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Review by Jack Foley |
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DVD SPECIAL FEATURES: Feature commentary with director Doug Liman; 'The
Birth of The Bourne Identity' - behind the scenes; Alternate ending; Deleted
and extended scenes; Moby 'Extreme Ways' video; Theatrical trailer; CD-ROM
features.
SPIES seem to be all the rage during 2002; whether on TV or on the Big
Screen, the world of espionage seldom seemed so alluring to both stars and
directors.
We had Austin Powers bidding to save his
father; Jack Ryan attempting to save the world in The
Sum of All Fears, TV’s Spooks avoiding the chip fat fryers, Jack
Bauer preventing an assassination attempt in 24
and now Matt Damon struggling to remember his identity - even before James
Bond had prepared to Die Another
Day in November!
But The Bourne Identity is the pick of the movie bunch so far, a hip, fast-paced,
no-nonsense thriller, based on the page-turning trilogy by Robert Ludlum.
Directed by Doug (Swingers/Go) Liman, the film finds Damon’s amnesia-ridden
assassin, Jason Bourne, attempting to rediscover his identity after being
rescued by a fishing crew with only the bullets in his back and a Swiss Bank
account embedded in his hip as clues.
Enlisting the help of Franka Potente’s reluctant love-interest, Bourne
then travels across Europe in a bid to unravel the mystery before his former
employers find and erase him permanently.
It’s an intriguing set-up, expertly realised by the ultra-cool Liman,
which engages the viewer from start to finish without ever becoming too predictable
or too complicated.
Damon, in the title role, continues to show his versatility as an actor, cutting
a suitably lean figure as the deadly Bourne, having undergone months of martial
arts, boxing and weapons training to prepare for the physical demands of his
performance.
And while his edgy, confused spy lacks the quip-spewing charisma of a 007,
or the out and out good-looks of Jack Ryan’s latest incarnation (Ben
Affleck), Damon infuses his agent with an intensity that is grounded in reality,
forced to operate in a world that takes no prisoners (his fight scenes, in
particular, appear and sound bone-crunchingly authentic) and which offers
few allies.
On his trail, meanwhile, are the likes of Chris (Lone Star) Cooper and Brian
Cox’s shadowy superiors and Clive Owen’s fellow assassin; all of
whom add gravitas to roles which, traditionally, lack much in the way of characterisation
(Owen, in particular, is quietly efficient throughout).
On
the action front, the movie also delivers, with a car chase involving a mini
through the streets of Paris a particular highlight, evoking fond memories
of both The Italian Job and Ronin.
The Bourne Identity was one of the sleeper hits of the year when released
in America and its success could pave the way for a franchise (Ludlum constructed
a trilogy around Bourne), which would certainly be welcome.
As spy thrillers go, this one hits the target.
RELATED STORIES: Click here
to find out what the US reaction to the movie was..
