avoiding his would-be assassins while constantly trying to figure out the key to unlocking his past. THE BOURNE IDENTITY is friggin' cool. As good as any Bond movie, I'd say, even better than some. This flick, based upon the novel by the late Robert Ludlum, was originally released as a TV mini-series. I found this flick at a nearby video store, and...wow, I never expected a movie this long to be so slick, involving, and well-acted. Chamberlain does excellent work as Bourne, a normal man who finds out that his past is anything but, and Smith is far from wasted as the unwilling hostage who later becomes a valuable aide for Bourne. THE BOURNE IDENTITY is a bit long in the teeth (spanning two videocassettes), but the swell acting, gorgeous European locales, sparse but well-plotted action scenes and sprawling storyline, getting even Carlos the Jackal into the mix, make it a formidable spy thriller against any other. |