The Bourne Legacy: A Review
Jason Bourne is closing in on unraveling the mystery of his own identity. Meanwhile, a more clandestine U.S. special ops unit decides it’s time to bury their secrets. However, one of their experiment’s products, super-agent Aaron Cross (played by Renner), proves surprisingly resilient.
You can’t imagine how far this rabbit hole goes. Project Treadstone was just the tip of the iceberg. With Tony Gilroy, the principal screenwriter of the “Bourne” series, taking over as director and Jeremy Renner stepping into Matt Damon’s shoes, we’re ultimately presented with a Bond-esque film, albeit with agent 006 in the lead role.
Renner, already facing a monumental task, never quite settles on his character’s persona. He’s convincing in the action sequences, but his impassive face is frequently marred by a contemptuous smirk. He lacks the existential angst that Damon brought to the role. Cross doesn’t suffer from amnesia. He and his less informed fellow operatives are almost like X-Men, created through biotechnology.
Rachel Weisz, as the scientist who knows too much and is forced to join our hero, injects some much-needed emotion and feeling into the film. However, her primary function seems to be clinging to Renner on the back of a motorcycle.
Behind the Scenes
- Matt Damon declined to reprise his role after director Paul Greengrass left the franchise.
- According to Jeremy Renner, the most challenging scene for him was the motorcycle ride with Rachel Weisz on the back.
- Actors considered for the role of Cross included Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Michael Fassbender, Taylor Kitsch, Luke Evans, and many other well-known names.
The Verdict
But the problem isn’t just the script. The original “Bourne” trilogy, rapidly achieving classic status in the modern spy film genre, unfolded in a world close to reality. We felt the weight and struggles of the characters. Despite the numerous camera shifts, shakes, and jolts, Greengrass made a physics-defying jump from a roof into a window seem believable, and a “Trabant” hurtling towards you was genuinely terrifying. Here, when the action finally arrives, Gilroy resorts to trickery. Cross flies between vertical walls – and the camera cuts away before he lands. His motorcycle tumbles off a stone barrier – and again, it ends in a blackout.
While the previous “Bourne” films were captivating, this feels like a fragmented copy, executed by a highly skilled but ultimately craftsmanlike director.