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Bookmark this pageThe Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Director: Paul Greengrass
Synopsis
In the latest instalment of the espionage series, Jason Bourne hunts down his past in order to find out what the future holds. He travels through Moscow, Paris, London, Madrid, Tangiers and New York as he continues on his quest to find the real Jason Bourne, all the while trying to outmanoeuvre the scores of cops, federal officers and Interpol agents who would prefer him dead.
Movie review
From Time Out London
Confused, mistrustful and trying to keep a lid on the knee-jerk violence to which he is predisposed, Jason Bourne is a troubled secret agent for troubled times. This third part of the most satisfying action franchise of the decade finds Bourne (Matt Damon) still on the run, gradually remembering how US security forces reshaped him as a super-assassin while trying to avoid their continued efforts to neutralise him. Drawn into the open by a UK newspaper exposé, he’s tacitly aided by CIA insiders Pamela Landy (Joan Allen, looking stern in turtle-necks) and Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) while David Strathairn and Albert Finney take on ruthless bastard duties.
Paul Greengrass, director of ‘The Bourne Supremacy’ and ‘United 93’, remains ahead of the field in delivering gristly, handheld, relatively credible action reliant on whatever’s to hand rather than hi-tech gadgetry. (If you thought Bourne was bad-ass with a magazine, just see what he can do with a hardback…) The plot roves across the globe but the standout set piece takes place in our own Waterloo Station, making an exhilarating rat-run of a packed concourse that will have you peering uneasily at CCTV cameras and advertising hoardings on your next commute.
While the crunchy fights and unflagging pace ensure this delivers as genre spectacle – a car chase deservedly got a round of applause at the screening I attended – the muddy ethics also make for a pleasing contrast with standard-issue wham-bammery. The CIA’s instant, lethal access to any spot on the globe and tactics like rendition and ‘experimental interrogation’ provoke anxiety here, not pride, and Bourne’s own killings are followed not by a quip but a flush of shame.
Author: Ben Walters
Time Out London Issue 1930: August 15-21 2007
User reviews of this film
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- Bim said...
- Posted on Aug 25 2007 21:24 MD was brilliant in this film - very pacy, and action packed - but I found the shaky filming style (free hand) quite distracting
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- liam p said...
- Posted on Aug 25 2007 20:18 havent seen 1 or 2 but this is one exxcellent film! non stop entertainment from begining to end! and all the gadgets 'bourne' uses you can buy from and use yourself !! Interesting and entertaining all you need. Brilliant a differant league from James Bond but a different type of energie era and film. Just as good in different aspects!! Love it . See it!! L.P.
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- Fletch said...
- Posted on Aug 25 2007 09:15 Nothing new wait for DVD.
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- Stubbleman said...
- Posted on Aug 24 2007 16:25 Loved the 1st 2 and looking forward to seeing the 3rd tomorrow! Bourne is what all the Bond movies tried to be but they never quite made it!
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- Badasssweep said...
- Posted on Aug 24 2007 14:48 I love Matt Damon and I can't wait to go and see it on Sunday.
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- yazmin said...
- Posted on Aug 22 2007 17:00 this film was absolutely brilliant-bourne jus gets better and better i jus hope theres another one...AWESOME!!
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- Nick said...
- Posted on Aug 22 2007 12:11 Amazing action
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- PHRENIC said...
- Posted on Aug 22 2007 10:42 Have just watched the 1st and 2nd on itv2 and can't wait to see this one.
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- paul said...
- Posted on Aug 21 2007 16:34 One blockbuster that lives up to the hype, Damon is excellent but credit to Greengrass who is in a league of his own as a director
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- Maureen said...
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Posted on Aug 21 2007 12:09
The comment you type in this box will appear on the sit
A brilliant movie, fantastic special effects, certainly does justice to the late Robert Ludlum. Matt Damon superb. - Report as inappropriate
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- B Pingles said...
- Posted on Aug 21 2007 11:12 What more can one say? am gagging to go and see it today.....
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- louise said...
- Posted on Aug 21 2007 05:55 I thoutg this was fantastic,!! They just get beter and better. Can't wait for the next one!!
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- merv said...
- Posted on Aug 20 2007 21:13 yh pretty cool action packed film... so niceee.... its fast moving... sound is great....ending is sick tooo...
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- Ben said...
- Posted on Aug 20 2007 14:17 Just fantastic...........a must see
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- Jim Ahern said...
- Posted on Aug 20 2007 13:40 Sit back and enjoy. Fantastic!
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Cast & crew
Director: Paul Greengrass
Producer: Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley, Paul L Sandberg
Cast: Matt Damon, Paddy Considine, Julia Stiles, Edgar Ramirez, Chris Cooper, Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Albert Finney full cast
Genre(s): Action/Adventure, Thrillers, Drama
Rated: 12A
Duration: 115 mins
UK Release: Aug 17 2007
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