The Bourne Identity (2002) Universal/Action-Adventure RT: 118 minutes Rated PG-13 (language, strong violence) Director: Doug Liman Screenplay: Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron Music: John Powell Cinematography: Oliver Wood Release date: June 14, 2002 (US) Cast: Matt Damon, Franke Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Brian Cox, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Gabriel Mann, Walton Goggins, Josh Hamilton, Julia Stiles, Orso Maria Guerrini, Tim Dutton. Box Office: $121.4M (US)/$214M (World)
Rating: *** ½
Bad ass action stars of the new millennium- Vin Diesel (The Fast and the Furious), Dwayne Johnson (Walking Tall), Jason Statham (The Transporter), Gerard Butler (Olympus Has Fallen) and …. Matt Damon? Say what?! Prior to the release of The Bourne Identity, the idea of Damon playing Robert Ludlum’s amnesiac super-spy from his best-selling Bourne novels sounded pretty bizarre. I mean, we’re talking about the star of Good Will Hunting and The Talented Mr. Ripley here. He’s not exactly the tough guy type one associates with kick-ass action flicks, but the same thing was said about Keanu Reeves in the early 90s and he proved otherwise with a solid leading performance in the 1994 actioner Speed.
Damon does likewise with his leading performance in the big screen adaptation of Ludlum’s 1980 best seller. When it comes to spy movies, I am a big fan of James Bond and, as far as I’m concerned, nobody does it better. Starting with 1995’s Goldeneye, the makers of the Bond flicks have attempted to bring the franchise into the 21st century with decidedly mixed results. Bond doesn’t need updating. He’s 100% old school and that’s the way loyal fans like me like it. That’s where Jason Bourne comes into the picture. He’s the 21st century super-spy that will appeal to today’s younger audiences. I am still, and forever will be, loyal to 007, but the Bourne movies totally rock!
The franchise gets off to a strong start with The Bourne Identity, a slam-bang action flick that could easily be considered Jason Bourne’s origin story. It marks the character’s first introduction to movie audiences with Bourne searching for his own identity, a classic origin movie premise.
The movie opens with the crew of an Italian fishing boat pulling a young man (Bourne) out of the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Marseille. He’s been in the water for an indeterminate amount of time and has been shot twice, yet he’s still alive and capable of attacking the doctor who’s trying to save his life. Bourne suffers from retrograde amnesia and has no idea who he is. The only clue to his identity is a tiny laser projector removed from his hip by the doctor, directing him to a safety deposit box at a bank in Switzerland.
Inside the box, Bourne discovers a passport under the name Jason Bourne along with several other passports (each with different names), a significant amount of cash in various currencies and a handgun. As he leaves, a bank employee makes a phone call. Realizing he’s being followed by local police, Bourne seeks refuge in the U.S. consulate where he encounters Marie (Potente, Run Lola Run), a young German woman causing a minor disturbance. Bourne offers her $20,000 to drive him to the address in Paris listed on his passport. She reluctantly agrees to help him.
It soon becomes clear that somebody wants Bourne dead, but why? He tries to remember his life before being pulled out of the ocean, but it just won’t come back to him. He eventually figures out a few details like his involvement with the CIA and the attempted assassination of an exiled African dictator (Agbaje, Killer Elite). It’s all connected to a black ops program called “Operation Treadstone” headed by sinister Agent Conklin (Cooper, American Beauty). He’s the one that wants Bourne dead before he can blow the whistle on Treadstone.
The Bourne Identity features some of the best action sequences of the decade, notably a thrilling car chase through the streets of Paris. Bourne and Marie maneuver through streets and sidewalks and down flights of stairs without upsetting a single fruit cart, a deviation from one of the traditional action movie tropes that director Doug Liman (Go) intentionally subverts. The kinetic action sequences are notably fast-paced, enhancing Bourne’s seemingly superhuman combat abilities as he disables opponents in mere seconds.
Surprisingly, Damon excels in the lead role, bringing a blend of toughness and humanity to Bourne, a character who despite his lethal skills, displays qualities of decency and compassion that set him apart from the CIA operatives pursuing him. Potente’s portrayal of Marie adds grit and resourcefulness reminiscent of her character in Run Lola Run. The supporting cast includes Brian Cox (Manhunter) as the frustrated deputy director, Clive Owen (The International) as a CIA assassin and Julia Stiles (Save the Last Dance) as a key figure aiding Conklin.
The Bourne Identity deftly navigates the spy movie genre with a fresh approach, emphasizing young actors in leading roles and hyperkinetic action. It’s a testament to director Doug Liman’s skill, delivering an engaging and exhilarating experience, an ideal choice for a thrilling summer night.
