best action thriller in a while

Rating: 7/10 (17 August 2007)

If this film is the best action thriller in a while and yet it gets only a 7/10 grade says something about the films which premiered this year, one of the less interesting I remember in the history of cinema, and especially of the big American studios. That this film is the third in a trilogy is not surprising, because most if we shall remember anything at all it may be some sequel or third film in a trilogy like this one. I may be wrong, it's only August, but I am afraid that I am not mistaken.
To its credit The Bourne Ultimatum has everything an action thriller needs, has a credible pretext, a likable hero, pace, logic, and keeps the viewer interested all the way. Director Paul Greengrass who made us dizzy in the previous installment with the fast under-second takes is combining now short and long takes and the result is in very well filmed set of action scenes that despite the lack of spectacular and expensive effects bring some sense into the action and uses in a wonderful manner the urban settings familiar to many. Logic holes and hard to believe details are not missing completely, but at least the action is simple enough to be followed, complex enough to be interesting, and also has the righteous spin of the Hollywood movies to please the more conventional viewers. Matt Damon is sensitive and efficient and makes us care about him to the point where we would hope he meets some more consistent feminine counter-part. Don't lose hope for him however, as the quasi-open ending leaves some hopes that if BU will be doing well in the box-office this may not be the last film in the series.