Overall Rating
 Awesome: 35.57%
Worth A Look: 42.95%
Average: 11.41%
Pretty Bad: 8.05%
Total Crap: 2.01%
9 reviews, 95 user ratings
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| Bourne Supremacy, The |
by Scott Weinberg
"Hollywood forced me to give up on James Bond. Long live Jason Bourne!"
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What with the James Bond series suffering through an outlandishly stupid (and therefore extremely profitable) mode of existence, those of us who still like their espionage tales steeped in intelligence and intensity have very few places to turn.For every solid surprise like Spy Game there's a Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever, and you have to suffer through stuff like XXX and The Recruit to discover an outstanding little sleeper like The Bourne Identity.
So it is with much cautious optimism that one approaches The Bourne Supremacy. If it measures up to its predecessor, we just may have a swanky new spy series to enjoy for the next several years. If it doesn't...well, let's not even worry about that, because Supremacy is just as good as Identity and in many regards - it's even better.
Although Doug Liman has moved from director to producer for this second installment, crafty screenwriter Tony Gilroy is still on board, and the replacement director proves to be a fantastic fit for the series. Paul Greengrass (known mainly for his excellent faux-documentary Bloody Sunday) holds the directorial reins this time out, capably building off the first film while forging some frantic new ground of his own. (Note: The Bourne Supremacy is one of those "You really should see Part One first..." sort of sequels.)
When we last saw Jason Bourne, he and his intermittent amnesia were warming up for a happy ending involving a jungle, his girlfriend and a whole lot of solitude.
As Chapter Two opens, Bourne finds himself sucked back into the world of international espionage, thanks mainly to a botched spy game, a few dead agents, and a villain with equal parts ingenuity and technology. (Much of Act I makes sense only after Act II starts to gel.) Logically, Mr. Bourne does not take kindly to having his cover blown and he promptly takes measures (and we're talking extreme measures) to discover the motives and location of his newfound enemies.
Some action movies can be judged solely on their 'money scenes': the fistfights, the car chases, the gun battles, the explosions. Other action movies (those that aspire for something more cohesive) feel like one long action sequence - and that's precisely what The Bourne Supremacy does. The "fighting parts" emerge logically from the narrative, as opposed to a movie in which the action scenes plop on to the screen only to interrupt the mindless plot points. Even simple scenes of characters talking and devising schemes have a harried, urgent air about them. From top to bottom, from action parts to the talky bits, The Bourne Supremacy is a movie that absolutely flies by with nary an unnecessary breath.
Matt Damon improves upon his impressive work in the prior installment; Bourne might not be the largest or most imposing super-spy ever conceived, but Damon brings a simmering intensity and a mercenary manner to the role. It takes less than five minutes before you're convinced that Jason Bourne is a seriously dangerous man. Good work, Mr. Damon. You've found yourself a great little niche with this character.
Fans of The Bourne Identity will welcome return visits from folks like Brian Cox, Julia Stiles, Franka Potente and Danny Zorn. New-bournes include Karl Urban as a ridiculously dangerous assassin and Joan Allen as an officious politico who goes poking around in Top Secret files that were sealed for good reason.
So between Damon's smoothly commanding performance, a tight-fisted and exceedingly efficient screenplay, and a handful of stellar supporting performances, we've already got a pretty damn good Spy Thriller.
Now consider what Hollywood newcomer Paul Greengrass brings to the equation - and you're looking at a film that transcends a mere 'popcorn flick'. This director's approach is to make us feel what Bourne feels. Literally. This explains why some action scenes place you right between the combatants, their limbs and weapons becoming shadowy blurs as your eyes try to catch up with the fisticuffs. If the film occasionally suffers from "Shaky Handheld Camera Syndrome" (and it does), this malady can be forgiven simply because the overall result is so intensely effective. Along with Bourne the viewer is jolted, disoriented, and given dizzying adrenalin jolts by sudden bouts of violent activity.
And in a movie landscape laden with action scenes we watch more than feel, The Bourne Supremacy is a welcome oasis indeed. Phrases like "white-knuckled" and "pulse pounding" have been overused and abused to the point of meaninglessness, but one could absolutely use both descriptions to describe The Bourne Supremacy. But since I don't want to sound like a quote-happy junket monkey, I'll just call it the best spy thriller I've seen in years. And I see 'em all.You'll soon be hearing about it and talking about it yourself, but trust me now when I report: "The Bourne Supremacy" boasts one of the coolest, craziest and most enjoyably intense car chases of the past twenty years. Quite possibly of all time.
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link directly to this review at http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=10220&reviewer=128
originally posted: 07/23/04 16:22:36
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USA
23-Jul-2004 (PG-13)
DVD: 07-Dec-2004
UK
N/A
Australia
26-Aug-2004
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