Personally, I think Jason Bourne needs to get lost and stay lost. Or maybe just give in to a brain wipe; it’s pretty clear nothing makes the man happy … and I doubt anything ever will. This film ran over two hours; did you see him come anywhere close to a smile in that time? I get that if you look like Tommy Lee Jones; but Jason Bourne looks that Matt Damon. That guy should be happy to be Matt Damon every.single.day. Have him wake up, maybe get a reminder that his past sucks, but shrug it off and go work out. Call it The Bourne Satisfaction.
We find Jason currently enjoying the ancient civilization bare knuckle boxing scene. He’s kinda like the Philo Beddoe of the Mediterranean. Can we expect him to start traveling with an orangutan for Jason Bourne Again? Maybe we can call that one The Bourne Degradation. The second time we catch this Athens Fight Club, Jason seems to be deliberately tanking a fight until Nicky (Julia Stiles) shows up. I must have missed the part where it was important only to start fighting once a former-agency-operative-you-didn’t-know-for-sure-would-be-there makes an appearance. Is this part of keeping a low profile?
Nicky’s move is a huge mistake, although the film never acknowledges it. Bourne seemed to have a crappy, unfulfilling life of sour despair and beating up goons. But it was his crappy, unfulfilling life of sour despair and beating up goons. When Nicky shows up with unhappy and, more importantly, unnecessary news, she tips off CIA Director Robert Dewey (Jones), his protégé Heather (Alicia Vikander) and grudge-filled hitman “The Asset” (Vincent Cassel) – I want to be known as “The Asset.” It’s a totally kick-ass nickname—anyway, they all know where Bourne is now, and there wasn’t any decent reason to curtail The Bourne Depression.
Now if you’ve seen a Bourne film, you’ve seen what happens next. There’s little unique in The Bourne Repetition. Jason has mad smartz and mad skillz, but he’s gonna get nailed anyway without help from an unlikely source. The stunts are the only way to distinguish these films, and, personally, I hate hand held filmed action scenes. I mean, Paul Greengrass, I have indeed loved some of your portfolio, but, but, but, you filmed a scene where Bourne and pursuer need be identified on foot and on wheels at night during an Athens riot. The Bourne Identity should
refer to a personality, not a screenshot.
I also object to The Bourne Morality, which seems to waver depending on what the scene calls for. I mean, he got out of the assassination game to clear his conscience and yet he has no problem with urban high speed chases where collateral damage seems a priority. Which is it, Jason? What’s The Bourne Agenda?
With little resolution and two deliberately loose ends, Jason Bourne shamelessly set itself up for another sequel. Boo. It is pretty clear by now that with such a checkered past, a lethal skill set, and a desire to do good, Jason himself needs to become a vigilante, The Bourne American, or something like that. DC Comics can do worse, obviously.
♪Hit the pavement runnin’
Tailed by CIA
Lookin’ for a safe house
Or whomever else is in play
Yeah, buddy,
Gonna kick some asses
Of the dudes who are pullin’ strings
Fire all of his guns at suits
And vanish in the wings
Like a used often child
He is Bourne
Bourne to be guiled
He can hide with style
Only for a while
Bourne to be guiled♫
Rated PG-13, 123 Minutes
D: Paul Greengrass
W: Paul Greengrass & Christopher Rouse
Genre: The Bourne Iteration
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Rogue agents
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: The CIA
♪ Parody inspired by “Born to Be Wild”
