Who's Holding the Camera?

Rating: Null/10 (13 August 2004)

There are some good things in this movie and it's better than some of the other dribble out there this summer. But it's a long way from being a great movie.
The biggest question has to be the camera motion. When Blair Witch Project came out people complained about the camera motion. Whether it bothered you or not, at least it was part of the illusion. There's no such excuse for the camera work in this film which bounces just as much. Any time the camera work distracts you from the movie and breaks the illusion there is a problem. Around me in the theatre I could hear say, "If the camera doesn't stop, I'm going to be sick."
It's a shame Franka Potente couldn't have been more in the film. I've always liked her work. Same for Julia Stiles. But the film is about Matt Damon's character and he a good enough job. You can believe he is overwrought, haunted, hunted, a man driven by the search for answers. As for the rest of the cast it seems to be a yeoman's effort, nothing more.
The writing is shaky. Not all the plot points make perfect sense--Why did Bourne show up on the grid in Naples? Mistake or intentional, and if intentional what was he trying to accomplish. If Bourne was a possible clue to the original crime, why involve him at all? Wouldn't it have been safer to leave him out of it; or at the very least kill him first before trying to frame him. There's a half-dozen more little plot points that make the difference between a tight well-written story and something that just makes for Hollywood writing.
The chase scene in the tunnel is fabulous. I don't want to write too much about this because if you're going to see the movie you'll want to enjoy it yourself.
Save your money on this one. See it on video.