Review of Jason Bourne (2016) by Maksim B — 16 Aug 2016

A most welcome return of Matt Damon to a beloved franchise, Jason Bourne is the fifth instalment (if you count the spin-off The Bourne Legacy) of the spy action thriller that changed the way such movies were made. Restrained, fast-paced and offering more of the same handheld-camera action sequences, this is a typical Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon delivery which would please the fans of the franchise, the genre or the fans of Damon. Even if it does not offer anything new to the viewers, the movie pays certain respect to Robert Ludlum's world of twists, conspiracies and merciless policy-making.

When a sudden hack in the CIA systems brings back Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) and the Treadstone Project to the surface, the whole CIA gets panicked because of the potential outcomes of the hack. Unwillingly involved in the attempts of a German hacker to expose CIA, Bourne has once again not only to run for his life, but to dig deep into his memories, his past, his family relations and the role the Agency played in turning David Webb into Jason Bourne. This, of course, has its price and everything becomes a game of who will eliminate the "enemy" first.

Typically for every Jason Bourne movie, Paul Greengrass has managed to craft a smooth, but restrained fast-paced spy action thriller which impresses with breath-taking action sequences, the commanding presence of Matt Damon and typical Robert Ludlum's story filled with pleasing and unexpected twists. Add up to this the formidable support delivered by Tommy Lee Jones (as CIA Director Robert Dewey) and the ambitious CIA Analyst Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander) and you will have absolutely everything needed for a formidable movie entertainment.

It is true that some viewers might be disappointed due to the fact that almost 10 years after The Bourne Ultimatum, Jason Bourne offers nothing new to the franchise. Having also in mind that throughout this decade many other spy thrillers copied the style introduced by Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon, one might feel as if this latest instalment is just more of the same. He or she would be completely right, but in the end thanks to the commanding presence of Damon and his ability to hold the whole franchise on his shoulders, the experience of seeing one more Jason Bourne movie is certainly worthy.

In conclusion, Jason Bourne is a spy thriller which is worth checking out in the theatre. The smooth co-operation between the Messrs Greengrass and Damon has brought another well-balanced, entertaining and satisfying delivery to the world of one of the most iconic CIA Special Operatives. Definitely worth seeing it!