The Bourne Identity | Review

Liman’s big-budget picture lacks in the thrill department.

I remember back in the time when a film about ‘spies’ was about the specially gifted, brave and almost superhuman cold-blooded agents. I remember big thinking masterminds behind elaborate operations and when spy technology actually got some audience reaction. I remember a time when the word ‘thriller’, actually meant that viewers would use up the front ends of their seat. I remember when car chases were better than a roller coaster ride. With the cold war out of the way and studio execs too afraid to offend anyone-there seems to be a lack of inspiration to make a cutting edge feature, and part of the blame goes to narratives that have spy technology make ineffective the actions of poker-faced heroes and villains. But in today’s films of the spy genre we see individuals tracking down the most sought-after man in history – by simply typing the name of the person in question in a search engine.

Director Doug Liman who masterfully handled his previous films of Swingers & Go struggles in attaining the desperately needed level of intrigue in which this spy-thriller film needs, perhaps due to a script which is too underdeveloped. “Who Am I?” cries baby-faced Matt Damon (Ocean’s Eleven) as Jason Bourne — the man who can do hand to hand combat with a fleet of would-be assassins, but would most likely not remember how many women he has scored with. His story starts off as the unconscious body pulled from the sea. A fisherman who happens to be a part-time surgeon pulls out a couple of bullets from the victim’s back and doesn’t bother to stitch up the quarter-sized holes. One kung fu chop later, and we are introduced to the amnesia-suffering protagonist. The pattern is pretty much set-up for another spy flick which asks too much from its viewers in terms of suspending one’s beliefs. The pic misses the mark in the most important element of such a genre film — the whole scheme paradigm.

Not that the premise for The Bourne Identity doesn’t contain moments of interest, but it seems that each good scene is sandwiched by a bunch of subplots that either become or are from the start rather insignificant. An example is the elaborate operation set in place by the CIA, who apparently have many strategies in their playbook to deal with such problems-but obviously the protagonist prevails. Meanwhile, the subplot focuses on this romantic interlude- a cute romance with Franka Potente Run Lola Run who plays a character that is utterly confusing to comprehend. The chase ensues for the remaining part of the film and the typical give an entire 3-minute flashback explanation to bring out the true nature of the character’s past is simply frustrating. The action sequences are a disappointment, I remember a time when I’d get off on car chases, screeching tires, burn marks, accidents etc… and the car chase sequence here is so boring that it made Ronin look like the best chase ever. And don’t expect any great acting from Damon or a finale worth holding your breath for. Quite simply, don’t bother with them apples.

Rating 2 stars