5 Question Movie Review: The Bourne Ultimatum

Q: Is the production of a third one of these justified by Ultimatum?
A: Well, "Ultimatum" is a solid movie, and it should please fans of the first two--especially fans of number two, since "Supremacy" director Paul Greengrass returns. Did we NEED this to be a trilogy? Not really. This effort is more of the same: more shaky camera, more chases, more scenes of people walking dramatically in crowded public places. No new ground is broken. But what we get here is a well-made action movie that pretty much delivers what it intends. It doesn't stay with you for long, but those two hours are a fun ride.

Q: So this is shot like "Supremacy" was? Hey, why is it when Paul Greengrass shoots a movie like this--handheld, jittery, disorienting, rapid-paced--it's fine filmmaking, but if someone else does it, it's "incoherent" or "MTV editing"?
A: Uh...hmm. Uh, because I said so?
Your point is well taken. The style can be irritating when used by lesser directors who don't take time to establish story parameters or who use the rapid visuals to disguise uninspired choreography or bad staging. Greengrass himself might overuse these techniques, but he really is a talented helmer who generally knows what he's doing.

Q: Who would win a fight: Stone Cold Matt Damon (Bourne Trilogy), Puppet Warrior Matt Damon (Team America), or Boy Genius Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting)?
A: We've seen Puppet Warrior Matt Damon get his wooden ass splintered, so rule him out. Boy Genius Matt Damon is clever, but he doesn't have the physical tools to win this battle without an assist from Big Buddy Ben Affleck. So the clear winner is Stone Cold--hey, wait a minute. TRICK QUESTION ALERT! The winner is Rannulph Jannuh Matt Damon, who would vanquish any foe with the help of Bagger Vance.
Matt Damon does get to kick some A in this film, though, and if you're looking for some intense close-in fight scenes, get ready to enjoy yourself.

Q: I gots to know, is there an underappreciated veteran actor in the cast to serve as the main CIA foil for Jason Bourne?
A: I got two words for you, pal: DAVID STRAITHAIRN. And if that name doesn't thrill you, well, you're not John Sayles.
Every Bourne flick needs that type of character, and Straithairn's Noah fits the bill here. But you also get good work from reliable returning vets like Joan Allen and Julia Stiles. Scott Glenn and Albert Finney are fine support in smaller roles. So Stone Cold Matt Damon doesn't have to carry the show entirely on his own.

Q: By now, we surely know everything about Jason Bourne...right?
A: Er, no. There is closure in a sense, but there are also tantalizing hints of other pieces of information that could be fleshed out in--you guessed it--a fourth movie. That seems inevitable given the box office success of this one, but creatively, they should go in a different direction. Bring back Jason Bourne, but give him something else to do besides cat and mouse with his former employer.