Review of Jason Bourne (2016) by Tr J — 08 Jan 2017

I'm being very generous in granting this film two stars, which I guess is my way of saying it's marginally watchable despite being so lacking in real human emotion and decent story. Unlike the previous Bourne films, this one doesn't have a strong relationship between Bourne and a female who becomes his ally of sorts as he tries to uncover more of his past and expose the CIA's despicable programs.

What little ties him with a young but ambitious female CIA leader (if that's the right term for her) is flimsy and of no great consequence to the drama that unfolds. This film is more about providing tense chases on foot and in vehicles-a sure sign that the filmmakers don't have the creativity or respect for the audience to give us a more complex and challenging story.

Matt Damon is a good actor with presence, regardless of the role, but this gives him virtually nothing to work with. His character is presented as dispirited and running on fumes until he has to fight someone.

The glum Bourne never has a light moment or an emotional release apart from rage against someone withholding information about his father and his own past, most of which is now clear enough that the search for identity has run aground.

The film is, to at least some extent, a cynical exploitation of the Bourne franchise and the audience's willingness to buy in one more time. For that, the filmmakers should be ashamed.