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Friday, August 3, 2007 12:00 AM

"The Bourne Ultimatum"

In this exhilarating action threequel, Jason Bourne emerges as the sort of troubled but resolute hero the world needs most.

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  • Friday, August 3, 2007 10:57 AM

    Comparisons

    Somebody a few letters back compared Paul Greengrass's directing style unfavorably with Kubrick's and Altman's, as well as with a directing style favored in Fred Astaire movies.

    I find fault with your logic because Greengrass is an entirely different type of director from Kubrick and Altman. I would describe Greengrass's style as "You are there." I've seen three of his movies -- "Bloody Sunday," "The Bourne Supremacy" and "United 93." In all of those movies, it's as if the audience is a character -- we're in the midst of that peace march massacre, we're careening through the streets of Moscow with Jason Bourne, we're fighting with the hijackers on United 93. Greengrass is trying to tear down that fourth wall altogether and put us in the middle of the action.

    So I think comparisons with Astaire, Kubrick and Altman movies are unfair. It's apples and oranges. Compare with, say, Michael Bay, and I think you'll find that nobody does action better.

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