Saturday 23 March 2013

The Bourne Legacy (Tony Gilroy, 2012)

Not so much a sequel to the first three Bourne films, more an attempt to make another of the same with a fresh actor (presumably one who doesn't command Matt Damon's fees), this is set in the same timeframe as The Bourne Ultimatum, the developments of which are constantly being referred to, always teasingly just off camera. In the meanwhile, Jeremy Renner kicks his way through hordes of Agency goons with increasing frenzy in search of the meds they hooked him on, to keep himself in working superhuman order and thereby alive. Rachel Weisz is forced to tag along, finding herself hunted down by the CIA for the same reasons.
So, there's always a programme in this spy universe that shadowy officials want to shut down and that invariably means killing all the witnesses. If you're prepared to take that as a sufficient pretext for what ensues, suitably pumping manic action is on offer, although it's way short of the interest quotient of the first Bourne film, and not just for its familiarity: it's just that you do need a stronger narrative hook to hang all that chasing on.

5/10

1 comment:

Dan O. said...

Though it may not be as great as the original franchise, there is still a great amount of thrilling elements in this film to keep any Bourne fan alive and well while watching. Also, Renner makes a great, new hero that we can all stand and root for, even if he isn’t the same exact character as Jason Bourne. Nice review.