The Bourne Ultimatum vs Breach

It’s a given at this point that Matt Damon can effectively be cast as the smartest guy in a movie, the nicest, and yes, the toughest. But to see The Bourne Ultimatum is to still be surprised that one man can be that crafty and badass and good. The Bourne movies aren’t like the James Bond movies, or the Die Hard movies, where the good guys just are. In the Bourne movies, we can see Jason Bourne—and Matt Damon—making those decisions. We can see behind his eyes that wheels are turning, and that when it comes time to kick ass, he does so on purpose, and that when it comes time to rescue the girl or clear his name, he does so because he knows how, and feels it’s necessary. That there’s a character this rich and genuine in a Hollywood summertime blockbuster, and that he also serves as the badass of the year, is worth the highest grade right there: A.

Do you need to know anything about it? You will see The Bourne Ultimatum just because, right?  Jason Bourne is still searching the details of his own origin, and he is still distraught (and pissed) about the death of his girlfriend in The Bourne Supremacy. He’s still got an ally in Nicky (Julia Stiles), a possible ally in Pamela Landy (Joan Allen), and an enemy in practically everyone else (David Strathairn, Albert Finney, Scott Glenn). The Bourne Ultimatum was directed by Paul Greengrass, whom I suppose got his name from his landscaping ancestors, and who is the best action director working right now. A scene with Jason, a reporter (Paddy Constadine) and about two-hundred extras is the smartest example of choreography, hand-held camerawork, and timing that I’ve seen in a movie this year. And it’s funny. Do that, other directors. Seriously, any other director. Do that, please. Someone make another good action movie.

I know a lot of scary Jason Bourne-style stuff happens in real life too. People kept recommending Breach to me, with the promise that it was not only good, but somehow extra good because it’s based on a true story.

Breach tells the story of Robert Hanssen (Chris Cooper, creepy and intimidating), an F.B.I. agent who was a model of moral authority, patriotism and traditional values. Obviously, he was a corrupt pervert selling secrets to the Soviets. A younger agent, Eric O’Neill (Ryan Phillippe) was assigned as Hanssen’s protégé, as a ruse to get information on the older agent and bring him to justice. The catch is that O’Neill thinks he’s after low-level personal dirt (like the pervert stuff), and not necessarily matters of national security. He’s guided through his mission by the warmly-cynical Kate Burroughs (we all know Ryan Phillippe is no Matt Damon, but Linney actually makes a good Joan Allen), who tells O’Neill only what he can handle and understand (O’Neill, perhaps because he’s played by Ryan Phillippe, never seems quite up-to-speed on things, which is probably why he was perfect for the job, and why Ryan Phillippe is such good casting. Hey, Keanu’s not gonna live forever.)

Breach is an exciting enough movie, considering we already know the ending. It’s not action-packed, but it’s stressful in the right parts. This could easily have been something like The Firm, where the main character is running across the street to make more copies before the bad guys get there, and he’s all Why can’t this thing copy faster? And you’re all, Yeah, copy faster!, but then, Wait, is this about making copies? Instead, it stays pretty smart and suspenseful throughout. Is it the Summertime Ass-Kick of the Year? Of course not. For that, you’d have to have, say, someone getting their ass kicked with a cookbook. And for that, there is only one place to go: The Bourne Ultimatum.

The Bourne Ultimatum: A
Breach: B-