JASON FINDS OUT HOW HE WAS BOURNE IN ULTIMATUM

"Look at us, look at what they make you give."

In the third outing of the Bourne franchise, Jason Bourne is back, and this time he's pissed. Determined to find the persons responsible for turning him into the ultimate weapon, Bourne continues on his search for answers. This time, the cards are stacked against him. Treadstone has been reborn as the deadlier, larger, and more efficient Blackbriar program. When Noah Vosen (David Strathairn), the head of Blackbriar, realizes Bourne is back, he sends the whole force of Blackbriar down on top of Bourne in an attempt to silence him once and for all.

Joan Allen returns as CIA Deputy Director Pam Landy. Noah brings her in on the mission, and predictably they clash heads as she, once again, wants Bourne brought in alive while he will stop at nothing till Bourne is terminated. Julia Stiles returns as well as Nicky Parsons. Bourne and her team up for a brief segment, and she actually gets to partake in a fight this time (pretty cool).

Scott Glenn appears as Ezra Kramer, the corrupt head of the CIA who is in cahoots with Blackbriar. He doesn't get much screen time but is still an important role. David Strathairn is perfect as Noah Varson, the weasely little worm in charge of Blackbriar. He has a very punchable face, and is super easy to hate. He is very effective and a great villain. Albert Finney plays Dr. Albert Hirsch, a shady doctor who might be responsible for creating Bourne, as well as all the Treadstone and Blackbriar agents. Could he hold the answers Bourne has been searching for all these years?

Of course, Matt Damon returns once more as Bourne. He seems much angrier and more determined here. He isn't just looking for answers this time...he also wants revenge against those who turned him into a killing machine. He still has a heart of gold, and it is his nuanced and rich character that continues to set the Bourne franchise apart from Bond. It remains refreshing to have a lead who hates what he has become and doesn't enjoy killing people.

Ultimatum is directed by Paul Greengrass, and he does a significantly better job than in Supremacy. Once again, this outing feels slick, sleek and super-cool. This outing is more action-based than the previous films were, and there isn't much of a mystery to solve here. It is nice to get full answers about Treadstone and Blackbriar, and the answers we receive are cool and satisfying.

The cinematography by Oliver Wood continues to impress, and this time the editing by Christopher Rouse is very effective. The editing and shot composition is still dizzying, but it's much easier to make out what is going on than it was in Supremacy. The action scenes in Ultimatum are still pretty fantastic, with the clear stand-out being Bourne's first fight with a Blackbriar agent (The build-up to it is fantastic, and the hand-to-hand combat that makes up the fight is breathless and exhilarating. It's easily the best hand-to-hand combat scene out of the three Bourne films I've seen).

One of the things I really dug about Ultimatum is Blackbriar (in this film it resembles and acts similar to Hydra in Captain America: The Winter Soldier). Blackbriar and the multiple agents at its disposal are, quite frankly, terrifying. Blackbriar and its agents have a large amount of resources at their disposal, and Blackbriar's main goal seems to be to burn Bourne, and anyone or anything that might get in its way, to the ground. I was surprised to find I was actually on the edge of my couch and quite freaked out whenever one of Blackbriar's agents showed up.

Ultimatum can't help but feel a little formulaic, as a lot of the same things happen as did in previous outings (There's a big car chase, a chase on-foot, dueling CIA heads, a hand-to-hand fight between Bourne and a fellow sleeper agent, etc). That said, it's not enough to detract from the super-fun and thrilling proceedings that follow. Bourne Ultimatum brings together the best of Bourne for an explosive and very satisfying end to the first three Bourne films (although the final scene isn't quite enough to leave you pumping your fists like Supremacy did).

4 STARS