Review: Jason Bourne Isn’t as Bad as Everyone Thinks
- Jan 7, 2017
- 2 min read
Jason Bourne is the fourth film in the Bourne franchise and is probably the worst, though by no means does that make it a bad film. Sporting some of the best action in the series and arguably the single best scene of any Bourne film, it deserves far more respect than people give it.
Jason Bourne reunites director Paul Greengrass (Supremacy, Ultimatum) and Matt Damon in what is possibly the final Bourne film and, while it may not end the series on the same high note as Ultimatum, it is certainly no slouch. It’s slick and mean though some of the acting and the overall plot leave a little to be desired and fail to elevate the series to new heights.
Jason Bourne has gone off the grid, making a living in illegal fights and working under the name Vasily. Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) intends to track him down after hacking into the CIA and uncovering a new asset program, Ironhand. Meanwhile, Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander) and CIA Director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) are actively trying to put a stop to the newly resurfaced Bourne and nothing will get in their way. Elsewhere, Aaron Kalloor (Riz Ahmed) is working with Dewey to provide information through his social media platform. You can tell the plot is all over the place, and that’s not even all of it, with a number of other underdone concepts forcing their way into the film.
But there is an upside. Matt Damon is back and, while he does seem tired, it feels fitting for a man who's been living on the go for the last few years. Vincent Cassel plays a man simply known as The Asset, an agent with a grudge against Bourne who has the skills to take him down. Tommy Lee Jones gives the same performance he’s been giving for the last decade, deadpan and professional and, as usual, he makes it work.
As for the action, it’s as good as ever. An opening chase through the rioting streets of Athens is arguably the best action scene in the franchise and has an ending that sets the stakes for the rest of the film. A final confrontation is equally enthralling, though on a more visceral level and it’s one that feels earned, not simply thrown in. There are a small number of other actions scenes spread throughout with each display Greengrass’ trademark shaky cam and rapid cuts and, from a purely visual standpoint, they’re easier to follow and have more impact than ever before.
Jason Bourne isn’t a perfect film, it’s far from it, but it is anything but the drivel people seem to claim it is. At the very least it’s a solidly entertaining thriller, at the most it’s a decent film with an unfortunately weak ending that’s worth watching just to see how it plays out.
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