Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2010

In this wonderfully absurd distaff Bourne flick, a decorated CIA operative (Angelina Jolie) is fingered by a Russian defector as a deep undercover agent, planted as a child during the Soviet era in order to carry out a nefarious plan to bring down the United States by causing it to nuke Mecca or something. Out of concern for her husband’s safety, she claims, she quite spectacularly eludes detention and then goes all Lara Crofty (loved the homemade rocket launcher). She clearly has an agenda, but is she trying to clear her name or carry out her programmed mission? I ain’t telling. The whole thing’s essentially a seldom-interrupted string of chase scenes, but Angelina, along with some good, real-world, non-CG stunt work, pulls them off. Directed by Phillip Noyce, who filmed most of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan thrillers. Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor ably fill key supporting roles. Rumor has it that Tom Cruise was slated to star. That’s ridiculous; he looks terrible in heels. The film’s a little too sanitized, probably in order to attract the ADD multiplex crowd, but a top-flight actioner nonetheless. How good is Angelina? Matt Damon should worry.