The Bourne Identity is certainly one of the better action movies that have come out recently. It doesn’t insult your intelligence with an unbelievable plot or stereotypical characters. The action is pretty intense, and it is well acted all the way around. Director Doug Liman (Swingers and Go) again scores with a solid hit. The music is very cool, which is to be expected considering the director’s past films, and Matt Damon adds another trait to his variety of acting skills, the action hero.

The body of Jason Bourne (Damon) is discovered floating in a sea in the Mediterranean by a small fishing boat. Bourne has been shot a few times, had a device implanted into his hip, and has lost his memory. The hospitable fishing crew takes care of his wounds, extracts the implanted device, which happens to have a Swiss bank account code, and gives him some money. He makes his way to Switzerland, where he withdraws many thousands of dollars and several different passports. A snitch at the bank contacts the CIA, informing them that Bourne is indeed alive. A top CIA agent (Chris Cooper) wants Bourne eliminated. The rest of the movie involves African political leaders, Bourne bribing a gypsy (Franka Potente from Run Lola Run), evading death, and most importantly, trying to find out who he is and why everyone seems to want him dead. Bourne is luckier than many who themselves are in a similar situation, a man in his late twenties trying to find himself, who learns that he can speak several languages, is himself a deadly weapon, has a stash of money in the bank, and picks up a beautiful woman along the way. Most would be happy just to have some sort of career goal, while Bourne truly defines the self made man.

Bourne Identity doesn’t have any grand purpose, nor does it aspire to have any moral or patronizing message. Perhaps its greatest strength is in its simplicity. The plot is straightforward, with a few twists and turns, and there are no trick angles or trendy outfits, as well as no running in slow motion from a gigantic explosion shot. Its just well-paced and engaging, and Matt Damon proves to be very natural at both the more intimate scenes as well as the martial art and car chase sequences. Bourne is focused on his mission throughout the film and its this consistency, his permanent gaze informing us that he will not stop until his situation is resolved, that further makes this a worthwhile movie.

Rating: ***