Bourne, free

Rating: 10/10 (4 August 2007)

The Bourne films have operated in an opposite way than most sequel movies, which tend to lose steam the further into the series they go: the first one was good (and it was clear that Matt Damon was perfect for the part), the second was fantastic, and this one, the third in the series, is better than the first two combined.
The thing I've always appreciated about Damon, in this role, is how everything his character does (or has had to do) is done without ego. He merely takes whatever steps he needs to take to accomplish his mission; namely, finding out who he is and what the hell happened to him. His training (and his obvious innate abilities) have made him smarter, faster and stronger than all adversaries, but he never once takes any smirking pride or glory in this, he simply does what needs to be done, in a matter-of-fact sort of way. This has served the project extremely well, and it gives the third installment - where the answers are revealed - a huge boost because we really care about this guy and his plight.
The Bourne Ultimatum delivers on so many levels, and it's hilarious in ways you wouldn't think, or at least to me it was: I found it exceedingly laughable how stupid David Strathairn's character, Noah Vosen, was - he kept trying to catch Bourne (or at the very least catch UP with him), who was always way ahead, but Vosen never adjusts his attitude or mentality to try to think like Bourne; he takes everything Bourne says on face value, which becomes really funny near the end of the film, when Bourne is talking to Vosen by phone, FROM VOSEN'S OFFICE, while Vosen is in a car waiting for him to appear where he said he'd be. Hilarious. The film has no overt humor, no funny dialogue (as in Die-hard, for instance), nothing to destroy the seriousness of the mood and the mission, which of course is the right choice, so this character-based Wile E. Coyote/Roadrunner relationship between Vosen and Bourne really serves the production well.
Genius casting, too, with Albert Finney in the doctor/brainwasher role - even before we meet his character, toward the end, just from seeing his picture (and witnessing him in the flashbacks we're shown), we know that he could make anybody do anything he wanted, regardless of whether they'd volunteered for it and had misgivings afterwards or not.
The finale is perfect as well, leaving it open to the possibility of a fourth film. And the cool closing credits (and music) are excellent too. Just a pleasure from beginning to end, this one.