The often breathtaking, final installment in the Bourne trilogy
finds the titular assassin with no memory closing in on his
past, finally answering his own questions about his real
identity and how he came to be a seemingly unstoppable
killing machine. Matt Damon returns for another intensely
physical performance as Jason Bourne, the rogue operative
at war with the CIA, which made him who and what he is and
managed to kill his girlfriend in the series' second film, The
Bourne Supremacy. Now looking for payback, Bourne goes in
search for the renegade chief of CIA operations in Europe
and North Africa, partnering for a time with a mysterious
woman from his past (Julia Stiles) and
constantly--constantly--on the run from assassins, intelligence
foot soldiers, and cops. Directed by Paul Greengrass (United
93) with the director's thrilling, trademark textures and shaky,
documentary style, The Bourne Ultimatum is largely a
succession of action scenes that reveal a lot about the story's
characters while they're under duress. Joan Allen, Albert
Finney, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, and Paddy Considine
comprise the film's terrific supporting cast, and the
well-traveled movie leads viewers through Turin, Madrid,
Tangiers, Paris, London, and New York. Overall, this is a
satisfying conclusion to Bourne's exciting and protracted
mystery. --Tom Keogh: Amazon.com
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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is a rollicking voyage
in the same spirit of the two earlier Pirates films, yet far darker
in spots (and nearly three hours to boot). The action, largely
revolving around a pirate alliance against the ruthless East
India Trading Company, doesn't disappoint, though the
violence is probably too harsh for young children. Through it
all, the plucky cast (Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey
Rush) are buffeted by battle, maelstroms, betrayal, treachery,
a ferocious Caribbean weather goddess, and that gnarly
voyage back from the world's end--but with their wit intact. As
always, Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow tosses off great lines ;
he chastises "a woman scorned, like which hell hath no fury
than!" He insults an opponent with a string of epithets, ending
in "yeasty codpiece."!
In the previous The Curse of the Black Pearl, Sparrow was
killed--sent to Davy Jones' Locker. In the opening scenes, the
viewer sees that death has not been kind to Sparrow--but
that's not to say he hasn't found endless ways to amuse
himself, cavorting with dozens of hallucinated versions of
himself on the deck of the Black Pearl. But Sparrow is needed
in this world, so a daring rescue brings him back. Keith
Richards' much ballyhooed appearance as Jack's dad is little
more than a cameo, though he does play a wistful guitar. But
the action, as always, is more than satisfying, held together
by Depp, who, outsmarting the far-better-armed British yet
again, causes a bewigged commander to muse: "Do you think
he plans it all out, or just makes it up as he goes along?" As
far as fans are concerned, it matters not. --A.T. Hurley:
Amazon.com
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