So, I'm fresh out of the theater and I gotta tell ya something about this guy named Bourne.  He doesn't know who he is.  He doesn't know what he does.  He has no idea why people are trying to make sure he never finds out. Seems that somebody made an attempt at the defunct African president's life and it's got something to do with the Central Intelligence Agency and a random man found floating in the middle of the sea. The C.I.A. has lost contact with an agent about the same time a fishing boat rescues an anonymous man with a case of amnesia off the coast of Spain.

Our mystery man turns out to be Jason Bourne (played by Matt Damon) and he's on a quest to figure out his true identity.  See?  That's where we get "THE BOURNE IDENTITY".  You sticking with me here?  The only clue he's left with as he travels back to land is a little device surgically removed from his hip that gives him the name of a bank and an account number in Switzerland.  Bourne uses this information to access a safety deposit box that contains a whole mess of passports with different names and nationalities, money in as many currencies as you can imagine and a gun.  "What is all this for?" he wonders.  But before the answers can come to him, the bullets are flying, the locals are screaming and Jason's forced to make daring escape after daring escape.

Poor poor Ben Affleck.  He tries sooo hard to take on these roles and then his buddy just takes those same roles and makes them into gold. 

Let's play a little game.  Pick which one was better.

1.	a.	Matt Damon in Saving Private Ryan
	b.	Ben Affleck in Pearl Harbor

 

Needless to say, Matt Damon turns in a really good performance as a C.I.A. Black Ops Agent with an acute case of amnesia.  We're not looking at any Oscar worthy work in this one but that's definitely not the fault of the actor.  Damon has a really impressive presence on the screen.  He's tough when actions are called for but his performance goes beyond that.  Some incredible internal acting if I do say so myself.  Ultimately, the character wins you over and that's basically what it's all about.

A really excellent cast of performers back Damon up in the film.  Actors like Brian Cox who you might remember as Uncle Argyle in Braveheart or as Hannibal Lectur in Manhunter.  Chris Cooper from October Sky and A Time to Kill.  And Clive Owen who you may recognize from the BMW Films where he played The Driver.  In a little bit part is Julia Stiles.  I don't know what it is about her but I just do NOT find her attractive.  I think Julia Stiles is the only chick I've ever seen who's brow extends further than her nose.  It's not natural.

Doug Liman directs and if you dug his visual style in Go and Swingers then prepare yourself for much of the same goodness in The Bourne Identity.  The film is very stylish in it's presentation.  Color is not only rich but real and characters are nothing but compelling once they hit the screen.  The action is almost a throwback to the Matrix without being too "Matrix-ish".  Sure, we all know that Matt Damon is no super secret agent but Liman makes us believe he is through his photography.  Also, be on the lookout for a car chase almost reminiscent of a slightly inferior chase featured in Ronin.  It's a very real chase and it keeps you on the edge of your seat...much like most of the action in the film.

The movie gripped me pretty much from beginning to end.  It was fun and suspenseful and made you really appreciate spy films.  This wasn't your formula Bond flick where you basically watch the same story happen over and over again.  You really had to think at some points and if you're not careful, you might find yourself hootin' and hollerin' for Bourne to "Kick that guys ass!" or "Don't climb up there!"  A really enjoyable film that takes a fairly old premise and presents it to you in a pretty fantastic package.