The Bourne Ultimatum

Jason Bourne back to tear up the CIA’s corrupt fat cats in a masterfully-made, exquisitely written trequel. Tense from first to last, it is possible to take in about three breaths of air in the whole film. The stunts, which in themselves are breath-taking, are backed up by a thoroughly intriguing plot. Visually stunning – the camera-work always keeps the eye moving and dialogue is exchanged with a pace and wit that sets the adrenaline racing.

The villains were frightening – from the blood hungry CIA director to the brutally efficient assassination machines, called ‘assets’. The assets looked a threat to Bourne, even out-smarting him, their dead gazes reminiscent of Bourne’s dogged hunting look throughout. Strangely, you felt the similarity between both men, and wished that they would meet up for a coffee and exchange thoughts. The assets were most frightening because they were as extreme as Bourne, ready to die for the cause, without asking why.

Perhaps the most thrilling part of the film is the three-part chase, in which Moroccan police chase Bourne, Bourne chases hardcore assassin and hardcore assassin chases fine young thing (played by Julia Stiles). The chases converge in a brutal exchange of martial arts ending in a trickle of blood. It is a choking moment.

From a writer’s point of view, this film was exemplary – with a combination of complicated, but well explained plot, great exchanges and classy little moments where you lean back in your chair and just whisper to yourself, ‘genius’. To keep this up for three films (or novels) takes writing of a unique calibre.

As usual, some of the subtleties that took my fancy. I loved the way a question would be planted in your mind – why is she breaking her phone up? Why did he call the police? How are they going to find him? These mini-mysteries within the plot are compelling in the moment they appear and give thinking on a whole other level. As a spectator you are left second-guessing (speculating spectacularly falsely) the whole time.

The ongoing themes - of names, and a search for identity – add depth to this film that many action films lack. Bourne struggles (on a more extreme level than most of us) with identity, the importance of a background, a foundation. Bourne’s last line – ‘do you even know why you’re supposed to kill me?’ raises questions of conscience, responsibility and purpose. Would you kill if you told it would be killing a serious threat to your nation?

Rounding off how thoroughly this film was entrenched with wit: two lines spoken by the villain – ‘you can’t make this stuff up’ and ‘you can’t try and second guess this’ seem to me like the proverbial silk toilet roll.