With James Bond in the doldrums, Ethan Hunt knew how to take advantage of the occasion, as there were no more spies on the horizon. Fortunately for everyone, the character created by Robert Ludlum in the early eighties, Jason Bourne, was still about to say the last word and stand up to the rest of the spies.
6. The Bourne Identity
Direction: Roger Young
Cast: Richard Chamberlain, Jaclyn Smith, Anthony Quayle
Carol Sobieski, screenwriter of titles like ‘Annie’ or ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ adapted Robert Ludlum’s novel in a two-episode miniseries that arrived at three hours. Obviously, it works great as an adaptation: an hour longer than Liman’s film is a long time to reflect the fears, paranoia and raincoats of Jason Bourne played by Richard Chamberlain.
‘Bourne’s identity’ is a competent thriller who for a large part of his footage dodges the feeling of watching a television miniseries. Nobody bet on Chamberlain like nobody did on Damon, but it is true that, despite having played Allan Quatermain’s horny for the Cannon on a couple of occasions, it is too stretched and somewhat bland.
However, this proto-adventure of Bourne is seen and has very striking punctual successes, especially in terms of the violence that adorns each of the bullet impacts.
5. The Bourne Legacy
Direction: Tony Gilroy
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Albert Finney, Oscar Isaac, Scott Glenn
The biggest advantage of the film in which the official screenwriter of the saga took the controls, was also its biggest drawback. ‘Bourne’s legacy’ is not a spy thriller like everyone else. It is almost a science fiction medical thriller. That the endowment of something more strength is developed in parallel to the third installment, but even having the Greengrass movie recent, is too complex to deal with a simpler story than it seems.
The most important genomic advance in the history of mankind at the service of a program of perfect murderers devised in the darkest offices of the CIA. Jeremy Renner endures the play with grace, but the weight to bear is too much, and having an Edward Norton who seems fresh from ‘The Red Dragon’ doesn’t help. Nor does it clone action sequences or overacting Rachel Weisz.
4. Jason Bourne
Direction: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matt Damon, Alicia Vikander, Tommy Lee Jones, Vincent Cassel, Riz Ahmed
The wounds are still there. The evolution of the saga is felt in the fantastic maturity of Damon, almost converted here into a retired John Rambo. Only the crystals in his hands are missing. A twilight hero fifteen years later. And this time it is personal.
Tommy Lee Jones is great as a ruthless, burned boss, who does not care to kill than to die, although he actually prefers the former. Julia Stiles is at her best in the saga and the incorporations of Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel and Riz Ahmed are most grateful. As the inclusion of data privacy in new technologies, which makes it felt for the first time in our same world.
3. The Bourne Supremacy
Direction: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matt Damon, Joan Allen, Brian Cox, Karl Urban, Julia Stiles, Franka Potente
Tony Gilroy takes the reins of Ludlum’s character alone, although it will be Paul Greengrass who takes the applause from now on. There will be no more to wait for the next two deliveries to realize.
In case Bourne’s good was not enough with a continuous sequel, since there are few fringes and lagoons that still haunt him at night, in just ten minutes they serve a new personal motivation for a spy who already travels Europe at speed of ellipsis and where a detestable and “patriotic” Brian Cox shines above the rest.
The nervous style that will characterize the saga was not yet settled, and the change is abrupt, but the constants remain and the thing is encouraged.
2. The Bourne Identity
Direction: Doug Liman
Cast: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Brian Cox, Clive Owen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Gabriel Mann, Julia Stiles
A beacon reflected in the glasses of a humble Italian fisherman tore an odyssey that, for now, has been extended for fifteen years. Jason Bourne, now with the features of Matt Damon, was a test that came out in an exemplary way. Doug Liman, a craftsman full of trade , knew how to put the camera in place and radiograph the clearest melee action of the saga.
‘The Bourne case’ was the spy thriller that revitalized the genre and kicked off a wave of (more or less) realistic spy stories. The choice of a star with opposite neighbor pints make Bourne a more identifiable and closer character than the super spies that are usually seen in this type of cinema.
Although Paul Greengrass took the laurels with subsequent installments of the series, it was Doug Liman who contributed his sense of action in this film. With the impossible missions reimagining his return after the delivery of John Woo and James Bond ending his relationship with Pierce Brosnan, the dismembered Bourne was a clear reference for all who came behind.
1. The Bourne Ultimatum
Direction: Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matt Damon, Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Julia Stiles, Paddy Considine, Scott Glenn, Albert Finney
A precise, sharp, merciless party weekend. Despite meeting, the story of one of the best murderers in the history of the United States, Jason Bourne / David Webb still does not throw to kill. Unimportant detail as long as the villains continue to offer characters such as David Strathairn.
The ultimatum is supported on a triangular axis of action sequences that are already a turning point in the genre, especially the set piece that takes place in London, with the good Paddy Considine in the spotlight.
All of them are masterful, examples of planning, technique and editing for any filmmaker who dares to shoot a film whatever the genre.
The most complete of the franchise and the one that justifies the weight of a trilogy, although then they have wanted to continue expanding the family with adoptions and somewhat precipitous twilight returns.
