Film Review

Rating: Null/10 (19 June 2011)

The Bourne Identity (2002) is a fast-paced, action packed, mystery film. Based on a man trying to find his true identity after an Italian fishing boat crew found his body floating at sea after being shot, and barely clinging to life. Once the man awakens and recovers from the near death experience, he seems to have forgotten everything about himself, including his name. One clue, the number to a Swiss bank account. While visiting the bank, he finds numerous passports all belonging to him under different identities, the identity he assumes is that of Jason Bourne. After finding his identity Jason Bourne (Damon) and leaving the bank Bourne asks a women for a ride. Refusing his request she is forced to reconsider once Bourne offers a large payment in cash. Finally convincing Marie (Potente) to drive him, the two travel together in search of all the clues to his past, but not without multiple problems and attempts from assassins to end their lives.
Lighting throughout the film has a dark effect to it, even throughout the daytime scenes. Based in the winter, the snow slightly brightens the scenes throughout the daytime shots, but the lighting is never bright until the ending scene when Marie and Bourne reunite in Greece. The darkness of the movies follows the darkness of Jason Bourne, from not knowing his identity to learning of his occupation, Darkness follows Bourne. The cinematic point of view throughout most of the film that the director chose to use is indirect-subjective. We are close to the action enough to get an emotional effect from the scenes. In the scene where Bourne and Marie reunite the director uses a subjective point of view, switching between the eyes of Jason Bourne and Marie as the looks at one another.
While The Bourne Identity is based mostly on action, drama, and mystery, the writers added in some romance between Jason Bourne and Marie. Reluctant in the beginning to give Bourne a ride to his destination, she travels with him and the two share a moment in a love scene. Again the film turns to a bit of romance when Bourne arrives at Marie's scooter shop in Greece.