The Bourne Supremacy

Britain’s Paul Greengrass takes the helms for the spy sequel, shaping the series with his penchant for documentary-style realism.

Britain’s Paul Greengrass takes the helms for the spy sequel, following the further travails of amnesiac spy Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) as he’s drawn back into a world of intrigue after an attempt on his life.

The second instalment in the series of Robert Ludlum adaptations contains the expected elements of espionage fiction, as Bourne charges through a parade of exotic locations and frenetic chase sequences, but it’s Greengrass’ celebrated craft for documentary-style realism that elevates the film to a higher level. The director’s knack for evoking a kind of distilled chaos, evoked through the use of hand-held cameras and bustling real-world locations, establishes a clear visual style that remains much imitated.