(I guess them CIA folk just don‘t learn a goddurn thang…)
CAST: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Joan Allen, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles, Gabriel Mann, Michelle Monaghan.
DIRECTOR: Paul Greengrass
WARNING: Some SPOILERS and one spy/assassin/hottie they should have just left the hell alone…
IT’S LIKE THIS: In our review for THE BOURNE IDENTITY (review # 210), we learned that it is probably not a good idea to piss off amnesiac CIA assassins - especially when they know martial arts, firearms, and look like Matt Damon - because that dude always looks pissed off. Even when he’s happy, he looks like he wants to break your arms. I would not want to fuck with someone with a Perma-Scowl. Anyhow, the end of IDENTITY saw said amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne (Damon) outsmarting (and out-fisting and out-gunshotting) his Company adversaries - then running off to India to have sweaty tropical sex with his loyal gal pal Marie (Franka Potente). Except the CIA just doesn’t know when to fucking quit: they send more assassins after Bourne and Marie, therefore assuring that there will be some Black Ops job openings soon.
THE DUDE MOST LIKELY TO SAVE THE DAY: Well, duh… Bourne, of course.
EYE CANDY MOST LIKELY TO FIRE UP A WOODY: This is a hard one (uh, no pun intended). Some say Matt Damon. Others say Julia Stiles (as junior CIA agent Nicky Parsons) or Franka Potente. But I’m going to go for Joan Allen as Pamela Landy, probably the only CIA bureaucrat with a heart, a brain, and a figure that kicks ass in a pantsuit. Love her.
MOST HAIR-RAISING SCENE: Another toss-up: the assassin (Karl Urban) chasing Bourne and Marie in Goa at the beginning - or Bourne putting the bitchslap on a fellow “retired” assassin with nothing more than a rolled-up magazine. Please excuse me while I flashback to childhood and remember getting thwacked by People Magazine. Did my parents write this fucking movie?
HOTTEST SCENE: Bourne roughing up Nicky for information in the Berlin subway. Do I need help? Don’t answer that.
INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW: Why won‘t the CIA just fucking let up already? Will Bourne and Marie have to run forever? Will Pamela realize that Bourne is not a monster? What secrets are her bosses hiding? Will she put her neck on the line for Bourne? What about Nicky? Does she have the hots for him? Or does she like Pamela more? Ahem?
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH “THE BOURNE SUPREMACY”: If you loved THE BOURNE IDENTITY, you will jizz gallons over this one. More kinetic action…
WHY YOU MAY NOT ENJOY “THE BOURNE SUPREMACY”: … but also less romance. Let’s just say someone major bites it in the first ten minutes. Someone that is directly responsible for Bourne getting laid on a regular basis. No, assholes, I don’t mean his Right Hand. Or even his pal Leftie…
FINAL ANALYSIS: While not as graceful and fluid as THE BOURNE IDENTITY, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY at least tries to shake up the formula somewhat and add some depth to the equation - such as the mystery of Bourne’s first assignment. The cast is exceptional, with Damon proving to be great as the conflicted hero. He is ably supported by a trio of strong female characters. Pamela Landy is easily one of the best heroines to come along in awhile, and Allen turns her into a great mix of sharp intelligence and decent humanity. Julia Stiles does much with her limited screen time as Nicky, especially in that Berlin subway scene. Finally, Franka Potente as Marie displays the same earthy spunk that she did in IDENTITY, and even though she departs the action early on, her presence hangs over the proceedings like a ghost.
All in all, a very good sequel to a classic action flick…
