The Bourne trilogy (“The Bourne Identity,” “The Bourne Supremacy,” and “The Bourne Ultimatum”) is made up of some of the best action movies of the 21st century. Adapted from Robert Ludlum’s spy thrillers, the films are known for their tight editing, realistic fight scenes, intense chase scenes, and cat-and-mouse hunts. Each one is an action classic.
The first film in the series, “The Bourne Identity,” revolves around Jason Bourne, a man who awakens on a fishing boat with retrograde amnesia and multiple bullet wounds. Unable to remember who he is or where he comes from, Bourne embarks on a journey to discover the secrets of his past, which is drenched in blood and shadows.
Directed by Doug Liman, “The Bourne Identity” is a top-notch action thriller. By telling the story largely from Bourne’s point-of-view, the audience is left guessing as Bourne reveals more and more details about his dark past. Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne with a cold intensity and focus that had not been seen in his roles prior to this film. One of the main reasons that this film succeeds is through Damon’s convincing portrayal of a highly trained, amnesiac killer.
This film also succeeds because of its editing and ability to build tension. The fight scenes are composed of quick cuts and snap edits, which work remarkably well in this film. Even though some of the techniques that the Bourne films employ have since been overused in the action genre (i.e. shaky cam, quick edits), these techniques are here used in the way they were meant to be used, adding intensity and tension rather than obscuring details and confusing the audience. The car chase through Paris is one of the best car chases to be shown on film, while the manhunt through the U.S. embassy is a fantastically tense action sequence.
However, upon re-watching the film, I was surprised by how much attention is given to other elements than just the action. Though the five or so action set pieces are remarkable, the other elements of the film are just as enjoyable. A highlight is the relationship between Bourne and Marie, a wandering woman who gets sucked into Bourne’s search for his identity. Marie is played by Franka Potente (“Run Lola Run”) and the chemistry between her and Damon is delightful, fleshing out the story in-between the intensely gripping action scenes.
Overall, “The Bourne Identity” is an excellent action movie, digging into questions of moral ambiguity and identity while providing top-notch thrills.
