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The Bourne Ultimatum

Trilogy goes out with style

By Geoff Berkshire, Metromix

August 3, 2007

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Ever since 2002's "The Bourne Identity," Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) has been trying to recover his memory after discovering he was part of a top-secret CIA project to train assassins. Along the way he's picked up unlikely allies in CIA employees Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) and Pam Landy (Joan Allen), but as Bourne races to uncover the final mysteries of his past he faces one of his most threatening adversaries yet (David Strathairn as agent Noah Vosen).

Big question: Will the supposed final installment in the Jason Bourne "trilogy" finish with a whimper, or a bang worthy of the series?

Catch it: Once Bourne's latest adventure gets going it never lets up. As usual the acting is top notch and the story is satisfying, but it's the action that delivers. Director Paul Greengrass returns from his triumph with "The Bourne Supremacy" and delivers more visceral thrills, this time spiced with not-so-subtle timely digs at government employees drunk with power.

Skip it: If the shaky camerawork in "Supremacy" gave you motion sickness. It's back this time too.

Bottom line: In a sequel-heavy summer "Bourne" graduates with honors. As painful as it may be for action fans to see Jason go, three great films are a lot more than most franchises can deliver. Let's not press our luck.

Bonus: After fending off assailants with a pen and a magazine in his first two movies, Bourne demonstrates the self-defense potential of a book in this one. Librarians everywhere should be taking notes.

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