Golly, But This Movie Takes Itself Seriously

Rating: 4/10 (31 August 2008)

"The Bourne Ultimatum" was a chore to get through. It took itself so darn seriously. The problem was, largely, its style. Greengrass treated it as if it were a serious, high-minded documentary about human trafficking. The cameras are hand-held and the shots are shaky. The color palette is murky green-gray and bruise blue. The dialogue scenes are weighty and portentous.
This is all very silly. The Bourne trilogy is completely implausible. Jason Bourne defies all the odds in ways that just aren't believable. That's okay; no one needs a spy movie to be believable. But the contrast between the self-serious style and the implausible, silly plot is painful. This final entry in the Bourne trilogy consists of one long, pointless chase scene. When Jason finally discovers the truth he's been seeking, it is a truth that has been painfully obvious all along. There are no big truths here, so why not direct this film with some style, some panache, some *fun*?
I must say that the one star review by irivlin says almost everything I want to say about "The Bourne Ultimatum"