Movie Reaction: Jason Bourne

Formula: The Bourne Series - Identity - Supremacy - Ultimatum

My name is Jason Bourne. I used to be a CIA assassin until - "I don't remember who I am?" - When you are on the run from a covert government agency, you've got nothing. No cash, no credit, no name. You're stuck in whatever city they can't find you in. You do whatever work comes your way. You rely on anyone who's still not trying to kill you. A fugitive ex-government analyst. A "hot shot" CIA agent who's trying to convince you to come back into the agency. If you're desperate, a man who knows how you're father died too. Bottom line, as long as you're Bourne, you're not getting anywhere.

This is approximately the 57th week in a row I've said this, but the Bourne series isn't one that I hold that dear. I've seen all the movies and thought they were fine, except for Legacy. It's Matt Damon's signature role for good reason. The films are definitely influential in terms of how action movies are shot. I don't really remember the movies that well though.

There didn't need to be another Jason Bourne movie. After all, we know who he is now. He's David Webb. He's still on the run and doesn't remember everything, but Ultimatum covered what was required. Damon and director Paul Greengrass had the luxury of only needing to return if they felt like there was a good reason for it. Sadly, there wasn't, so Jason Bourne is two hours of running in place. They swap out Julia Stiles for a newer model (Alicia Vikander) because - reasons. Tommy Lee Jones is the new head guy who holds all the answers. Vincent Cassel is a new super assassin tasked with stopping Bourne. It's all a little stale.

You may have noticed my Burn Notice comparison earlier. Late in that series, the lead character knows who burned him - the central mystery of the series. To keep the show going, the writers kept coming up with more layers to the conspiracy and more people with "all the answers" until the story was absolute rubbish. That's a fair comparison to the Bourne series now. In Jason Bourne, he's motivated by his father's death back in 1999, a mystery that has absolutely no stakes in the present.

Where Bourne and Burn Notice differ is that Michael Westen has friends to talk to. Jason Bourne doesn't. When there was a propulsive mystery driving things, that's enough. At least then, every couple minutes Jason gets to ask someone "Who am I?" Without that, his motivation this time is part-Edward Snowden-esque information dump, part-something about his dad being killed, part-simply being on the run. Jason Bourne isn't even the main character really. I'd argue that this is more Vikander's movie if you take out a few extended fight scenes. Bourne is an obstacle and little else.

I was really let down by this movie. That's surprising, because I didn't go in with any expectations. The action sequences are fine although a little ridiculous. Jason Bourne is more of a brute force weapon than a master tactician. Despite a fantastic cast of Oscar winners and bringing back a lot of the same people who made Ultimatum so highly regarded, Jason Bourne just doesn't have anywhere to go and anything new to say. It lacks urgency and resolution.

Verdict (?): Weakly Don't Recommend