Matt Damon: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

5 Awesome Performances...

5. Jason Bourne - The Bourne Franchise

bourne600 The Bourne Identity came out of nowhere and made it clear that Damon, previously tethered almost exclusively to dramatic and comedic roles, could also excel as an action star par excellence. Girded by Doug Liman's sturdy direction, the movie was a smash hit, and made it clear that audiences were prepared to accept the actor in an unconventional role. When Paul Greengrass got his hands on the franchise in 2004, he transformed it into a visceral, well-oiled machine with The Bourne Supremacy, upping the violence and impact, and therefore pushing the physicality of Damon's performance considerably. The result was high critical acclaim. The best of the bunch, however, was saved for last; The Bourne Ultimatum saw Greengrass and Damon deliver easily one of the best films of 2007, a savagely intelligent, extraordinary action flick that gave Damon easily the most scintillating set-pieces of the series, and also the strongest characterisation. This is a rare blockbuster franchise that managed to tantalise both the mind and the adrenal gland.
Contributor
Contributor

Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.