Quick Review: The Bourne Ultimatum

I heart Paul Greengrass. Is there any more exciting big budget director working today? I love Scorsese, Fincher, and PTA but Greengrass has just completed a trifecta of great studio films. First there was The Bourne Supremacy, a rare case where the sequel surpassed the original. Then there was the gripping United 93 that told the tale of the 4th 9/11 plan that went down before hitting its target. Now there’s his crowning achievement The Bourne Ultimatum. In a summer movie season that started for me with a dud of a 3rd installment (Spidey 3), it’s ironic that the best film I’ve seen turns out to be another 3-quel.

I don’t know where to start when it comes to praise so let me get out the negatives first. Casting Albert Finney in a role as one of the founders of the program that made Bourne was a confusing decision. After having Brian Cox stagger through the last film, Finney’s similar look sometimes clouded the pictures that appeared on screen. Yes that’s my biggest complaint.

So now for the good stuff. Greengrass directs action better then anyone alive today. The car chase scene in Supremacy was one of my favorites but here he ups the ante and he trades out Moscow for New York. The hand to hand combat is dizzying but you never get lost with who’s who, something Transformers could have learned from earlier this summer. Acting wise, David Strahaim, Joan Allen, and Julia Stiles all turn in excellent performances. Stiles has appeared in all three films and her character has developed so nicely that you’re left wanting more. Matt Damon does a fine job and you can tell that behind the stoic face of Bourne, Damon is truly enjoying himself. The plot is pretty straight forward but it advances the overall Bourne storyline while, dare I say, brining it to its conclusion. Plus, there’s one twist in the movie that’s worth the price of admission alone. The score, the film stock, the wonderful locations, they all add up to the best movie I’ve seen this summer (sorry Ocean’s 13 you’ve been usurped). Sadly this appears to be the end of Bourne although I’m sure the studio will send dump trucks of money to both Damon and Greengrass but both appear ready to move on. While I’m more then eager to see what they do next, here’s one situation where I’m hoping that studio greed will win out in the end.