Exhilaratingly shaken...

Rating: 9/10 (11 August 2007)

When virtually every trilogy ending film of 2007 has proved to be an assault on the stupidity of its viewers, there doesn't seem to be much hope for the rest of the pack. For surely if the blockbusters of Spider-man, Shrek and Pirates fail us, who won't? Well, the answer to that question has finally arrived, and it comes in the explosive manner of Jason Bourne.
The Bourne Ultimatum, a direct sequel to The Bourne Supremacy, continues Jason Bourne's (Matt Damon) search for his original identity before he became the hardened assassin he is. He is forced out of hiding when he believes a journalist, named Simon Ross (Paddy Considine), will be able to help him with his search. Bourne learns new information about himself and the organization which trained him, Treadstone. Yet hot on his trail is Noah Vosen (David Strathairn), a government official bent on eliminating Bourne at all costs.
The story within The Bourne Ultimatum, is actually quite accessible by those who did not watch the previous two incarnations. While the film does only make very brief hints to the previous films, it is essentially it's own unique story while continuing where it's prequel left off. It should be noted that the story is not in taking with the novel of which it is adapted. Of course, those who are viewing The Bourne Ultimatum as the first in the trilogy, will be lost to little details, and even a scene which shares similarities with the previous installment. But as both a continuation and a new story, the Bourne Ultimatum is smart with its direction. It is effectively a cat-and-mouse affair with little bits of information cropping up over the course of the film. The story never gets complicated by trying to confuse the viewer, but there is still a strength of complexity not only in regards to the story, but the characters themselves who are major to the events that unfold.
A distinct feature of The Bourne Ultimatum is the complete synthesis of story with action. From the get go, there is never a scene which lacks intensity and most of these scenes are therefore naturally action orientated. But while the drama situations don't have as much screen time, it is an exceptional feat by director, Paul Greengrass, to be able to make every scene feel so important to story advancement, character development, and pure excitement. The action is adrenaline pumping, with some well captured cinematography in the field of close quarters fighting, and are easily amongst the best seen in recent times. And thankfully the car sequences follow suite, with some ferocious driving skills.
Of course all this action and story is only possible due to a commendable cast, who, for the most part, capture their respective characters with lifelike appeal. Most commendable is Vosen who comes across as ruthlessly cold, and willing to make sure that his position as a government official is not jeopardized. While not having the same presence as Vosen, Joan Allen is nonetheless vital as her portrayal of Pamela Landy, who is still willing to be of help to Bourne. The former contact of Bourne's, Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles), also features but Stiles, like Considine, have too little screen time to be of any acting importance. The most interesting actor, is none other then Damon himself. The character of Jason Bourne never comes across as a challenging role through the film, but there is a certain melancholic particularity that Damon brings to the character of Bourne, and you can't help but feel the determination he has in his actions.
Though it must be said that The Bourne Ultimatum, like it's protagonist, is not free from harm. The amazingly gifted director, Paul Greengrass, utilizes a shaking camera technique. Now for the most part this works, and it greatly emphasizes the fast paced decision making and intensity of the film, but it gets used throughout and can become a bit much after a while. The problems lies in the fact that viewers are never given a time to take in the many scenes, and just relax for a minute or two before the film kicks right back in to some more action.
The film contains no sex or nudity, but there is a minor use of language, most notably blasphemy. The film does contain a high number of violent situations, ranging from shooting and hand-to-hand combat to car chases. While the violence contains little blood, it can be seen to be too intense for younger children.
The Bourne Ultimatum is a rare breed of action thriller films: it's constantly action packed, always story driven, never without intrigue, and a very fun watch with a coolness factor that surpasses even the likes of Steve McQueen himself. It's sad to have to say that its ultimateness has to be barred by a constant shaking camera, but even with that, the final Bourne film is easily one of the best in cinema today.
--- Also available on Entertainment.Wikia ---