Although it would be a stretch to call Matt Damon a perfect spy - there are times when his underplaying causes him to come across as emotionless - he's more credible in the action hero role than his friend, Ben Affleck. If it came down to Damon's Bourne versus Affleck's Jack Ryan, my money would be on the former. Not only is he more buff, but he's got some cool moves. Damon generates a little nice chemistry with on-screen love interest Franka Potente, who has been getting a fair amount of international exposure since Run Lola Run. In fact, considering the pacing and high level of action in this film, The Bourne Identity could easily be called Run Jason Run.
At any rate, it's tension of the action-oriented variety, not the romantic one, that drives The Bourne Identity. While the movie pays lip service to solving the "mystery" of Jason's identity, this is pretty much a red herring. We figure things out early in the proceedings, so there are no surprises around the corner. The real question posed by the screenplay is how Jason will survive the hit men sent after him, especially the deadly Professor (Clive Owen), who seems to be his equal. In addition to a number of high-octane fight scenes and some cat-and-mouse games, the movie contains a lengthy car chase through the streets of Paris. And, while this one is a little more exciting than the average high-speed pursuit, it doesn't offer enough that's new, daring, or heart-pounding, and, as a result, seems a little too long and drawn-out.
On some level, I guess The Bourne Identity could be considered a throwback. There are not many pure action thrillers out there these days. This movie does not rely on special effects or science fiction-like plot elements to get by. It's a straightforward story of good guys against bad guys, with most of the moral ambiguities leeched out. (For example, Liman doesn't expect us to be overly concerned with Jason's past as a ruthless killer. That's another lifetime - because of his amnesia, Jason has been "bourne again".) No matter who comes out on top, this is the kind of movie where the audience - at least an audience looking for 120 minutes of adrenaline-propelled escapism - wins.
Porculus