There are many who are quick to write off The Bourne Ultimatum as the most narratively uninteresting of the three movies in the Paul Greengrass dominated franchise (the first movie, The Bourne Identity, was helmed by Doug Liman), but it's hard to deny that the action sequences showcased throughout the final chapter of the Matt Damon-lead trilogy are something else. Indeed, the highly kinetic, shaky cam-styled action chops that make up the best scenes in The Bourne Ultimatum have since inspired countless imitators (and we're still suffering the consequences today), but it's here that such sequences were pioneered to perfection. The plot has Damon's amnesia-addled hero, Jason Bourne, confronting the shady organisation that took away his life and identity, which basically serves as an excuse for him to pummel everyone he meets in the ground. The action that Greengrass shoots here is almost unbelievably bare and brutal; you feel each and every punch as if it were happening right in front of you. There are several remarkable sequences, but the highlight of the film comes during a close-quartered battle in a tiny room that sees Bourne and a hitman named Desh beating each other into submission with whatever they can get their hands on (including a book). It's so relentless that you'll forget to breathe.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
