Jason Bourne...is dead

Rating: 7/10 (16 June 2002)

Doug Liamn's The Bourne Identity, from a novel by Robert Ludlum, is intriguing, has plenty of tense/energetic scenes, and also, slower paced ones made to create a keen semi-spy effect- has originality too, which you wouldn't expect from a thriller from the Hollywood gene pool of late.
Damon is Bourne, or was Bourne, before he was found floating in the ocean and picked up by a fishing boat where he has a couple of bullets in his back and, more importantly, a Swiss bank account in his hip. This is useful, since the man has Amnesia, can't remember who he is, but can remember all of the old tactics from his past in instinct fashion. This then sets him off on his mission to Paris, along with gypsy Potente, and the CIA, following his moves.
You might sport familiar material, but Liman counter-acts with a structure, scene for scene, that keeps constant exhiliration. Add to that, Damon gives off persistance of character that pays off all the way to the last scene. A full out action movie that works on kinetic and thinking levels; either 10-15 or possibly 5-10 on my best of the year list. Grade: (strong) A