While Matt Damon has become synonymous with action films, his career commenced in a different arena. The talented actor rose to prominence with his role in Good Will Hunting (1997), which he co-wrote with Ben Affleck, ultimately winning an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Following this pivotal moment, Damon expanded his repertoire, featuring in Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed war drama Saving Private Ryan (1998) and the gripping poker drama Rounders (1998).
The 2000s marked a notable evolution in Damon’s career, highlighting his presence in blockbuster hits like the Ocean’s Eleven trilogy. More recently, he has delivered standout performances in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and has also explored the sci-fi genre in films like The Martian (2015) and Interstellar (2014). Nevertheless, a significant portion of Damon’s fame stems from his portrayal of action heroes, particularly as a highly skilled assassin, a role that solidified his status in Hollywood.
The Bourne Identity’s Gun Handling Critique
In an examination of authenticity, The Bourne Identity (2002) received mixed reviews regarding its gun handling from firearms expert Patrick McNamara, a retired U.S. Army Special Operations soldier. This action-packed thriller introduces Damon as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac assassin navigating his enigmatic past. The film features memorable action sequences, including a tense shootout on a grand staircase and a fierce encounter with Clive Owen’s character, the Professor, in a field.
In a recent analysis for Insider, McNamara critiques the staircase shootout, resulting in a belated realization of its accuracy. Though Bourne’s unconventional grip on the pistol during the struggle is somewhat plausible, McNamara points out a notable flaw: he fails to switch to a standard grip when given the opportunity. Moreover, he questions Bourne’s ability to fire effectively while plummeting down the staircase:
He grabbed the guy’s pistol immediately like this. No time to think about it. I mean, if it were me and I grabbed the pistol like that and I understand its handling characteristics, I might. But then he had plenty of time to just flip it around and get a good grip on it. So what he’s doing is he’s gripping it this way and firing it with his pinky finger.
Now, to be honest, I have done this before for demonstration purposes, telling people when it comes to firing, the most important thing is sight alignment and trigger control. It doesn’t matter what your grip is, your stance, any of that stuff, but as far as firing effectively? Absolutely not. You have zero anatomical stability like this.
I thought the scene was very, very cool, but two heavy portions facing the same way you’re going to nosedive almost immediately. You’re not going to free fall like you’re on a magic carpet. There’s no way in hell that he would’ve been able to get effective fire on anybody let alone even shoot a gun. He’d been hanging on for dear life.
Shifting focus, McNamara evaluates the fight sequence involving Bourne and Owen’s Professor, a moment he finds to be more grounded in reality:
When you’re shooting in a field like this with tall grass, let’s say knee-high, there are a couple of things that can increase accuracy. One, is the lower the better and the wider the better. The lower the more stability, the wider the more mobility.
As far as accuracy goes, it’s a shotgun so you really don’t need to be that stable. It really doesn’t matter whether he was standing, in the prone […] or anything of that fashion, I would do the same thing he did in this one.
I would imagine that is a preferred technique where you’re cupping the butt under your arm and you’re shotgunning so you’re breaking that rifle in half, extracting the empties and putting in the new cartridges. Flipping it up to lock it, I’d probably just assist it with my hand instead of flipping it up like that.
I would rate both of these clips for realism about a six [out of 10]. The way he moves with either a rifle or a pistol, he looks very comfortable. He looks at ease with that stuff. It’s like it’s an extension of his person.
Reflections on The Bourne Identity’s Realism Score
Damon’s Enduring Persona as an Assassin
The success of The Bourne Identity initiated a profitable franchise, comprising five films and a brief television adaptation. Despite nearly nine years passing since Damon’s last role as the eponymous assassin, there remains ongoing interest in a potential Jason Bourne 6, with director Edward Berger of All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) rumored to be in consideration.
Although it’s uncertain whether this new chapter will come to fruition, Damon’s portrayal of Jason Bourne has undeniably resonated with audiences, despite the franchise’s deviations from reality. The primary goal of cinema remains to entertain—and in this regard, The Bourne Identity excels, boasting an impressive 84% critic score and 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Though the film has its share of implausible moments, much like any cinematic work, Damon embodies the character seamlessly, making it easy for viewers to engage with him as a compelling assassin.
Source: Insider
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