Nothing like Bourne Identity

Rating: 8/10 (1 January 2014)

This is nothing like the Bourne Identity movies. Here Matt Damon plays an icy, emotionless, dutiful CIA nerd.
The movie is quite slow paced. The violence happens almost unexpectedly, every once in a while in the corner of the screen, with unemotional, bored brutality. People are killed simply because them might know something and might tell someone (as if most people hearing would give a damn). All that matters is American self interest (defined as what is good for corporate America is good for everyone). They need no excuse to break international law or behave in as degenerate bullies. There is no sense of fair play. It is done expediently without investigation, trial or reflection. It is done with all the emotion an exterminator might kill a rat.
It seems every actor who appeared on stage was someone I had seen many times before or I knew their name. It is quite a fun effect. It a takes a little while to get used to the new persona they are projecting for this movie.
The movie jumps wildly over time between about 1925 and 1962. If you forget what time it is supposed to be, you will be soon discombombulated trying to make sense of the plot.
Eddie Redmayne plays Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie's son as a late teen. His performance was absolutely spectacular. It might be the best acting I have ever seen in my life. It is a small part, but rich because Eddie's emotions range all over the map. In one scene Eddie finds out his father probably just had his pregnant fiancé killed. It is an incredibly powerful scene between father and son. It felt like the floor fell out from under me with the gravity of the crime. It felt like it was happening to me. Most portrayals of teens are so clichéd. Eddie is one of a kind. He has a face and expressions that you can't look away from. He is just so interesting. In a way the fascination might be similar to watching an alien. He is not like most actors. He is more real, more 3D.