surprisingly good

Rating: 9/10 (17 July 2002)

How often have you witnessed a thriller in which a civilian who is
exposed to a murder is reduced to near-catatonia and shock?
In The Bourne Identity this happens. People react the way you
might expect them to in real life. This film is plotted in a very
truthful manner - the story is spare and believable.
Also, this film is surprisingly well-directed. That's not a shot at
Liman; it's just that it's rare that you see a summer action flick
where the director avoids going too far. The car chase in Bourne
Identity is great, but not overblown. The set-piece in the embassy
also makes sense, and is a lot of fun too watch.
There's a pure visceral pleasure to seeing this amnesiac
character perform great feats as pure reflex. He's running on
instinct for 95% of the arc; then he recovers his humanity in a
beautiful flash-back.
I didn't expect to really like this film; but it's very good - fun, smart,
with good acting, and a kick-ass job by Damon. See it on a large
screen.