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The Bourne Identity
Directed by	Doug Liman
Produced by	Robert Ludlum Doug Liman Frank Marshall
Written by	Novel: Robert Ludlum Screenplay: Tony Gilroy William Blake Herron
Starring	Matt Damon Franka Potente Chris Cooper Brian Cox Julia Stiles Clive Owen
Music by	John Powell
Cinematography	Oliver Wood
Editing by	Saar Klein Christopher Rouse
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	June 14, 2002 August 22, 2002 September 6, 2002 January 25, 2003
Running time	119 min.
Country	United States  Germany  Czech Republic [1]
Language	English
Budget	$60 million[2]
Gross revenue	Domestic $121,661,683[2] Foreign $92,263,424[2] Worldwide $213,925,107[2]
Followed by	The Bourne Supremacy
Official website
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Bourne Identity is a 2002 film loosely based on Robert Ludlum's novel of the same name.

It stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac attempting to discover the truth of his identity amidst a CIA-involved conspiracy of which he is the center. Along the way he teams up with Marie, played by Franka Potente, who assists him on his globe-trotting journey to learn about his past and regain his memories. The film also stars Chris Cooper as Alexander Conklin, Clive Owen as The Professor, Brian Cox as Ward Abbott, and Julia Stiles as Nicky Parsons.

The film was directed by Doug Liman and adapted for the screen by Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron from the novel of the same name written by Robert Ludlum, who also produced the film alongside Frank Marshall. Universal Studios released the film to theaters in the United States on June 14, 2002 and it received a positive critical and public reaction. The film was followed by a 2004 sequel, The Bourne Supremacy, and a third part released in 2007 entitled The Bourne Ultimatum.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Production 3 Cast 4 Reaction 4.1 Awards 5 Differences from the novel 6 Releases and sequels 7 Soundtrack 8 References 9 External links

An Italian fishing trawler finds a man (Damon) floating in the Mediterranean Sea off Imperia, with two gunshot wounds in his back and a device with the number of a Swiss bank account embedded in his hip. Suffering from retrograde amnesia, he finds he is versed in several European languages and can perform basic tasks such as writing and tying knots, but he cannot remember anything about himself or how he got there. When the ship docks in Oneglia, he sets off for Zürich to investigate the bank account. At CIA headquarters in Langley, Deputy Director Ward Abbott finds out about a failed assassination attempt on deposed African dictator Nykwana Wombosi. Alexander Conklin, the head of the black ops group Operation Treadstone, assures Abbott that he will destroy any evidence connecting them to the field agent responsible for the operation. He activates three operatives to take down the agent: Castel, Manheim and the Professor. In the meantime, the mysterious man finds out he is very proficient in hand-to-hand combat and has a strong knowledge of firearms when he subdues two police officers effortlessly. At the bank in Zürich, the man opens his safe deposit box to find several passports with his picture, large amounts of money, and a gun. With still no idea what his name is, he assumes the one from the first US passport, Jason Bourne. When American and Swiss authorities attempt to capture him at the US consulate, he gives Marie Helena Kreutz $20,000 to take him to Paris, the city on his Jason Bourne passport.

When Bourne arrives at the address on his passport, he is immediately recognized by the building superintendent, and based on the contents of his apartment, concludes he is in the shipping business. In search of more clues, he hits redial on his phone and is connected to the Hotel Regina, who recognize one of his aliases, John Michael Kane. They tell him that Kane was a guest who died two weeks before in a car crash. A few moments later, Castel blasts through a window and engages Bourne in hand-to-hand combat. After Bourne subdues him he attempts to interrogate him, but Castel jumps out the window, preferring suicide. Marie finds wanted posters in Castel's bag with both her and Bourne's pictures on them. After spending the night, they follow the trail to the Hotel Regina. Meanwhile, Conklin plants a body in the Parisian morgue to fool Wombosi into thinking Kane is dead, but Wombosi knows that the body is not his assailant, and Conklin has Wombosi killed in his home by the Professor. Bourne investigates the incident, the previous assassination attempt, and John Michael Kane's contacts, and concludes that he is the failed killer. He and Marie escape the city into the country to stay at Marie's stepbrother's house, where Jason decides that he no longer wants to know about his past.

In the morning, the Professor comes for Jason. Jason realizes he is there when the stepbrother's dog does not show up for breakfast, and the stepbrother confirms the dog always is around for breakfast, meaning someone killed the dog. Bourne uses a double-barreled shotgun to blow up the home's fuel tank to distract the Professor (who was on a hilltop overlooking the home, armed with a sniper rifle) and he runs to the woods. Both assassins are in a field, and Bourne shoots the Professor twice with the shotgun, and interrogates him briefly. The Professor dies almost immediately from blood loss, saying, "Look at us. Look at what they make you give." Bourne finds out that he is Treadstone's lone agent in Paris, and sends Marie away with the rest of the money for her own safety. He uses the Professor's phone to arrange a meeting with Conklin, which he uses as a distraction to plant a tracking device on Conklin's vehicle and discover the location of the CIA's Paris safe house. Bourne uses an electronic device to trigger the car alarms of all the cars parked on the street, and when the noise distracted the guards, climbs into the safe house, which had Nicky Parsons and Conklin in it. When he meets Conklin, he begins to remember his last mission. He had backed out of the Wombosi assassination after seeing Wombosi's children (realizing that if he killed Wombosi he would have to kill all the children as well to make sure there were no witnesses, since Wombosi's murder was supposed to look like members of his own cartel had killed him), and was shot while attempting to escape the boat, left floating in the water. He tells Conklin that he is leaving Treadstone and to not try to find him. He then realizes Conklin silently triggered an alarm and has backup on the way. Bourne leaves Nicky unharmed, and has a shoot out with several CIA agents, and escapes into the night. Abbott decides that Treadstone should be closed down, and has the last operative murder Conklin. He goes before the Oversight Committee and explains that Treadstone's purpose was simply to serve as an assassin-training program then immediately shifts the focus of the hearing to an idea for a new project codenamed "Blackbriar." Some time later, Jason finds Marie in Mykonos, renting out scooters to tourists, and the two reunite at the film's conclusion with a change in the extended version.

Director Doug Liman stated that he had been a fan of the source novel by Robert Ludlum since he read it in high school. Near the end of production of Liman's previous film Swingers, Ludlum decided to develop a film adaptation of the novel. After more than two years of securing rights to the book from Warner Brothers and a further year of screenplay development with screenwriter Tony Gilroy, the film went through two years of production.^[3] From the onset of filming, difficulties with the studio slowed the film's development and caused a rift between the director and Universal Studios, as executives were unhappy with the film's pacing, emphasis on small scale action sequences, and the general relationship between themselves and Liman, who was suspicious of direct studio involvement.^[4] A number of reshoots and rewrites late in development as well as scheduling problems delayed the film from its original release target of September 2001 to June 2002 and took it $8,000,000 over budget from the initial budget of $52,000,000; screenwriter Tony Gilroy faxed elements of screenplay rewrites almost throughout the entire duration of filming.^[4] A particular point of contention in regards to the original Tony Gilroy script were the scenes set in the farmhouse near the film's conclusion. Liman and actor Matt Damon fought to keep the scenes in the film after they were excised in a third-act rewrite that was insisted upon by the studio. Liman and Damon argued that, though the scenes were low key, they were integral to the audience's understanding of the Bourne character and the film's central themes. The farmhouse sequence consequently went through many rewrites from its original incarnation before its inclusion in the final product.^[4] Other issues included the studio's desire to substitute Montreal or Prague for Paris in order to lower costs, Liman's insistence on the use of a French-speaking film crew, and poor test audience reactions to the film's Paris finale. The latter required a late return to location in order to shoot a new, more action-oriented conclusion to the Paris story arc.^[5] Damon described the production as a struggle, citing the early conflicts that he and Liman had with the studio, but denied that it was an overtly difficult process, stating, "When I hear people saying that the production was a nightmare it's like, a 'nightmare'? Shooting's always hard, but we finished."^[6]

Liman's directorial method was often hands-on. Many times he operated the camera himself in order to create what he believed was a more intimate relationship between himself, the material, and the actors. He felt that this connection was lost if he simply observed the recording on a monitor. This was a mindset he developed from his background as a small-scale indie film maker.^[7]

A wide range of actors were approached by Liman for the role of Bourne, including Russell Crowe and Sylvester Stallone, before he eventually cast Matt Damon. Liman found that Damon understood and appreciated that, though The Bourne Identity would have its share of action, the focus was primarily on character and plot.^[8] Damon, who had never played such a physically demanding role, insisted on performing many of the stunts himself. With stunt choreographer Nick Powell and trainer Jeff Imada, Damon underwent three months of extensive training in stunt work, the use of weapons, boxing, and eskrima. Damon eventually performed a significant number of the film's stunts himself, including hand-to-hand combat and climbing the safe house walls near the film's conclusion.^[7] Franka Potente's performance in Run Lola Run prompted Liman to approach her for the part of Marie Helena Kreutz. Liman desired to cast an actress who was unfamiliar to American audiences yet would be a suitable opposite for the Bourne character.^[3] Filming took place in Prague, Paris, Imperia, Rome, Mykonos, and Zürich; several scenes set in Zürich were also filmed in Prague.^[3]

The acclaimed car chase sequence was filmed primarily by the second unit under director Alexander Witt. The unit shot in various locations around Paris while Liman was filming the main story arc elsewhere in the city. The finished footage was eventually edited together to create the illusion of a coherent journey. Liman confessed that "anyone who really knows Paris will find it illogical," since few of the locations used in the car chase actually connect to each other.^[5] Liman took only a few of the shots himself; his most notable chase sequence shots were those of Matt Damon and Franka Potente while inside the car.^[3]

The inner workings of the fictitious Treadstone organization were inspired by Liman's father's job in the NSA under President Ronald Reagan. Of particular inspiration were Liman's father's memoirs regarding his involvement in the investigation of the Iran-Contra affair. Many aspects of the Alexander Conklin character were based on his father's recollections of Oliver North.^[3] Liman admitted that he jettisoned much of the content of the novel beyond the central premise, in order to modernize the material and to conform it to his own beliefs regarding United States foreign policy. However, Liman was careful not to cram his political views down "the audiences' throat".^[3] There were initial concerns regarding the film's reception in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, but these concerns had no ramifications.^[3]

• Matt Damon as Jason Bourne: an amnesiac assassin out of Paris who is being pursued by his former employers. Main protagonist.
• Franka Potente as Marie Helena Kreutz: a Bohemian German traveller helping Bourne.
• Chris Cooper as Alexander Conklin: the coordinator of Treadstone and Bourne's immediate superior.
• Brian Cox as Ward Abbott: a CIA Deputy Director and Conklin's immediate superior.
• Julia Stiles as Nicky Parsons: a CIA field operative working in Paris.
• Clive Owen as The Professor: a Treadstone operative based out of Barcelona.
• Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Nykwana Wombosi: a deposed African dictator who was Bourne's last target prior to his amnesia.
• Gabriel Mann as Danny Zorn: Conklin's assistant and a key member of Operation Treadstone's control team.
• Nicky Naude as Castel: a Treadstone operative based out of Rome.
• Russell Levy as Manheim: a Treadstone operative based out of Hamburg.

The critical reception of the film was largely positive, with the film review collection website, Rotten Tomatoes, giving the film an 83% approval rating.^[9] Roger Ebert gave the film three stars and praised it for its ability to absorb the viewer in its "spycraft" and "Damon's ability to be focused and sincere" concluding that the film was "unnecessary, but not unskilled".^[10] Walter Chaw of Film Freak Central praised the film for its pacing and action sequences, describing them as "kinetic, fair, and intelligent, every payoff packaged with a moment's contemplation crucial to the creation of tension" and that the movie could be understood as a clever subversion of the genre.^[11] Charles Taylor of Salon.com acclaimed the film as "entertaining, handsome and gripping, The Bourne Identity is something of an anomaly among big-budget summer blockbusters: a thriller with some brains and feeling behind it, more attuned to story and character than to spectacle" and praised Liman for giving the film a "tough mindedness" that never gives way into "cynicism or hopelessness".^[12] Ed Gonzalez of Slant Magazine also noted Doug Liman's "restrained approach to the material" as well as Matt Damon and Franka Potente's strong chemistry but ultimately concluded the film was "smart but not smart enough".^[13] J. Hoberman of The Village Voice dismissed the film as "banal" and as a disappointment compared against Liman's previous indie releases;^[14] Owen Gleiberman also criticised the film for a "sullen roteness that all of Liman's supple handheld staging can't disguise".^[15] Particular acclaim was directed toward the film's central car chase which was described as an exciting action highlight and one of the best realized in the genre.^[16][17]

In its opening weekend, The Bourne Identity took in (USD) $27,118,640 in 2,638 theaters. As of March 2007, the film has grossed $121,661,683 in the United States and $92,263,424 elsewhere for a total worldwide gross of $213,925,107.^[2]

Year	Organization	Award	Category/Recipient	Result
2003	ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards	ASCAP Award	Top Box Office Films: John Powell	Won[18]
2003	Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA	Saturn Award	Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film	Nominated[18]
2003	American Choreography Awards	American Choreography Award	Outstanding Achievement in Fight Choreography: Nick Powell	Won[18]
2003	Art Directors Guild	Excellence in Production Design Award	Feature Film - Contemporary Films	Nominated[18]
2003	Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA	Golden Reel Award	Best Sound Editing in Domestic Features - Dialogue & ADR Best Sound Editing in Domestic Features - Sound Effects & Foley	Nominated[18]
2003	World Stunt Awards	Taurus Award	Best Work with a Vehicle	Won[18]

The film has many significant changes from the source novel. While elements of his journey around Europe as well as his amnesia are retained, the Jason Bourne of the novel is not a real assassin but rather a deep cover CIA operative acting as a fictional assassin to get close to international assassin Carlos the Jackal; he was wounded attempting to prevent rather than perpetrate an assassination. The nature of Operation Treadstone is also different than portrayed in the film: Instead of a network of government sponsored assassins it is a scheme to trap Carlos with Jason Bourne as the sole field agent.

While most of the characters in the film share names similar with characters in the novel, their personalities and place in the story are significantly different. The character of Marie in the novel is a Canadian economist (that he uses as a shield to escape capture) as opposed to a young, unemployed German traveler (that he pays an excessive sum to drive him out of Zurich and into Paris). Conklin is a more villainous presence in the film adaptation who, unlike in the novel, does not survive. The story thread involving Carlos was also removed as the real Carlos was by this time imprisoned in France. Bourne discovering information regarding his true identity and past — such as his real name — was also removed.^[19]

On January 21, 2003 Universal Studios released The Bourne Identity on VHS, and on DVD in the US in two formats; a single-disc widescreen collector's edition and a single-disc full screen collector's edition. Both contain supplemental materials including a making-of documentary, a commentary from director Doug Liman and deleted scenes. On July 13, 2004 Universal studios released a new DVD of the film in the US in preparation of the sequel's cinema debut. This DVD also came in two formats: a single-disc widescreen extended edition and a single-disc full screen extended edition. Both contain supplemental materials including interviews with Matt Damon, deleted scenes, alternative opening and ending, a documentary on the consulate fight and information features on the CIA and amnesia. The alternate ending on the DVD has Bourne collapsing during the search for Marie, waking up with Abbot standing over him, and getting an offer to return to the CIA. Neither contain the commentary or DTS tracks present in the collector's edition. The film was also released on UMD for Sony's PlayStation Portable on August 30, 2005 and on HD DVD on July 24, 2007.

The Bourne Identity was followed by a 2004 sequel, The Bourne Supremacy, which received a similar positive critical and public reception,^[20], but received some criticism for its hand-held camerawork, which observers argued made action sequences difficult to see.^[21] The Bourne Supremacy was directed by Paul Greengrass with Doug Liman returning as a producer and Matt Damon reprising his role as Jason Bourne. A third film, The Bourne Ultimatum, was released on August 3, 2007 and is once again directed by Paul Greengrass and stars Matt Damon. Like The Bourne Supremacy, Ultimatum received generally positive critical and public reception, but also received similar criticism for the camera-work.^[22]

Main article: The Bourne Identity Soundtrack

• Official website at Universal Studios
• The Bourne Identity at the Internet Movie Database
• The Bourne Identity at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Bourne Identity at All Movie Guide
• The Bourne Identity (2002 film) at the Open Directory Project

v • d • e Jason Bourne
Robert Ludlum novels	The Bourne Identity (1980) · The Bourne Supremacy (1986) · The Bourne Ultimatum (1990)
Eric Van Lustbader novels	The Bourne Legacy (2004) · The Bourne Betrayal (2007)
TV films	The Bourne Identity (1988)
Hollywood films	The Bourne Identity (2002) · The Bourne Supremacy (2004) · The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Video games	The Bourne Conspiracy (2008)