The Bourne Supremacy
Like its predecessor The Bourne Identity, Supremacy barely adheres to its source material from Robert Ludlum's novels; but both films have invigorated the spy genre with the kind of gritty realism and intelligence some of us wish the Bond films would start to employ. Greengrass, who succeeds Doug Liman from Identity, relies a bit too much on handheld cameras for nearly every shot of the film, refusing to let the audience get too oriented. However, it works exceptionally well for the action scenes, creating a very real sense of confusion and chaos we typically only see from the outside in most action movies. (Supremacy's concluding car chase is such a visceral experience, it's hard not to put it at or near the top of a very select list of greatest movie car chases.) After playing a man in Identity who, in the process of reconstructing his life actually deconstructs it and rejects the person he used to be, Damon once again excels in the Bourne role, this time as a man balancing a fine line between revenge and atonement. A smart script, solid performances (the machinations between Cox and Allen are particularly enjoyable), and adroit direction help The Bourne Supremacy take its place alongside Spider-Man 2 as the best films of the summer.