Remembering a Surprise

So, because the sequel is coming out in a few days, I sat down the other night with my bro-in-law (going to medical school - staying with us while he does rotations through the local hospitals) and Reeta, and we watched The Bourne Identity. And I remember thinking at the time how weird it was to think of Matt Damon as an action star.

Damn if he didn't pull it off, though. Looking at it now, he's perfect for the role. He so totally doesn't look like a CIA assassin that you just have to believe that he's the kind of person they would WANT working for them. Aside from the now-cliched basic plot (CIA assassin gets amnesia, tries to remember who he is as the CIA tries to figure out what is going on, and eventually tries to take him out). The execution was great. The way everything plays out, the inclusion of Clive Owen as one of the assassins, Franka Potente, the gritty nature of the filming, all contribute to a great movie. My favorite moment? Jason wandering through his apartment with a knife, knowing that something is out of place, finds Marie walking around, leans up against a door frame, and drops the knife - that image of the knife dropping and sticking in the wood floor is classic.

As a matter of fact, I think I need to get that one in widescreen, and probably in the new extended format - time to check on Amazon...