Reel Critics

Ray Buffer

Matt Damon stars in the extremely loose adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s

1980 novel with the same title, “The Bourne Identity.” This is not the

first filmed version of this work, as it was also a miniseries on ABC TV

in 1988 starring Richard Chamberlain and Jaclyn Smith. The novel was

written at a time when it was popular to criticize the secrecy and

shadowy dealings of the CIA.

Filmed on location in France and Belgium, the beauty of this film lies

in its locations. Jason Bourne is a member of Treadstone, a super secret

band of U.S. assassins. While on a mission, Bourne (which is only one of

his many aliases), is shot in the back and falls into the Mediterranean

Sea, where he is recovered by the crew of a fishing vessel. While

healing, he finds that though his instincts and skills are all intact, he

has lost the memory of who and what he is.

While tracing a lead to his identity, Bourne meets Maria, played ably

by Franka Potente. The two team up first as business partners (Bourne

needs a ride, and has cash to pay for it,) but later become intimate.

Together they seek to discover who Bourne is, and why people are trying

to kill him.

As amoral and shady as Cooper’s character is, I found myself almost

wishing that a covert agency like Treadstone might exist in today’s world

of suicide bombers.

To enjoy this film you need only believe that Damon could portray a

super soldier. This is not a difficult task in the hands of

director/producer, Doug Liman. Although this is Liman’s first foray into

action/thrillers you would not know it. Liman insured that Damon was

tutored in a special form of martial arts and the fight scenes are

stunning and inventive. The car chases through the European landscape are

splendid. On a side note, I still cannot get over how small European cars

are and how plastic their police motorcycles appear.

The crowning glory of this production is that once you accept the

circumstances set up by the film, all succeeding events are plausible and

human. Through the eyes of Maria we see the real reaction to remarkable

events that happen around her. Damon brings integrity and sensitivity to

his character. There are no sheepish grins, or winks to the audience that

you might see in a “Lethal Weapon” movie. In fact, the humor -- if there

is any -- is downplayed, and what little laughter there is comes from the

genuine expressions of surprise by the actors, or as an acknowledgment to

inspired fight sequences.

The screenplay gives very little depth or content to the supporting

cast of Julia Stiles, Brian Cox, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Clive Owen.

Screenwriters Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron also allow cliche

circumstances to creep into their plot, which are fortunately covered up

by Damon and Potente’s expert characterizations. John Powell’s music is

at times pleasant and appropriate, but at other times annoying as he

blends orchestral themes with trance-eurobeat club rhythms.

Damon’s character has a better spider sense of impending danger than

Spider man, and his likability, skills and charisma are leaps above Ben

Affleck’s Jack Ryan. “The Bourne Identity” represents the best,

Earth-based, bang-for-your-buck currently available at the box office.

Even though “Bourne” author Ludlum passed away in March of 2001, he has

two other books written about Jason Bourne: “The Bourne Supremacy” and

“The Bourne Ultimatum.”

Sequel anyone?

* RAY BUFFER, 32, is a professional singer, actor and voice-over

artist.