BOURNE IDENTITY, THE (2002)
Released: June 14, 2002
Directed by Doug Liman, the man who brought us the really good "Swingers" with Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn and "Go" with Katie Holmes, so you know it's going to be of a certain quality. A man (Matt Damon) washes ashore, bullet-riddled and without memory, then races to elude assassins and recover from amnesia. Who's trying to kill him? Well, the audience gets to learn almost as soon as the film begins but our poor Matt has to wait the full run time. Damon's character hooks up with a total stranger played by Franke Potente (Run Lola Run") and the two end up running for their lives as the assasins close in on Damon. Because Liman starts with a lean screenplay the story is pretty well paced and doesn't leave you bored waiting for something to happen. There are some great fight scenes where Damon kicks serious ass and the car chase scenes are even better than "Ronin", complete with mororcycle cops flying off their bikes into crashed cars. Potente serves as a love interest I suppose but mainly serves to give Damon someone on "his side" to exchange dialogue with. Still, no matter. It says a lot about actress Julia Stiles that she'd take a minor role as a government commincations expert, proof that she's willing to try different things and isn't holding out for merely lead roles, a ploy Brad Pitt used to his advantage. Some of his best roles are smaller ones amidst a bigger cast. Chris Cooper, from 1999's "American Beauty" is the government spy chief pressed to find Damon or kill him, whichever solves the problem first. The other main star of the movie is the European scenery, especially in France. It's a good looking movie, and keeps you entertained as well... Based on a Robert Ludlum novel and previously made as a five hour TV mini series with Charlie's Angel Jaclyn Smith from 1988.
Universal
117 Minutes