Low key thriller with minimum of nonsense

Rating: 9/10 (1 July 2002)

In an era when we've been begging for a decent James Bond flick, this movie comes along and shows that Hollywood can still make a great movie about spies and intrigue with a minimum of explosions and special effects. Damon portrays a spy who has lost his identity and has to find himself without the use of a bunch of silly props and gadgets. I also like the chemistry between Damon and Franka Potente. Unlike a lot of the stupid, helpless women we have to endure in thrillers, Potente brings a smart, clever presence to the movie. This film is also beautifully filmed, with fine, sweeping images of the Alps, Paris, and the Cote D'Azur and excellent editing. My only complaint: a couple of the fight scenes were hard to believe. Still, this is a great movie, especially by today's standards.