Director: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matt Damon, Joan Allen, Julia Stiles, Edgar Ramirez, David Straitham
Country: United States / Germany
Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 115 min
The Bourne Ultimatum is the third entry in the Bourne series and the conclusion to the initial trilogy of films that explore Jason Bourne's origins. Whereas The Bourne Identity introduced audiences to Jason and The Bourne Supremacy took everything away from him, The Bourne Ultimatum finds Jason returning "home" and going up against the CIA in a final battle for the truth. The film is also a masterclass in suspense and action courtesy of Paul Greengrass' masterful direction. Ultimatum takes all of the intrigue and tension from Supremacy and amps it up to a blockbuster level of excitement and scale. Bourne travels the globe, engages in multiple physical bouts and car chases, and confronts the man who created him. The third Bourne film answers all of the series' unanswered questions in a direct and natural way that never compromises the tone or energy established by the series.
While Greengrass' camera work is still too extreme for fist fights, his direct cinema style works perfectly for the film's many elusive surveillance sequences. Ultimatum also features more action than the surprisingly light on action Supremacy thanks to a bevy of unforgettable set pieces. Ultimatum hits the ground running and never stops until it reaches its final credits sequence in which Moby's "Strange Ways" blares across the soundtrack. Although not a standard to which action film's should model their action photography off of, The Bourne Ultimatum is one of the 21st century's greatest thrillers in which direction, performance, sound, and editing all come together to craft an unforgettable experience.
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| He's back...in the saddle again! |
The Bourne Ultimatum finds Jason Bourne once again dropping off the grid after the events of The Bourne Supremacy. However, Bourne comes out of hiding when he reads an article written by a journalist that unveils the secrets of Blackbriar, the CIA operation that created him. The article attracts not only Bourne's attention, but the CIA and the film's big baddie Noah Venson, played with incredible malice by David Straitham. Unfortunately, Bourne cannot get ahold of the journalist in time as the CIA beats him to the punch and snipes him in cold blood. Therefore, Bourne heads after Daniels, the agent who leaked the information on the Blackbriar program. With the help of former Treadstone agent Nicki Parsons (Julia Stiles), Bourne digs deeper than ever before and takes the fight to New York City, combatting several assassins along the way.
The Bourne Ultimatum is what I like to call, "the perfect success." That means that the film scored big in all arenas: commercially, critically, and awards-wise. The film grossed over $400 million worldwide, scored a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, and won three technical Oscars at the Academy Awards. In other words, the perfect success. This is exactly what every filmmaker and studio hopes for when they make a film. Not only did they make a profit, but they crafted a film that the entire planet fell in love with and helped establish an unforgettable legacy in spy cinema.
Greengrass is an interesting filmmaker who succeeds at depicting real world events, especially 9/11, in a respectful but engaging manner in his films. His Bourne films are some of the most definitive post-9/11 films in how they depict intense patriotism, the NSA, a morally ambiguous United States government, and brutally realistic action sequences. He also directed United 93, a retelling of the incident that occurred on September 11, 2001 in which passengers fought back against terrorists on an airplane, in between The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. He even went on to direct The Green Zone, another Matt Damon fronted political/actioner, in which the events of the Iraq War were retold in a fictionalized manner. Therefore, it's clear that 9/11, as well as real world events, find their way into Greengrass' cinema and help make for fascinating, but respectful, political films.
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| My boy Scott Adkins has a small role as a nameless agent. |
Greengrass' direction and attention to pace is especially impressive in his second Bourne outing. The Bourne Ultimatum is so action packed and intriguing that the film's tension rarely lets up and makes for one of the briskest two hour films of all time. Greengrass and his fellow screenwriters take all of the events of Supremacy and amplify them however possible. Ultimatum features far more elusive surveillance sequences, a lengthier and more satisfying fist fight, and even an equally exciting final car chase.
The film's greatest sequence, and proof that Greengrass is a master of suspense, comes early on in the form of a cat and mouse chase that takes place at Waterloo Station in London. The CIA want to get their hands on journalist Simon Ross because he spilled the beans on Blackbriar. However, Bourne also wants to get ahold of Ross in order to protect him and to uncover more about his origins. Therefore, both Bourne and the CIA chase after Ross in what is truly a masterful display of direction, editing, performance, and music. This sequence is utterly satisfying because Bourne passes off a new phone to Ross without him knowing and helps lead him through London's crowds and security heavy areas in order to avoid government agents, cameras, and hitmen. The CIA has trouble getting ahold of Ross because of Bourne's efforts. It's an excellent display of Bourne's character as well as Greengrass' flair for preceding action with tension.
Another show stopping sequence in the film is none other than Bourne and Desh's fist fight in Madrid. This penultimate throw down is preceded by an intense foot chase amongst Madrid's roof tops and crowded alleys, thereby making the long awaited brawl all the more worthwhile. Matt Damon and martial artist Joey Ansah throw down in the franchise's greatest brawl that makes great use of Bourne's improvisation of everyday object as weapons. I saw the film in the theater in 2007 and distinctly remember the entire audience roaring with applause once Bourne defeated Desh. It was one of the most memorable theatrical experiences of my life time. The film's final car chase is also fantastic, although not as brutal and personal as Bourne's car fight against Kiril in Supremacy. Overall, The Bourne Ultimatum excels where its previous entries failed as action pictures because its action is all the more memorable, lengthier, and eventful.
Each Bourne film features a unique arc for Jason, as well as an over encompassing arc for the entire trilogy. Jason ultimately learns who he was before his amnesia and chooses to run away from his enemies by the end of Identity. When everything is taken away from him in Supremacy, Jason becomes a lone warrior and learns to confront his past instead of running away from it. In Ultimatum, Jason confronts his creators and helps take down those responsible for Blackbriar, thereby enacting proper law and order for all of the damage caused by the CIA's efforts. Jason goes from running away to live a life of solitude to becoming a lone hero who must ultimately take down a corrupt organization over the course of three films. Even though each Bourne film is self contained and has a definitive conclusion, each new entry adds something essential to the character and story, thereby making the sequels important instead of unnecessary.
Ultimatum also features a dynamite cast of supporting players that help take some of the pressure off of Damon's shoulders. Joan Allen dazzles once again as Pamela Landy, the story's second hero. She owns every second that she is on screen and gives a commanding performance as a no-nonsense CIA agent who fights for justice and truth. Landy's story over the course of Supremacy and Ultimatum is equally as fascinating as Bourne's journey. When she and Bourne finally meet face to face at the end of the film, it's a well earned moment between two people who have been striving for the same cause.
Another show stopping sequence in the film is none other than Bourne and Desh's fist fight in Madrid. This penultimate throw down is preceded by an intense foot chase amongst Madrid's roof tops and crowded alleys, thereby making the long awaited brawl all the more worthwhile. Matt Damon and martial artist Joey Ansah throw down in the franchise's greatest brawl that makes great use of Bourne's improvisation of everyday object as weapons. I saw the film in the theater in 2007 and distinctly remember the entire audience roaring with applause once Bourne defeated Desh. It was one of the most memorable theatrical experiences of my life time. The film's final car chase is also fantastic, although not as brutal and personal as Bourne's car fight against Kiril in Supremacy. Overall, The Bourne Ultimatum excels where its previous entries failed as action pictures because its action is all the more memorable, lengthier, and eventful.
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| This is what they like to call "the money shot." |
Each Bourne film features a unique arc for Jason, as well as an over encompassing arc for the entire trilogy. Jason ultimately learns who he was before his amnesia and chooses to run away from his enemies by the end of Identity. When everything is taken away from him in Supremacy, Jason becomes a lone warrior and learns to confront his past instead of running away from it. In Ultimatum, Jason confronts his creators and helps take down those responsible for Blackbriar, thereby enacting proper law and order for all of the damage caused by the CIA's efforts. Jason goes from running away to live a life of solitude to becoming a lone hero who must ultimately take down a corrupt organization over the course of three films. Even though each Bourne film is self contained and has a definitive conclusion, each new entry adds something essential to the character and story, thereby making the sequels important instead of unnecessary.
Ultimatum also features a dynamite cast of supporting players that help take some of the pressure off of Damon's shoulders. Joan Allen dazzles once again as Pamela Landy, the story's second hero. She owns every second that she is on screen and gives a commanding performance as a no-nonsense CIA agent who fights for justice and truth. Landy's story over the course of Supremacy and Ultimatum is equally as fascinating as Bourne's journey. When she and Bourne finally meet face to face at the end of the film, it's a well earned moment between two people who have been striving for the same cause.
Other supporting players include returning franchise veteran Julia Stiles as the likable Nicky Parsons, Scott Glenn as the corrupt director of the CIA, Albert Finney as Bourne's creator, Edgar Ramirez as an unstoppable assassin, and even my boy Scott Adkins as a nameless agent who gets destroyed by Bourne. However, no villain exudes more malice than David Straitham as Noah Venson, the man in charge of Blackbriar. Straitham is the franchise's greatest villain because of his corrupt nature, disregard for American life, and determination to eliminate Jason Bourne once and for all. Viewers may come for Matt Damon, but will be equally delighted by the amazing supporting cast who help round out an excellent cast of characters in one of the previous decade's greatest thrillers.
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| Until next time, we bid you farewell Jason Bourne. |
Whether one declares The Bourne Ultimatum or any other entry in the series' initial trilogy as the best, we can all agree that the Bourne trilogy is one of cinema's greatest interconnected trilogies alongside the original Star Wars films, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, and Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather saga. Each Bourne entry is better than the previous, with each one amping up the stakes, performances, and action. Even though Greengrass' shaky cam is the only thing holding back Ultimatum from being a perfect action film, his direct cinema style is hugely important in the film's success and influence. If it weren't for Greengrass' efforts, than Bond may have never risen back into the mainstream as the box office champ that it is now. Therefore, let us all take our hats off to the initial Bourne trilogy, and hope for the best with the franchise's highly anticipated fifth installment which brings back both Damon and Greengrass.
Rating: 9/10 - The conclusion to the initial Bourne trilogy is as fantastic as cinematic conclusions come and arguably Matt Damon's finest hour as the character.
Franchise:
The Bourne Identity (dir. Doug Liman, 2002)
The Bourne Supremacy (dir. Paul Greengrass, 2004)
The Bourne Ultimatum (dir. Paul Greengrass, 2007)
The Bourne Legacy (dir. Tony Gilroy, 2012)
Jason Bourne (dir. Paul Greengrass, 2016)
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