The Ultimate Matt Damon: Bourne to Run

In case you missed it between the roar of transforming robots, the sea of yellow-skinned marketing tie-ins from Springfield, and Bruce Willis “die harding” just a little harder this summer: Matt Damon’s The Bourne Ultimatum is the best movie of the year.

Truth be told, Matt Damon has always been one of my favorite actors of his generation. Damon does not always make the best movies, to be sure (Stuck on You, anyone?) but - just like his meat-and-potatoes character of super spy, Jason Bourne - he’s a risk-taker, to say the least. The end game results: spectacular.

And, unlike other actors of his ilk, Damon seems more concerned with the quality of his projects than counting receipts and pushing box office records. Matt Damon chooses the best directors in the business, whether it be Bourne’s Paul Greengrass, Steven Sodenbergh from Ocean’s Eleven (Twelve and Thirteen), or even legendary filmmaker, Martin Scorcese (The Departed).

I only wish that the other filmmakers in Hollywood would put as much “thought” into their movies - even so-called mindless summer blockbusters - that Matt Damon puts into his own work.

The creators of Batman Begins and Casino Royale (both movies that should have never been snubbed by the Oscars for Best Film because of their "content") did it the last two summers and delivered quality entertainment - while winning over critics and producing big box office numbers in the meantime.

Now, along comes The Bourne Ultimatum on these hazy summer days and it’s a movie that explodes with big action (and smart memorable results) on every stunning level.

To quote Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) at his best: “I’ve been running for three years. It ends NOW.”

And, thankfully, The Bourne Ultimatum ends with a …BANG.

The Bourne Ultimatum: Grade A-