Character mistake: When Cole and his mother are stuck in traffic due to an pedestrian accident, a cop ignites a flare to place on the road by the car that hit the pedestrian. The police were already on scene, traffic was gridlocked up and down the street, nothing was moving, and he places the flare about 2 feet in front of the car - a move that is unsafe (potential fuel leak) and unnecessary. It would never be done on a city street, and never in heavy traffic. (01:27:25)
Suggested correction: We don't see the cop place the flare on the ground, the camera cuts away as he leans down with it. It could be assumed that he's putting it down but it's possible he's just bending down to pick something up and has to move the flare towards the ground to do that. Without confirmation that the flare was placed where it's suggested there can be no definite mistake.
Character mistake: In the scene where Denzel Washington and company are beginning to analyze the evidence from the first murder, Washington verbally lists some of the elements found at the scene including the "iron bolt". A little later, someone mentions "by the way, the bolt is iron, not steel" and Washington is surprised.
Character mistake: When the sheriff confronts Charlotte after she has shot at the bulldozer operator, he tells her that her gun is unlicensed, but he will overlook it. Louisiana does not have, and never has had, any form of gun licensing or registration.
Character mistake: When Marie joins Bourne in the bathroom while he's getting medicine, Marie says he's burning up. She gets a washcloth, wets it and dabs Bourne's neck. She only had what couldn't have any more than a tablespoon of water and dabbled it less than a few seconds. It couldn't have had any effect on someone who was burning up.
Character mistake: John would have no reason to ask the CT technician if she had any results. He says "that was a long one," indicating he's had this done before and should know it typically takes around 24-48 hours to get results. (Likely just a line of dialogue added for the benefit of the audience, who may not know.)
Character mistake: During Mr Memory's act at the beginning of the film, he gives the answer regarding the last British heavyweight boxing champion and then says, "Am I right, sir?", but the question was asked by a woman.
Character mistake: When they first receive the alien signal, they decode it and play it as a TV signal which shows Hitler speaking at the opening of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Kent translates what Hitler is saying as "I declare the Games in Berlin, at the celebration of the first Olympics of the New Era, as opened." Hitler actually says "the *eleventh* Olympics of the New Era." The "New Era" doesn't refer to some Nazi concept, it's used to separate the modern Olympics from the ancient ones in Greece.
Character mistake: Doreen/Mom told Rose she'd be back from the store "in a jiffy." Rose asked, "How long is a 'jiffy'?" and Doreen replied "in about an hour." "Jiffy" typically means VERY fast (perhaps as short as a nanosecond) and, even if people have different perceptions of how much time a "jiffy" is, an hour is excessive by general standards and does not reflect its true meaning. (00:32:50)
Character mistake: When Erickson is telling Strahm that he no longer has any jurisdiction over the Jigsaw case, he mentions that over a dozen dead bodies were recovered at the meat packing plant, including two cops. There were in fact only 10 dead bodies: Danica Scott, Judge Halden, Timothy Young, Jeff Denlon, Lynn Denlon, Jigsaw, Amanda, Art Blank, Officer Rigg, and Detective Matthews. (00:20:28)
Character mistake: White says Exley's father died in the line of duty. Exley said he was off duty when he was shot, and he didn't correct him.
Character mistake: As Jason reads the Guardian Newspaper, he finds an article about himself entitled, "Who is Jason Bourne?" The caption for the article reads, "His code name is Jason Bourne, but he had many identities, each one seemingly more deadly then the next," instead of "more deadly than the next." (00:12:50)
Character mistake: When Michael goes to the antique shop, the sign out front is spelled wrong; it reads "anitques."
Character mistake: In the scene where Maggie tells her sister she is pregnant and how far along she is in her pregnancy, her sister says the child will be a Gemini, just like Einstein. Einstein's birthdate is March 14th, making him a Pisces. Lisa also mentions that Shirley Manson from the band Garbage is also a Gemini, when in fact she is a Virgo.
Character mistake: Bart is sitting on a bench outside the hotel. After Detective Espada talks to the Mercer hotel manager/owner, he goes to talk to Bart. Bart has blood on both hands and lower left sleeve. Detective Espada is supposed to be investigating a fresh murder case that puts Bart at the scene, but he does not confiscate Bart's bloody clothes, conduct a gun powder test on Bart's hands to check for residue, or take him to the police station for formal questioning. Espada did not follow police protocol. (00:17:36)
Character mistake: The little girl asks Kristen "what's your name?" Kristen replies "Kirsten". (00:05:59)
Suggested correction: I hear her say "Kristen." The transcript and subtitle even say "Kristen."
Character mistake: Near the end of the movie, Dr. Bennett told Nathan that he could live with her and be able to finish the school year (without having to transfer). Assuming Nathan was a minor (under 18 years of age), Dr. Bennett did not have the legal authority to simply take custody of Nathan. There are proper court procedures to follow; a judge would have to agree and sign a court order declaring Dr. Bennett as Nathan's (temporary or permanent) legal guardian.
Character mistake: Ginny is supposed to be put head first into the ambulance, not feet first. All the monitoring equipment is in the front of the head. (01:24:20)
Character mistake: When the second fog bank rolls in, the weatherman says it is coming from the south-east, and the DJ says the same thing once; the second time, however, she says the south-west.
Character mistake: Cynthia Kellogg comes forward to voluntarily give information about the James Urbanski case. Detective Nealy tells Kellogg, "As a matter of procedure, I have to inform you of your rights." Kellogg says she didn't do anything so doesn't need a lawyer. Nealy replies, "This is your right" and proceeds to inform her of her Miranda Rights. Miranda warnings are applicable to suspects/defendants who are in police custody (under arrest) and about to be interrogated, not voluntary witnesses. (00:03:02 - 00:03:57)
Character mistake: A detective (Briggs?) told Sonny, " that I was stupid enough to believe your dark fantasy NINE-ELEVEN call." [emphasis added] An American law enforcement officer, in particular, should know and use "nine-one-one" (911) when referring to the nationwide emergency telephone number. "Nine-eleven" (written 9/11 and NOT 911) is used to refer to the September eleventh (9/11/01) terrorist attacks in the U.S. (01:15:57)