‘Bourne’ a hit with critics, audiences, Oscar voters

In a year when only one of the best picture nominees earned more than $100 million, an unlikely action blockbuster picked up three of the main technical awards.

For their work on “The Bourne Ultimatum,” Christopher Rouse won for editing, Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg for sound editing, and Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis for sound mix- ing.

Directed by Paul Greengrass -- former nominee for 2006’s “United 93” -- the “Bourne” film, which won every category in which it was nominated, was second only to “No Country for Old Men” in total Oscars for the night, with “No Country” taking home four awards.

With a worldwide tally of more than $400 million, “Bourne” is that rare picture that has struck a chord with ticket-buyers and critics alike. The film’s whiplash editing and bruising action scenes with star Matt Damon inject a dose of high style into the genre of the globe-hopping spy thriller -- as the action moves from a dizzying sequence in London’s Waterloo station to a startlingly intimate hand-to-hand battle in Tangier.

In the sound mixing category, Millan, Parker and Francis defeated 20-time nominee Kevin O’Connell, who was nominated for his work on “Transformers.”