Bourne Ultimatum - Movie Media Mayhem Review #3

While the acting in this film was excellent, what really distinguished the film was its directing, cinematography and action scene choreography. This film is directed by Paul Greengrass, a director who, after spending most of his career in television, managed to break into mainstream film with The Bourne Supremacy in 2004. He followed that in 2005 with United 93, a film which garnered him an Oscar nomination. With the Bourne Ultimatum, Greengrass has established himself as one of the best action film directors working in Hollywood today.

The latest film in the Bourne series, the Bourne Ultimatum, opens where the Bourne Supremacy ended. Having successfully evaded the bad guys in Moscow, Bourne travels to Paris to tell his girlfriend's brother that she was the victim of an attempt on his life. While in Paris, he comes across an article written about him in the British newspaper, The Guardian. He travels to London to speak to the article's writer, a move which brings him back onto the radar of the CIA. As Bourne and others of his ilk are the CIA's dirty little secret, they begin to take steps to cover their tracks by ordering the assassination of Bourne and those who would seek to expose the Treadstone operation that trained him. Following Treadstone's trail to Madrid, Tangier and ultimately, New York City Bourne stands, at last, face to face with his makers. Who will prevail - the student or his teachers?

The Bourne Ultimatum is the third film in a series based upon the novels of the same name written by Robert Ludlum. For those of you who have read the novels, you will know that the films are "loosely" based on them (to the extent that "loosely" means that the films and the books share the same title, some of the character names remain the same and the storyline was otherwise essentially abandoned). Although some artistic licence was taken, I do not think that Robert Ludlum would be rolling around in his grave at the portrayal of his most famous fictional character. The Bourne Ultimatum was the final book in the series written by Ludlum (there were two unfortunate sequels written after Ludlum's death by Eric Van Lustbader), and, based upon comments made by Damon during recent press interviews, I expect that this will be the last film in the series.

The Bourne Ultimatum is one of the most gripping action films in recent memory. The audience is placed firmly into the shoes of Jason Bourne, and is not permitted to venture from the edge of its seats for one minute of the film's almost two-hour running time. It was an exhilarating ride.


Greengrass' signature handheld camera work distinguishes The Bourne Ultimatum from other action films. This unique style causes the audience to feel that it is in the scenes with Jason Bourne, thereby creating a sense of adrenalin-rushing urgency as one watches the film. The action sequences are some of the best that I have ever seen on film. Although you know on some level that that they are not plausible, the action scenes are so realistic and Damon is so credible in them that you cannot help but wonder if the impossible is, in fact, possible.

The film's solid structure is supported by outstanding performances by its cast. As Bourne, Damon evolves from the bewildered, frightened but lethal amnesiac of the first film into a hardened, focussed, deadly force in this film. Julia Stiles, Joan Allen and David Strathairn are well-cast and deliver excellent supporting performances.