August 03, 2007

I was skeptical, but now I'm a believer

I think I'm going to sneak out to watch the Bourne Ultimatum after reading this review:

As for Matt Damon: He continues do what it takes to create the perfect utilitarian action-hero: Stoic. Resolute. Bad Ass. John Stuart Mill would roll over in his grave and pump his fist, nod his head, and give a “Hells yeah” to Damon’s performance. He’s as cool as the other side of the pillow, or in David Mamet’s terms: “My motherfucker is so cool sheep count him to go to sleep.” Even during his brief flashback panic attacks, Bourne is self-possessed, allowing himself three quick breaths before composing himself, knocking out a potential killer and stealing his pistol in a single fluid motion that will have you jumping out of your seat and waving your “Bourne is #1” foam finger at the screen. And if there was ever a question about Bourne’s status as the thinking man’s action hero, he unequivocally answers it by beating the shit out of an assassin with a book. A book, people! How is that for a metaphor?

I went out the other night with a buddy and saw The Simpsons Movie which, frankly, sucked. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't very good (certainly when compared to other cartoons made movies Beavis and Butthead Do America and South Park, let alone Team America). It was just kind of flaccid: not enough Montgomery Burns, and no Sideshow Bob. WTF?

YIPS! from Robbo: Not to get all I-told-you-so about The Simpsons, but my predictive skepticism and I await a lavish apology.

Posted by Steve-O at August 3, 2007 04:14 PM | TrackBack
Comments

True story: I was mugged by two black chicks in Hoboken back in '87. I had just returned from Manhattan on the PATH train and had bought a copy of Andre Gedalge's "Treatise on Fugue," at Joseph Patelson's Music House (Across from Carnegie Hall). It's an oversized hardcover book that weighs a few pounds. I got the drop on them by smashing one of the chicks upside the head with that book using all my strength (I was a part-time bicycle messenger then, and in the best shape of my life). She crumpled up and dropped like a wadded piece of onion skin paper. Out cold. The other one ran off at Olympic record speed.

The cloth cover of that book still has blood stains on it all these years later. I'm looking at it now. Ah, the memories of city life.

Lesson: Do not jack with a man carrying a book. LOL!

Posted by: Hucbald at August 4, 2007 02:23 AM

One of my books of Hadyn piano sonatas still has the teeth marks from the time as a teenager that I got into a violent disagreement with the family Scottie over his damned howling while I was trying to practice.

Posted by: Robbo the LB at August 4, 2007 09:54 AM

Bourne, the metrosexual fantasy of what a secret agent is. What next how he took on the entire 82nd Airborne division?

Posted by: Thomas Jackson at August 4, 2007 04:04 PM

Just saw it...EXCELLENT. Much better treatment than the boring book. Yes, I said that - boring. I got to the point that I wondered if Ludlum was getting paid by the word or pound.

One of the few movies that I felt the actors did such a great job even in little details - like Joan Allen looking at the boss when she's been told in the beginning to get 'er done.

Scary is that the NSA cherry picking words out of conversations has been happening for years. Shiverrrrrrr!!!!!


GO SEE IT. And this is a female writing this who doesn't have a thing for Damon...Kirk...I just don't see it.

BTW - love your site. It's a must read for me.

Posted by: JB in Florida at August 4, 2007 04:54 PM

I saw it yesterday and would go see it again. My only compaint was too much of the "jerky camera" thing. It got tedious.

Posted by: Babs at August 5, 2007 12:20 PM

Saw it twice this weekend. The first time on opening night was great. Saw it yesterday and was a bit closer to the screen and that jerky camera thing did a number on my stomach...

The film was an absolute delight. These are some the best fight scenes and chases in the series (dare I say the genre?) and I thought Supremacy was going to be tough to beat in that regard.

Still don't see Matt Damon (said as his puppet would in Team America) as Kirk the Great, but I think he pulls off Bourner about as well as anyone possibly could...

Posted by: Matt Hurley at August 6, 2007 11:34 AM