Tag: bourne

THE BOURNE LEGACY – The Review

The success of the original BOURNE trilogy meant the inevitable continuation of the franchise. This, despite what had seemed an end to the source material and Matt Damon’s exiting the franchise, would probe not enough to stop the Hollywood sequel machine. The directorial outcome from Doug Liman on THE BOURNE IDENTITY (2002) wound up with mixed reactions, primarily over the stylistically blurred and chaotic action sequences. This approach, however softened, was carried out through the following two sequels by director Paul Greengrass, both of which received relatively more favorable reactions.

THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (2004) and THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (2007) round out the original trilogy of films, all of which star Matt Damon as the title character of Jason Bourne, a highly trained off-the-books operative, lost and searching to regain the truth of his own identity. Aside from the fast pacing and exhilarating action, the appeal of the original trilogy lies within the mystery, the journey we take with Jason Bourne as he seeks the truth of himself. As Bourne does not know where his journey will take him, nor does the audience know and must learn as we search and survive with the character.

This is the primary downfall of THE BOURNE LEGACY… there is no mystery. There is nothing to keep the audience guessing. THE BOURNE LEGACY is 2 hours and 15 minutes of chasing and talking. This is not to suggest it’s done poorly, but merely that what is done is light on plot and intrigue. Written and directed by Tony Gilroy, who also co-wrote all three of the original BOURNE screenplays, is no rookie to the story or the source material, but this fourth installment fails drastically to live up to its predecessors. With this said, I did not find myself bored or frustrated, but rather just terribly disappointed.

THE BOURNE LEGACY is essentially a race against time. Jeremy Renner plays another physically and mentally enhanced operative named Aaron Cross. Renner (THE HURT LOCKER) is most recently and widely recognized as Hawkeye from THE AVENGERS (2012). This fourth film takes place immediately following the events of THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, in fact, the first act of THE BOURNE LEGACY actually overlaps with the third act of THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM. There is a brief tie-in of the Jason Bourne character, but we do not see a return of Matt Damon, except for his mug shot. Unlike the Jason Bourne character, Aaron Cross is fully aware of who he is and what he can do, but the procedure is significantly different. This plays into one half of the straight-forward plot that drives the movie forward.

In the original trilogy, Jason Bourne is said to have gone rogue as he hops from country to country, tracking down those in the program with answers as he survives one assassination attempt after another, led by the head honcho who wants him to disappear. In THE BOURNE LEGACY, this obstacle is revealed as Eric Byer, a retired colonel now responsible for keeping the Treadstone, Blackbriar and any other secretive black ops programs from going “sideways” and causing a catastrophic media storm. Byer, played by Edward Norton, is a world-class asshole with a one-track mind… to eliminate Jason Bourne, and now Aaron Cross. Norton is fabulous at portraying a head strong prick, as he proves again here.

Aaron Cross is on a mission of survival, not only from his would-be assassins, but to keep himself properly drugged on the program medicine, or “chems,” that keep him enhanced. As a necessity of this endeavor, Cross tracks down and drags Dr. Marta Shearing along for the ride. Shearing, played by Rachel Weisz, is a scientist in the top secret program and Cross hopes she can lead him to acquiring more of the all-important drugs. Weisz gives a commendable performance as an understandably neurotic and frantically frightened citizen, giving the film an extra little dimensional slice to make up slightly for the lacking plot. Jeremy Renner also hands in a quality performance, convincing us once again he at least looks like a total bad ass on screen.

THE BOURNE LEGACY is not a failure. That would be too harsh and inappropriate for a film that delivers well enough as a typical summer blockbuster action film. Unfortunately, this fourth installment gives us nothing new and lacks all of the elements that kept us on our seats in the first three films. If you choose to go see this film, you will likely be entertained by it’s popcorn movie value, but I would recommend not comparing it to the other films. Consider THE BOURNE LEGACY as you would any of Jason Statham’s TRANSPORTER films and you’ve got roughly the same entertainment value, but this film truly does nothing for the “legacy” of Jason Bourne.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

No BOURNE 4 for Greengrass

greengrass bourne

Paul Greengrass has left the building.   The BOURNE building, that is, and, hopefully, it’s only temporary.   According to The Playlist, who cites sources and friends close to the project, Greengrass walked away from the project more than a week ago, and there has been trouble surrounding the fourth film in the BOURNE franchise since its inception.

Evidently, Universal opted to bring in a screenwriter to pen a “parallel” script to the one already written by BOURNE 3 and THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU scribe George Nolfi.   THE INFILTRATOR writer Josh Zetumer was brought in without any consultation with Greengrass on the matter.   According to The Playlist, though Greengrass was furious that Universal brought in a second writer without discussing with him, no one is very pleased with what Nolfi has crafted.

Meanwhile, Greengrass has, evidently, been spending Universal’s money like it is going out of fashion on the Matt Damon-starring Iraqi actioner, GREEN ZONE.   The budget for that film has swelled to $150 million while reshoots and time spent in the editing room abound.   Universal isn’t happy this much time and money is going into a film that was supposed to be a “smaller” film between BOURNE projects, and Greengrass feels he has made the company enough scratch from the BOURNE films to give him a little leeway.   Regardless, “creative differences” are what are being touted as the reasoning for Greengrass stepping away from the film.

BOURNE 4 was prepping to shoot in the fall of 2010.   With no set script in hand and director whose attachment is flimsy at best (there are rumors that this “stepping away” is so “Paul”), this start date seems less and less likely.   Damon, who is very loyal to Greengrass, probably wouldn’t be returning to the franchise without the director, anyway.   If Universal wants to get this film made and with Damon in the spotlight seat, they had better works towards getting Greengrass in a happier mood.

New ‘Bourne’ film begins shooting next Summer

The Bourne movies are pretty kick ass and this sounds good if Greengrass and Damon are going to be back!

IESB attended the Saturn Awards, where they got the chance to speak to producer Frank Marshall about a potential fourth installment in the “Bourne” series. Will another sequel be made?

“Oh absolutely,” confirmed Marshall. “Hopefully we are going to be shooting next summer for the release in 2010.”

While revealing very little, he went on to talk about the direction of the new film. “There was a fourth book written but it was not by Mr. Ludlum,” said Marshall. “So we’re probable going to take our own direction. And we’re working on what that’s storyline going to be right now.”

When pressed for more details, Marshall revealed: “I think he is headed to South America. We have to go to some new territory.”

Last we heard, both Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass were interested in another “Bourne” movie as long as there is a solid storyline in place.

Review: ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’

Zac:

Possibly the best movie of the summer, and almost a lock for my top 10 of the year, Bourne comes to your home on DVD this week and I will use this opportunity to right my review of the film.
Bourne is just as kid the second time around and surprisingly still very intense. That was one of my fears coming into this second viewing in that it might lose the heart thumping thrill of the first time, but amazingly it doesn’t.
The film picks up right where the previous left off as we follow Jason Bourne (the always stellar Matt Damon) on the run from Moscow police. After a brief flashback to unknown events Bourne is on his way to London to try and get some info from a journalist (Paddy Considine) who has been digging up the dirt on Bourne and Treadstone (the black ops group Bourne is trying to unravel). The story helps wrap up Bourne’s mysteries, even if there isn’t a lot there, and I won’t ruin the film for some who haven’t seen it yet with further plot points. The scene in London though, is amazing! So well done and thought out, it shows you how good Bourne is, as well as showing us how such a simple situation can create such thrills and excitement that just had me giddy and on the edge of my seat as I watched it. The scenes in Tangier are also spectacular with a great motor chase, foot chase, and fight rolled into one. The film is also full of clever tricks and twists with a great screenplay by Tony Gilroy (of recent Michael Clayton success) and company. Paul Greengrass returns with his “shaky camera” as well, and a lot of people can’t look past it, in any film, and the unfortunately let a couple wild shots pull them out of a fantastic action film.
Jason Stratharin appears as a new CIA official and continues solid work since his belated breakout in Good Night, and Good Luck. Joan Allen also carries over her character of Pamela Landy and does just as good a job as she did in the previous Bourne effort. Damon just owns this character and there is no one else i could see in the role after these films, one of the best moments in cinema is whenever Jason Bourne over matches some unsuspecting chump in this trilogy and Damon sells it so well.
In the end, if you are a fan, don’t miss this, and you probably haven’t. If you have never seen the Bourne movies, don’t start here, yourself with the full experience; and the films only get better as you go. Ultimatum is the best of the trilogy and clearly the best live action movie of the summer, while also setting itself just underneath some of the best action movies ever made. Make sure you find a way to see this one, it will not disappoint.

[rating: 4.5/5]