A refreshingly exciting and vivid action film

Rating: 10/10 (1 June 2008)

I didn't really know anything about the character Jason Bourne other than in general he was some type of modern day James Bond type of hero from the novel THE BOURNE IDENTITY. I knew that they did a TV movie back in the late 80s of the same name and that Richard Chamberlain played the hero. But based on what I did know, in no way did I think that Matt Damon was right for the part of an international super-spy. I thought he was too young, too short, too nonathletic looking, etc. Let me just say that I was 100% dead solid wrong! Damon is exceptional as Jason Bourne in THE BOURNE IDENTITY and it is one of my pleasant surprises in film so far the decade of the 2000s. While it is not currently in my very top films of the decade, the way the decade is going, it could very easily end up in the top 10. because there are about only 2 or 3 other big Hollywood films this decade that I think are true modern classics (COLLATERAL and KILL BILL VOL.1 among them).
THE BOURNE IDENTITY is actually a surprisingly simple tale of CIA agent Jason Bourne, who loses his memory during a mission gone wrong. Bourne works for a secret sub-section of the CIA only known as the 'Treadstone' operation. This group is led by Conklin (played by the fine actor Chris Cooper in a confident performance). Treadstone seems to specialize in the assassination game, doing the CIA's dirty work by snuffing out potential threats to the US. Bourne goes missing after the failed mission and Conklin at first thinks he may be dead, but just to be safe, he orders CIA moles around the world to be on the lookout for Mr. Bourne in case he pops up.
Bourne does pop up at a bank in Zurich where he apparently has a safety deposit box full of fake passports, a lot of cash, and an automatic weapon. This is where he realizes his name is 'Jason Bourne' and that his 'home' is in Paris, which is really just a temporary place that Bourne was staying while on the assignment that went wrong leading him to lose his memory in the first place. While in Zurich, the mole contacts Conklin that Bourne showed up and this is when the fun begins. He goes to the American embassy in Zurich to escape capture, but Conklin has a mole in there, too, and the soldiers there try to take him into custody. During the confrontation, Bourne learns that he has all these amazing physical and mental skills as he methodically takes out his victims one by one (sometimes in bunches) and thinks his way out of danger as much as he brutes himself out.
Bourne hitches ride with Marie (well played by the alluring Franka Potente), who is in a bind herself because of inability to get a student visa to get into the US. Initially, she helps Bourne for money, but eventually (you guessed it), she falls for Bourne and vice versa; she also seems to be thrilled by the excitement of it all. So she tries to help him figure out who he is. Meanwhile, Conklin puts out contracts all around the world to 'hit' Bourne, as he can't very well have a secret CIA operative running around with all of Treadstone's dirty secrets. The most memorable assassin out to get Bourne is played by Clive Owen and he and Bourne have an exchange that is one of the best scenes in the film. The irony is that Conklin doesn't know Bourne is an amnesiac, so he is really out to get a man with no memory of Treadstone or it's operations! Bourne just wants to start fresh and be free.
THE BOURNE IDENTITY is a very fast-paced, exciting film. I find it much better than any James Bond film. It is a surprisingly simple story told with great flair, imagination, and humanity. As stated before, Damon is excellent in the role and does brilliant job carrying this film. The supporting cast is very good as well and the action is crisp, lean, and mean. It's really a good old-fashioned action movie that everyone can appreciate (modern and old-school audiences alike) because today's advanced technology factors into the film (internet, surveillance, weaponry), yet it is infused with a real humanity that makes you care about the central character and his predicament and wonder how he's going to get himself out of it. Great film.