Bourne is Supreme

Rating: 10/10 (4 April 2009)

The Bourne Supremacy was the second installment of Universal Pictures groundbreaking trilogy based on the novels of the late thriller author, Robert Ludlum. However, unlike most flashy and 'style over substance' thrillers these days, the Bourne films have always been considered a neo-realistic take on the morally ambiguous genre of espionage thrillers. This brilliant piece of action packed yet intelligent cinema is certainly no exception. Matt Damon reprises his role as the amnesiac former assassin, Jason Bourne, an ex-operative of the CIA, who turned rogue after he failed to execute an unsanctioned black ops mission and lost his memory in the process. As the film begins, Bourne is living a relatively peaceful life, in hiding, with his girlfriend, Marie Helena Kruetz (Franka Potente). Bourne continues to be haunted by fragmented memories of his former violent life, which he consistently tries to dissociate himself from. However, his past soon catches up with him in the form of a deadly new adversary, Kirill (Karl Urban). And when his beloved Marie dies from the assassin's bullet, a grief-stricken and enraged Bourne, believing his old masters in the CIA are responsible for this assault, resolves to return to Europe and seek revenge against the Agency. The Agency however is not responsible for this attack thought they too have bones to pick with their former asset, as they suspect that Bourne is involved in a conspiracy to cover up the theft of millions of dollars of CIA funds. Deputy Director Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) is determined to capture Bourne and find answers, whereas Ward Abbott (Brian Cox, reprising his role from the previous film) simply wants to terminate Bourne. However, neither are likely to succeed on their respective missions. For Bourne has unleashed every ounce of training and skill, all the killer instincts he was implanted with in a forgotten lifetime, against his creators. He will play their deadly games again, but this time on his own terms. What follows is a nearly 2 hour long cat-and-mouse chase sequence, which begins in a seaside town in India, and continues in the streets of Naples, Munich, Berlin and finally Moscow, as Bourne demonstrates his supremacy in the fields of espionage, unarmed combat, evasive tactics and high-speed pursuits. Ultimately, the Bourne Supremacy is probably the strongest of the trilogy, both in terms of plot and action, and the title therefore is justified in every possible respect. Kudos, to director Paul Greengrass and the rest of the cast and crew for this masterpiece!