Leading up to the release of The Bourne Legacy, The Basement will take a look back at the groundbreaking franchise that made an unlikely hero out of Matt Damon and changed the way action movies were made forever.
A man is picked up by a fishing boat, bullet-riddled and without memory, then races to elude assassins and recover from amnesia. Cue Moby!
It's already a decade after the fact, yet The Bourne Identity is still a fast paced and thoroughly entertaining romp. That's right, I said romp. Wanna fight about it.
It's interesting going back and looking the series from the beginning. All the groundwork is laid out, from the musical cues to the rapid editing of the action scenes. But there's still a freshness to it all, from the presence of a young Matt Damon to the allure of Franka Potente, who is sorely missed in the other films. And hello Clive Owen! I forgot you were even in this!
Although the series is known for the style director Paul Greengrass lent to parts two and three, Doug Liman deserves to be recognized. He started it all with this film. Sure, Greengrass contributed the documentary approach to Supremacy and Ultimatum, but Liman brought Bourne to the big screen. He knows how to shoot an action scene and does solid work. The man deserves respect.
As for Damon, he still looks like a kid here . . . a kid who will kick your ass. He bulked up for the second and third film, but delivers a solid performance. Of all the Bourne films, this is the one with the most heart, and Damon is at the centre of that. He and Potente.
Oh yeah, there's a wicked car chase too. In fact, the only films to top it are the sequels.
It's no secret that this film rates a Good. But I'm impressed at how well it all holds up.
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