USA: Matt Damon hits the red carpet for "The Bourne Ultimatum" film premiere in Hollywood
Record ID:
745396
USA: Matt Damon hits the red carpet for "The Bourne Ultimatum" film premiere in Hollywood
- Title: USA: Matt Damon hits the red carpet for "The Bourne Ultimatum" film premiere in Hollywood
- Date: 1st August 2007
- Summary: HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JULY 25, 2007) (REUTERS) TILT-DOWN FROM BUILDING TO PRESS, PUBLICISTS AND FILM STARS ON RED CARPET. ACTOR MATT DAMON, WIFE LUCIANA BARROSO AND DAMON'S MOTHER POSE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS. ACTRESS JULIA STILES TALKS TO REPORTERS. "THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM" DIRECTOR PAUL GREENGRASS TALKS TO REPORTERS. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR PAUL GREENGRASS SAYING: "I think that Matt, with the part of Jason Bourne, with the character of Jason Bourne, has redefined, um, how action-adventure heroes are in, in the 21st century. I think it's a quite new, kind of character. Because he's an action-adventure hero, you know, he runs, he fights, he drives, he does all those things that you want an action-adventure hero to do, and he does them better than anybody else. But he's not just a macho guy toting a gun. He's got real feelings and he's all about heart and soul, and he's all about answers."
- Embargoed: 16th August 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA37SN505RRMTODR5YQFP8VCDQ3
- Story Text: All eyes and cameras were trained on Matt Damon and friends on Wednesday (July 25) night at the premiere for his latest film, "The Bourne Ultimatum." Damon and his movie co-stars Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, and Joey Ansah, plus director Paul Greengrass, were joined on the red carpet by other well-known faces. The most notable were best friend Ben Affleck, Affleck's wife actress Jennifer Garner, British actress Joely Richardson (daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave), and actor Peter Bogdanovich.
Matt Damon's wife, Luciana Barroso, also attended the premiere with her husband. She posed for photographs briefly with him, and then dashed down the press line accompanied by an assistant without doing any interviews.
The movie is the third in the "Bourne" trilogy launched five years ago. The first two films were "The Bourne Identity" and "The Bourne Supremacy."
When asked why Damon was the perfect choice to play the part of Jason Bourne, director Paul Greengrass said that his leading man has been able to create a persona with more depth than one might find in a comic book or wearing a cape.
"I think that Matt, with the part of Jason Bourne, with the character of Jason Bourne, has redefined, um, how action-adventure heroes are in, in the 21st century," explained Greengrass. "I think it's a quite new, kind of character. Because he's an action-adventure hero, you know, he runs, he fights, he drives, he does all those things that you want an action-adventure hero to do, and he does them better than anybody else. But he's not just a macho guy toting a gun. He's got real feelings and he's all about heart and soul, and he's all about artists."
Actor Joey Ansah, who portrayed a man who was trying to kill Damon's character, says he admires the physical skills Damon brought to the part.
"You know, I take my hat off to him, he's a, he's a fantastic guy," smiled Ansah. "He's a real trooper fightwise, you know. He did all escapes and the fight itself. He is double. Do not watch that and say 'Oh, it's a double.' That's him, that's him doing it with me, you know."
The movie is dominated by heart-pounding chase scenes that take place in Moscow, Paris, Turin, Italy, London, Madrid, Tangiers, Morocco, and New York. These action-packed pursuits weave their way through a number of international urban sprawls with Jason Bourne hot on the trail of himself.
That might be the genius of the series: A James Bond-like character who can escape any trap and outsmart any villain, but all in a quest for his own identity. Bourne is not out to save the world. He just wants to know his real name.
Damon is an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and actor. He last appeared in "The Departed" directed by Martin Scorsese. The film won Best Picture at the 2007 Oscars and also stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson and Mark Wahlberg. Damon also recently starred in Robert DeNiro's dramatic thriller "The Good Shepherd," with DeNiro and Angelina Jolie.
The versatile 36-year-old actor made his first feature film debut in 1988 in a small role in the well-received "Mystic Pizza," also starring the then unknown Julia Roberts. (Damon had one line.) In 1998, he won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay with longtime friend Affleck for the critically-acclaimed drama "Good Will Hunting."
In "The Bourne Ultimatum," Allen returns as the CIA investigator who tries to prevent Bourne from being killed. And, Stiles joins the cast for a second time as an agent who is trying to help Bourne find his way.
Like it's predecessors, this movie is based upon the Robert Ludlum Cold War novel and examines the corruption within the American espionage system with its secret reliance on torture in the name of freedom.
"The Bourne Ultimatum" opens across North America on August - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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