We took in the new Jason Bourne movie that is titled, appropriately enough, "Jason Bourne". When you go see this one, take a deep breath before the movie starts, because this is one non-stop, kick-ass, action movie folks. The action never, and I mean, never stops. Lots of shootings, bare knuckle fights, explosions, and car crashes. Lots and lots of car crashes. Lots of scenes of feet hitting brake pedals and gas pedals. Director Paul Greengrass delivers it all! And as for scenery, I lost track halfway through of how many cities we saw in this one....Reyjavik, Athens, Rome, London, Washington, Las Vegas, and I am sure that I have forgotten a few.
As for the plot, forget about it. There are more McGuffins in this one that Hitchcock could have ever shaken a stick at, so don't even try, just sit back and enjoy the ride. Matt Damon, fresh back from Mars, reprises the role of Jason Bourne and let me tell you, Damon's Bourne makes James Bond, as played by anyone, look like a complete and total namby-pamby. This has got to be one of the toughest guys ever put on a movie screen.
A craggy faced Tommy Lee Jones plays the CIA Director. Is he a good guy or a bad guy?
An attractive Alicia Vikander played a Deputy CIA Director. Is she a good guy or a bad guy?
Both Jones and Vikander are Academy Award winners, and both chew on a bit of scenery as this movie plays out, but what the hell, this movie isn't supposed to be great art, it's supposed to be exciting and fun, and it surely does deliver on both counts. And, yes, it ends with a perfect set up for the NEXT Jason Bourne movie.
Three stars from The Grandstander for "Jason Bourne".
As an aside, the Cinemark Theaters has a new public service announcement that they play before the movies asking that all in the audience turn off their cell phones. It is delivered by Director Oliver Stone, and it's hilarious.
A week ago I wrote that after all the hype, and considering the high powered talent involved in making this movie, if it was anything less that terrific, it would have to be considered a disappointment. I am now here to tell you that no, it is most definitely not a disappointment, and yes, it is terrific.
The movie centers on a relatively brief, but tremendously important and historic time during President Lincoln's administration - the time following his reelection in 1864 and prior to his inauguration in March, 1865, when he sought to get the 13th amendment to the Constitution passed by the House of Representatives. Yeah, this is a movie about a piece of legislation. How boring can you get, right? Considering all that was involved: abolishing slavery, ending the Civil War, a President dealing with a bunch of recalcitrant Congressmen, and even some recalcitrant cabinet members, this becomes a real political thriller. The movie is two and one-half hours long, but is so totally compelling and mesmerizing, that it goes by in the proverbial blink of an eye.
Of course, one bad thing about this movie is that it may take away all sense of drama and suspense come Academy Awards night. Expect nominations for the Best Picture, director Steven Spielberg, screenwriter Tony Kushner, and, of course, actors Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, and Sally Field, and probably a few others who might deserve nods, but might be crowded out like David Strathairn and James Spader, not to mention all of the technical awards nominations it will no doubt receive. I wish I could take credit for this line, but I will quote Post-Gazette critic Barry Paris who said that Day-Lewis looks like he stepped right off of a five dollar bill to play Abe Lincoln. An absolutely amazing and terrific performance. Of course, there is no film footage of Abe Lincoln, but I imagine that this representation is exactly what he was like.
Great movie. Do not miss it.
