THE BOURNE IDENTITY
US, 2002, 118 minutes, Colour.
Matt Damon, Franca Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Brian Cox, Julia Styles.
Directed by Doug Lyman.
As a reader of Robert Ludlum's novels for over twenty years, I was looking forward to seeing The Bourne Identity. So far, film versions of Ludlum have not been memorable, The Osterman Weekend, The Holcroft Covenant. The Bourne Identity was a miniseries in the 80s with Richard Chamberlain.
The screenwriters have been wise to take the simple linear plot from the novel: a man floating in the Mediterranean is rescued, revived by fishermen and sent on his way to Zurich with the bank address that has been found implanted in him. He has amnesia. Who is he? When he finds passports and money, he goes on a quest to find himself. He commandeers Marie (Franka Potente) and her car to get him to Paris. She is caught up in a dangerous pursuit because we learn what Jason Bourne does not know, that he is a CIA assassin. We watch Bourne's instinctive violent self-preservation and ingenuity and the tactics of the CIA who want to be rid of him. It makes for a blend of psychological pressure and some slambang action, including quite a car chase through Paris.
Matt Damon has a limited range as an actor. However, the role of the amnesiac, not too sure of himself, suits him very well. Doug Liman made two rather hip 30-something movies, Swingers and Go. They did not prepare us for how well he translates the spirit of Ludlum to the big screen.
1. The popularity of the novels of Robert Ludlum? Espionage? Global conspiracies? Critique of the US and the CIA? Screen adaptation?
2. The exotic European settings, the Mediterranean Sea, Zurich, France, Paris, the French countryside?
3. The credibility of the plot, amnesia, the discovery of identity, the political background, African assassinations, the CIA and its methods?
4. The opening on the trawler, the crew, playing cards, the discovery of the body, the doctor helping and removing the bullets, the capsule with the Zurich address? The doctor helping Bourne to go on his way?
5. The train through the countryside, Zurich, his sleeping on the park bench, the sudden vicious attack on the police? The bank, the discovery of the bag and the money, the gun? The range of passports? Air of mystery, taking the money and leaving the gun?
6. The pursuit by the police, going into the embassy, Marie and her outbursts, the chase throughout the building, his escape, dropping to the ground, Marie's car, offering her the money, her driving him? The fact that everything was photographed and could be used for search identities?
7. The issue of identity, the bullets? Zurich? His instincts, especially for self-defence and violence, his alertness to security, the bag, the passports, his ability to fight? Yet, the basic personality and even gentleness of the man with amnesia?
8. Marie, the episode in the embassy, her desperation and shouting? Her decision to take the money, drive Bourne, her chattering when nervous, telling her story? At the diner, the discussions about security alertness? Going to the apartment, washing, the sudden emergence of the assassin and the fight?
9. Paris, the apartment itself, what did it reveal about Bourne, his discovery that he was an assassin, the concierge and her being shot, running, the car, the station, the police pursuit? Eluding the police in Paris, the capacity for expert fast driving? The car chase?
10. The identity of Kane, going to the hotel, discovering that he was dead, going to the morgue, the wrong body, going back to the apartment with the police already there with the dead assassin, reading the papers, knowing the truth, the decision to go to the farm, the danger for the man and his children? The assassin, Bourne realising he was in the fields, stalking him, the confrontation, shooting him, hearing the name "Treadstone"? His sending Marie away, the man and his children in the cellar and then leaving?
11. Using the mobile phone, contacting the CIA, returning to Paris, watching the officials, going to Treadstone, the confrontation there, the explosions? His walking away?
12. Castel and the CIA, his boss and keeping secrets from him? The aide and his assistance to Castel? The background of the clandestine mission, the Senate hearings, budget proposals and cuts, the discussions between Castel and his superior? Promising to clean things up? Waking the assassins throughout Europe and the collage of the group? The failure in Paris of the assassin and his suicide? The Englishman, his skill in pursuit, being killed? Castel going to Paris, on the Pont Neuf? Nicolette and her work? The ending, the assassin killing Castel? The superior in Washington, hearing the report, going to the hearings and his bland presentation of plans?
13. Themes of espionage, the law, violence, power, the possibility of an assassin changing? His finding Marie, the restaurant, the embrace and the happy ending?
