Clichéd but a solid, enjoyable thriller (spoiler)

Rating: Null/10 (28 August 2002)

A man is dragged from the sea by a fishing boat with bullet holes in his back and a device containing details of a Swiss bank account in his hip. Unable to remember who he is or what happened he goes to the bank to find many passports, a lot of money and a gun. When he leaves the bank he finds that he is being targeted by the police and another, more sinister force. As he puts the pieces together he realises someone is trying to kill him. But who? And why?
I went to see this for free at the audience preview in Birmingham and I was genuinely looking forward to it and I pretty much wasn't disappointed. The plot is nothing special and doesn't go anywhere too surprising but it still makes for an enjoyable ride and is quite thrilling. The journey is good and it is fun to uncover Jason's past and skills with him. The ending is OK but it has some elements that are dumb  like he's a killer (but he's a nice killer who can't kill kids!) and the usual happy Hollywood ending.
I haven't read the book so I don't know how closely it followed that but I think they did a good job despite falling into several clichés along the way. The locations are well used and the director doesn't go into travel agent mode the way many directors do when you give them European landmarks to film. The pacing of the movie was a little too slow at times and there were patches where it dragged  but then the thrills did last for the majority. The lack of explanation in the plot bothered me a little bit, but I suspect sequels are already in the pipeline. Also I kept thinking of how much fun the Long Kiss Goodnight was!
Damon was pretty good  he was convincing and cool, but maybe a little bland at times. Potente I don't like. She got annoying with all her swearing in German etc. She did OK but I wasn't ever totally sold on her character. Chris Cooper is great despite being office bound for the majority. Brian Cox was also good but why was he cast? Was it an in-joke that he was also in `The Long Kiss Goodnight'? I don't know why Stiles was in this for all she got to do  maybe she had a free weekend to do some shots! My only disappointment was the screen time of Adewale Agbaje. He is a great actor (doubters should watch his 3 season performance in Oz on HBO), and I hoped he would have a big role. Alas he doesn't have much screen time and his role is only his usual Nigerian stuff with no scope for showing what he can do. Someone give this man a film vehicle to show his skills please!
Overall this is a solid thriller. The plot is a bit clichéd but it moves along well and is only occasionally a bit slow. The ending is the price you pay for a Hollywood blockbuster but other than that it's harmless Saturday night fun and thrills!