The Bourne Identity (2002)
Directed by Doug Liman
Wounded to the brink of death and suffering from amnesia, Jason Bourne is rescued at sea by a fisherman. With nothing to go on but a Swiss bank account number, he starts to reconstruct his life, but finds that many people he encounters want him dead. However, Bourne realizes that he has the combat and mental skills of a world-class spy—but who does he work for?
23 connections found
View:
23 films that influenced The Bourne Identity
What critics say influenced The Bourne Identity
The story has echoes of "Total Recall," "Three Days of the Condor" and "Enemy of the State," among others.
…such films as The Amateur, or Three Days of the Condor.
In that regard, this film's minimalist script is a strength and a throwback to classic thrillers such as "Three Days of the Condor" or "The French Connection."
The Bourne Identity recalls the chill, low-key efficiency of The Day of the Jackal (1973) and Three Days of the Condor (1975); it could have been called Four Days of the Cipher.
The story has echoes of "Total Recall," "Three Days of the Condor" and "Enemy of the State," among others.
This film reminded me a lot of "Enemy of the State" with a bit of old-school cold war spy stuff thrown in.
The set pieces aren’t flashy, but to the point, and the film’s stunt driving rivals that of “Bullit” and “The Bourne Identity.”
And I'm sorry but adding some copy of copies of Chemical Brothers beats to a car chase in Paris is not going to make it better than John Frankenheimer's stylized sequences in, oh say, Ronin.
Like "Ronin" and the first "Mission: Impossible" film, "The Bourne Identity" is a complex espionage-fueled action flick that respects the viewer enough to let you connect some of the dots yourself.
Advertisement
Teaming up with an unwitting accomplice, Marie Kreutz (played by Franka Potente), Bourne fights off police officers, secret agents, an unknown but powerful organization, and participates in an incredible chase through the streets of Paris that rivals the classic chase scene from "The French Connection."
One of the reasons I went to see The Bourne Identity with greater-than-usual expectations was because I'd read that the film had the best chase scene since The French Connection.
In that regard, this film's minimalist script is a strength and a throwback to classic thrillers such as "Three Days of the Condor" or "The French Connection."
The big car chase scene through the streets of Paris is a throwback to the likes of "Bullitt" and "The French Connection" and I say that in a very good way - you can see why the makers had to use nine identical Mini Coopers to get them through the bone-shaking pursuit.
Although Damon might not have been everyone's first choice for the role, his performance reminded me of John Cusack's terrific one in "Grosse Pointe Blank" playing the troubled but physically proficient hitman.
When a critic wistfully refers to a movie like The Fugitive or The Bourne Identity as “good old-fashioned entertainment,” there’s a good chance that this is the movie they recall.
Hes the antithesis of Cary Grant in North by Northwest: his appearance of a callow, unformed youth conceals a suave master of all situations.
The story has echoes of "Total Recall," "Three Days of the Condor" and "Enemy of the State," among others.
Based on author Robert Ludlum's 1980 novel of the same name - which was previously adapted as a 1988 TV movie starring Richard Chamberlain - the film will probably remind some viewers of parts of previous related efforts such as "The Long Kiss Goodnight" and "Total Recall."
Advertisement
And the Oedipal detective story that forms the centre of the tale ("Who am I?") is so ripe for examination that it may flower in time to be as debated and revered a fantasy as Ridley Scott's Blade Runner (which likewise features the murder of The Father prior to a kind of manhood and subsequent mate choice).
Part of that's because of the rather poorly written role, but also due to the way Chris Cooper ("The Patriot," "American Beauty") overacts a bit too much, as well as his character not being as actively involved in the hunt as was the case with Tommy Lee Jones' character in "The Fugitive."
The Bourne Identity is essentially an extended chase movie, like The Fugitive, except that in this movie the Tommy Lee Jones figure (a malevolent Chris Cooper) isn’t a U.S. Marshall bent on capturing his target, but a shady CIA operative who wants to have him killed.