A Cautionary Tale

Rating: 8/10 (26 September 2015)

I have now watched this film three times. It portrays a frightening world in which operatives are brainwashed by the CIA—using drugs and other means—to become ruthless and unstoppable killers. The story of Jason Bourne is disturbing because he seems like a basically good guy who got sucked into this line of work by a misguided desire to serve his country.
Why anyone would think that following orders to assassinate people "no questions asked" is an act of patriotism is beyond me. The potential for abuse in such programs by the people who run them—this one is called "Treadstone"—is undeniable. Give human beings the power to kill with impunity, and you can be sure that some of them will succumb to the temptation to use the operators for their own selfish (usually greedy) purposes.
The killers are stained for life by what they do, and everyone they come in contact with may be endangered as well, as happens here, when the operative sent to kill Bourne ends up killing his girlfriend instead.
This is a very well-made and fast-paced action film offering some thought-provoking insight into the caustic incompetence agency as well. There is no place for these sorts of activities in a genuine democracy. Black ops are a sign of decadence and paranoia. Too bad they are being carried out in hundreds of countries today by people protected by cover of State Secrets Privilege.
A final note: Pamela Landy makes a good contrast to other recent depictions of female CIA agents, such as Carrie Mathison in Homeland and the female lead of Zero Dark Thirty. Which depiction is most realistic? Unclear...