Like "Bullitt," except for Franka, the Mustang, and the CIA

Rating: 9/10 (16 June 2002)

The User Comment currently on the front page for this movie contains the assumption that the film "Changing Lanes" is "brilliant," so it becomes clear that some IMDB users will always be insane.
Matt Damon is a thinking man's actor. Ben Affleck is not. While the two came together effectively enough in "Good Will Hunting," it's much more fun to watch Damon on his own here, as both Bourne and the viewer find out more and more about just what this man is capable of. It's not handed to you on a platter, as with most Hollywood fare-- a certain intellectual flexibility is required to watch the character literally start from scratch, and learn what's been hidden in his mind, both physically and emotionally, a little bit at a time.
This is, of course, assuming you buy the brain-free conceit that the character really did lose all his memories, but millions of Robert Ludlum readers (my mother is one, I am not) seemed to buy it just fine. Of course, the movie doesn't even begin to resemble the book on any level (imagine that), but as a stand-alone story it's a pretty good time at the movies.
A whole lot of great character stuff in Damon's scenes, with two great fights on either end and a well-staged car chase in the middle (though all three are hastily edited). Chris Cooper remains the most uncharismatic actor I can think of (how DID he pull off "Lone Star" anyway?!), but the real stars here are Damon and Potente. They're given as much character as they can really have in a) a 2-hour movie which also has to have enough action to keep Affleck fans entertained, and b) something Tony Gilroy helped write.
There's something here for everyone, combining the pointless nastiness of "Changing Lanes" and the intellectual balsa wood of "Spider-Man" into something you can actually leave the theater thinking about-- or not, depending on your taste. To call it cliche is to not even pay attention-- yes, there are spies, and yes, there's a chase. But they're handled in innovative, exciting ways, without resorting to the vacant hocus-pocus of "The Saint," or the blind stupid luck of Any Film Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Anyone who says differently must have expected "Bourne" to burst into song, because there's really only so many ways you can go in a spy movie, or in a western, or whatever. Pay attention, people.
8.5 of 10, which I'm rounding up cuz I like Doug Liman. I really shouldn't grant the .5, because not one character had a sense of humor, and this big international thriller had too many close-ups, as if Liman were making tiny-budgeted "Swingers" again. But I can't help myself, I had too much fun. Keep at it, Doug.