Jason Bourne Hates America!
Bill O'Reilly, the right-leaning US newsman and real-life Stephen Colbert, The Bourne Ultimatum is "a slick propaganda package" and "a perfect storm of misguided ideology, silly plotting, and absurd conclusions." O'Reilly posted a review on his site completely obliterating Paul Greengrass' movie. Here's a choice cut:
"I knew this movie was trouble when I read the reviews. Almost all the critics liked it. The only way American movie critics would like a violent car chase film like this was if it bashed the USA, which, of course, it does.
"The CIA guys are bad, bad, bad. And just to make sure Indonesian and Pakistani audiences get the picture, the CIA chief issues his evil orders with the American flag clearly seen on his desk. No language barrier here, no sir. The U.S. intelligence agencies are fiendish enterprises, which want to hurt Matt Damon and actually force Julia Stiles to cut her own hair. How could they?"O'Reilly is entitled to his opinion, of course, but his review is annoying purely for the fact he can't see any further than the perceived anti-American sentiment in the film. He seems to hate the movie purely because Jason Bourne is fighting his own government and not cave-dwelling terrorists or crazy Commies. It brings up an interesting thought, though. Is it acceptable for a reviewer to bring their personal politics to the table when reviewing a film, a TV show etc? For instance, whether you are left or right-minded, surely you can admit that Sam Peckinpah (Straw Dogs is often cited as an attack on the left) made some excellent movies. Shouldn't the same rules apply to The Bourne Ultimatum? source - /Film