ROB OROZCO
Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), first introduced to film audiences in 2002
in "The Bourne Identity," returns to continue his quest for his
identity in "The Bourne Supremacy." When we last left Jason, he had
awakened from his amnesia, vowing never to continue his former line
of work as a CIA agent and to kill anyone who sought to "bring him
in."
As "Supremacy" opens, we find Jason and his companion Marie
(Franka Potente) on the remote island of Goa, living a life of
relaxation. However, Jason is still plagued by flashbacks of his
previous life and possible assignments when he sees a new arrival in
town who is "not driving the right car and not wearing the right
clothes." In other words, they are still after him. What is it about
Jason that makes his perceived enemies want to spend millions to
eliminate him?
The move is assembled from standard action-genre ingredients.
However, "Supremacy" distinguishes itself from other generic and
mind-numbing thrillers with parallel story lines in Goa, Washington,
New York, Berlin, and Moscow.
The plot is set in motion by the aforementioned mystery man on
Goa, which finally sends Bourne to confront his pursuers. What Bourne
doesn't know is that the CIA has found his fingerprints at a murder
scene in Berlin, where two CIA agents under the direction of Pamela
Landy (Joan Allen) were killed. Landy, of course, wants to eliminate
Bourne or find out if he is now freelancing. Returning from the
original movie are agents Abbott (Brian Cox) and Nicolette (Julia
Stiles), who warn Landy of the folly in trying to eliminate Bourne.
Under the direction of Paul Greengrass ("Bloody Sunday") and
screenwriter Tony Gilroy, the movie skillfully delivers a series of
chase and fight sequences that do not rely on the typical guns and
brawn but on Bourne's inventiveness. The movie is also unique in its
creative solution to the by-the-numbers nature of chase and fight
sequences -- using a series of highly disorienting and novel editing
and cinematography that allow the audience to perceive Bourne's point
of view. While these sequences may induce nausea in some audience
members, it is a relief to avoid the wide shots that typically allow
the audience member to view the entire sequences as a disinterested
observer.
But I digress. "Supremacy," like most action-adventure movies,
does not exist in a plausible universe. The suspension of disbelief
is required to enjoy any film in this genre. But, unlike the other
members of the genre, "Supremacy" makes an effort to be unique, to
