SVS: “The Bourne Identity”

Last updated on: October 30, 2015 at 1:49 pm by Joseph Susanka

SVS: “The Bourne Identity” 2015-10-30T13:49:37-06:00 Joseph Susanka

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Tomorrow’s Halloween, so it’s time for my first-ever horror Streaming Video Suggestion (SVS), right?

Except I hate scary movies (which is why doing it today would make it a “First-Ever”), so instead of suggesting one, I’m going to endorse my family’s long-standing tradition of “Watching a Dumb Action Flick after Trick-or-Treating’s Finished” instead.

In my (more youthful) day, that meant either Independence Day or The Mummy, but neither are streaming on any of the subscription sites, so instead, I present you with The Bourne Identity, now on NETFLIX INSTANT, AMAZON INSTANT($), YOUTUBE($), and MORE($).

Only it’s not a dumb action flick; it’s a smart, stylish, massively entertaining one. And the opening act of one of the finest action trilogies in recent memory. (I say “trilogy” because the Renner one from a few years back is legitimately awful. “Worst. Ending. EVER?” Maybe not. But it’s in the conversation.)

Wounded and suffering from amnesia, Jason Bourne starts to reconstruct his life but finds that many people he encounters want him dead.

You can probably tell from the trailer, but if you can’t, I’ll just lay it out here: This film and its siblings work mostly because they’re fun to watch and to try to figure out, they have a bit of heart and some actual stakes, they bring a verve and unpredictability to their action sequences and plot points, and because Matt Damon is charismatic. And that last one is probably the most important. I can’t think of many recent series that have relied as heavily on the likability (and bankability) of its lead. Nor can I think of a recent series that has been as obviously rewarded for trusting in its star.

For The Completest Who’s Pro’lly Hopped Up On Sugar And Can’t Sleep:

The Bourne Supremecy, which I don’t like quite as much because it’s less of a puzzle and more of an explanation, is also available on NETFLIX INSTANT and AMAZON INSTANT($) and SOME OTHERS($). Sadly, The Bourne Ultimatum, which I found the least satisfying of all (though still highly enjoyable) and which also gave me motion sickness (because Paul Greengrass to the MAX!) is not on Netflix Instant (though AMAZON INSTANT($) could do the trick.)

Who has a safety deposit box full of money and six passports and a gun? Who has a bank account number in their hip? I come in here, and the first thing I’m doing is I’m catching the sightlines and looking for an exit. I can tell you the license plate numbers of all six cars outside. I can tell you that our waitress is left-handed and the guy sitting up at the counter weighs two hundred fifteen pounds and knows how to handle himself. I know the best place to look for a gun is the cab or the gray truck outside, and at this altitude, I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking. Now why would I know that? How can I know that and not know who I am?

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