i just watched "the bourne identity". was it just the whiskey or are there parallels? a highly efficient killer/assassin who loathes his job, european setting, great english actors, a distant boss, his boss blackmailing him into killing, brainwashing/loss of memory, protection of non-involved people, killer longing to quit etc.
what do you think?
Not really, no. I would say it had more in common with Len Deighton than Robert Ludlum. Ludlum swiped from a lot of thrillers, so yeah, you'll find similarities. Bourne is more "programmed," and paranoia was more Ludlum's stock-in-trade; while Callan is more about the cynical side of espionage, and Callan's torment in doing the job, at which he excels. No, the is more Harry Palmer there: ex-criminal, forced to do a job, double-dealing boss, double-crosses galore, efficient agent, etc.
Fortunately, Ah keep mah feathers numbered for just such an emergency!