Quartile rating: 7/10 · 2 ratings
Bourne is brought out of hiding once again by reporter Simon Ross who is trying to unveil Operation Blackbriar, an upgrade to Project Treadstone, in a series of newspaper columns. Information from the reporter stirs a new set of memories, and Bourne must finally uncover his dark past while dodging The Company's best efforts to eradicate him.
The Bourne Ultimatum is the peak of its trilogy and a benchmark for modern action filmmaking. Paul Greengrass's kinetic, handheld cinematography and razor-sharp editing set a new standard for the genre — the Waterloo Station sequence and Tangier rooftop chase are genuinely exceptional set pieces that earn a 4 in Cinematography. The plot is serviceable but largely a delivery mechanism for action, with the conspiracy revelations feeling somewhat rote by the third installment. Acting is solid but unremarkable — Damon is committed and convincing, but the script gives few characters room to breathe. Novelty is constrained by its position as a third entry in an established franchise — it perfects rather than reinvents, and the formula is well-worn by this point. The ending provides reasonable closure for Bourne's arc but leans heavily on the familiar 'he's gone... or is he?' beat.