[Insert Bourne/Born pun here]
I've thoroughly enjoyed the Bourne trilogy - having now seen the third and probably not actually final installment during a preview day at my local Odeon - and in this I am not alone. Identity was intriguing and pacey, but it was Supremacy that really lifted it - thanks to director Paul Greengrass, who seemed to ban all tripods and stands, bringing a touch of United 93's documentary realism to what might have been a fairly standard espionage thriller. I've always liked the bad weather and the gloomy, often European locations that characterise the franchise, and Ultimatum was no slouch in this department, beginning in the suburbs of Berlin - where Supremacy ended - skipping through Paris and a wintry-looking Madrid, and upping the mood by travelling on the Eurostar to London's Waterloo station. That's my station! I kept expecting to see myself as Matt Damon and Paddy Considine (yay!) dodged the bullets of an "asset" (ie. CIA-groomed killing machine) on a packed concourse, in and out of Threshers and WHSmith. Nice touch. Can the people in the background all have been extras, or did Greengrass get in there, guerilla style? Either way, it's this realism, faux or otherwise, that sets Bourne apart from Bond, and the glam likes of Mission: Impossible. You're looking at a two hour chase across five or so locations, ending up in New York, on the Agency's doorstep, for a flashback-explaining showdown with Bourne's evil boss David Strathairn, who looked oddly green-skinned in colour after his monochrome tour de force in Good Night, And Good Luck. Some car smashes, yes, but no explosions to speak of, and no sex, and no witty comebacks. If not for occasional mention of "rendition" and the finest computer systems known to man, it could be a Cold War thriller, it's so hard-faced and chilly.
I'm not really anticiapting a big debate about this one. It was humorous to see the Guardian featuring so heavily, with what might be the first actually convincing fake newspaper ever seen in a Hollywood film, featuring Considine's pic byline as Security Correspondent, and his column actually set in the proper typeface (by the Guardian, one must assume, in return for the largely pointless product placement - I don't see many Americans rushing out to buy a copy).
posted by Andrew Collins @ 3:13 PM
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Saw Ultimatum yesterday and was really knocked out by it.
It think it was an interview with Greengrass in... possibly The Telegraph's magazine... that he said there was no way Waterloo could be closed for filming so they just got in and pretty did it on the fly.
There are a few instances where they cut a shot just before people in the background look like they're about to say: "Shit, is that Matt Damon?!!"
I thought the whole Tangiers section was terrific as well. Also great that there were instances where people sat and didn't say a thing rather than just blab to fill.
Even better - and hopefully this will be a lesson to other filmmakers - this installment was actually shorter than the first film. A lean and mean summer action movie under two hours? How did that happen?
You're right about Waterloo. My producer at Radio told me this afternoon that they did indeed shoot it with the actual public in the background. Your point about the running time (this from a film that is mainly about running) is pertinent, too. Casino Royale was, I think, shorter than the last Bond movie - although still 20 minutes too long.
I'm really looking forward to this one. How often do you get to say that about a mainstream Hollywood film? A shame they killed poor Franka off in Supremacy, but you can't have everything.
I used to rather dislike Matt Damon, Boune apart, but found a reason to change my mind here.
with what might be the first actually convincing fake newspaper ever seen in a Hollywood film
Fantastic; now all we need is a film that features someone using a computer running an even vaguely realistic looking operating system (ie. without animated information messages like "mail received", "access denied" and "file downloading" that take up the entire screen) and we're sorted.
was anything in the Guardian spelt incorrectly for added realism?
Totally off topic, I've been enjoying The Day The Music Died on Radio 2, sad that it's the end of the series already. Any new radio projects in the pipeline? I think 6Music needs you :-)
I heartily agree, absolutely loved it too.
The inner pedant will not rest however until I point out that the film started in Moscow not Berlin.
Sorry.
You're so right, Sandy. I actually typed Moscow first, then chickened out, deleted it and replaced it with Berlin.
Beth, I've really enjoyed the sixth series of The Day The Music Died, not least the duet we sang in the final show. Banter returns to Radio 4 in April - I wish it were sooner, but we're still glad to be back for a third run. Details of recordings nearer the time.
No sign that I'll be back on 6 Music in any meaningful, ie. regular way for the time being, but I'm hoping they'll offer me a "dep" or two. I'm currently making a documentary for Radio 4 on Rockumentaries, and will be presenting Radio 4's Film Programme this Friday (4.30pm) and next. Also, I'm sitting in for Mark Kermode this Friday on Simon Mayo's show (3pm) on Five Live.
For fans of Paddy Considine, you might want to watch the superb "Dead Men's Shoes", a remake of Get Carter almost, with Considine in the lead role. A fantastic film.
I'd rather be in Berlin than Moscow Andrew!
I was an extra at the Waterloo shoot. There were 350 extras, doted around the station all day in strategic positions - ie. where the cameras were pointing. It was odd, usually shoots are in enclosed and heavily protected areas, but it was great to watch and be involved in. We enjoyed the film on Friday night - my wife thinks she saw my coat at one point...
if you have the time you can read about it in my "real extras" blog, here: www.wendellio.blogspot.com
I've been enjoying TDTMD very much too. I missed Robin Ince to start with, but you guys pulled it round!
StephenC
Bourne Three...obviously!
Interestingly, with regards to "The Grauniad", a few American commentators like Jello Biafra and comedian David Cross have gone on record saying that it's their source of news as the US media is so corporate
A short article about the fake guardian.
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