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Review

Echoing such gritty thrillers as Bullitt and The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three, even while wrapped up in a typically ludicrous Robert Ludlum plotline, The Bourne Identity is the type of film William Friedkin wishes he could remember how to make. Found bobbing at sea with no memory, Damon's Jason Bourne gradually finds clues to his identity; his gains in knowledge are met with increasing hostility from rogue CIA agents (including a sinister Cooper) and hired assassins (the highlight being a surprisingly touching turn by Owen). Massive car chases, a steamy romance (between Damon and the fetching Potente), and brutal fisticuffs are kept rooted by Liman's matter-of-fact direction and keen attention to the intimate, interpersonal relationships that arise from any conflict, no matter how outrageous. The hoary device of a hero with amnesia is still a damn good one, and helps make Damon's transformation from Talented Mr. Character Actor into Kickass Superspy a little more believable than the earlier attempts by his bosom buddy Ben Affleck. The plot's arbitrary wrap-up is a bit of a let-down, though to be fair, topping the previous set pieces might be impossible. Liman has set the bar very high, and other purveyors of action & adventure (hello, Bruckheimer & Bay) might want to do some spying of their own. (Sequel: The Bourne Supremacy)

 -- David Gorgos