Film Review: The Bourne Ultimatium

Director: Paul Greengrass

Paul Greengrass takes up the directing duties for the second time in the Bourne series and does a much better job with ratcheting up the tension than he does in the second film, The Bourne Supremacy. Greengrass made his name making TV films especially Bloody Sunday about that fateful day in Belfast in 1972 that was praised upon release. As always the film is based on Robert Ludlum's novel.

Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) with Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles)

A Guardian newspaper journalist is tracked after he speaks to a CIA informant who mentions Jason Bourne and Operation Blackbriar which alerts the CIA who track his movements. Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) and Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) believe that Bourne was the informant that was speaking to the media so try to track him down but have differing ideas about how to do it. Vosen wanting to shoot Bourne on sight whereas Landy wants him brought in alive. Whilst Bourne continues to try and find out about his past which takes him via an operative in Tangier then back to New York City to where it all began.

Noah Vosen (David Strathairn), the primary antagonist from the CIA

A more than satisfying conclusion to the trilogy where Bourne's flashbacks are finally pieced together to make sense. The unwanted shaky camerawork continues again in this film especially during scenes where it isn't required, Cloverfield this is not. The tension is better handled than in its predecessor which makes the chases and action sequences more intriguing. The combination of Strahairn (sinister) and Allen (goodie/baddie) arguing at the CIA is an improved twist which gives the finale a better edge in the hunt to find Jason Bourne. If they knew anything from the previous films then it should be that Bourne is an avid user of public transport, he is regularly seen jogging down the steps into the underground system regardless of whether he is in Munich, Moscow or London.

3/4 fascinating and tense finale to an enjoyable trilogy