Review of Jason Bourne (2016) by Kyle M — 18 Aug 2016

Director Paul Greengrass's direction and Matt Damon's performance in the Bourne franchise since "Ultimatum" after "Supremacy" amped up the thrill of the realistic action. "Legacy" was done with the same crew, and cast with minimized efforts, without the aforementioned main players. The director would return for the right script while the actor would return alongside with confidence in the successful direction that's more definitive to the films like the source materials on print. The collaboration of Greengrass and Damon returned to the Bourne franchise with expectations to at least be good as or better than "Ultimatum", considered as the most intellectual (best) of the films. The result of "Jason Bourne" is now questionable in some levels, despite the satisfying delivery.

After fully recovering from his amnesia, the titular former operative of the CIA isolated himself from the world, until he gets drawn back under the surveillance. What drawn him back is that his involvement with the CIA has loose ends that goes deeper than just his identity, as the agency are planning to resurrect their failed programs and getting rid of Bourne's ends so he won't be the thorn to damaging their invasive operation. But the issue this time is that Bourne is starting the fight because it becomes too personal whilst based on a lie in the beginning.

The storyline of the Bourne trilogy focuses on the amnesiac "MIA" operative recovering after being found wounded and trying to place the pieces together on who he is - while "Legacy" parallels the final third of the storyline with a look into one of the other programs. The comeback shows potential when going back further than the "Ultimatum" flashbacks when the character gains more of his memories that explains why he joined in the first place.

The returning collaboration of Greengrass and Damon heightened the expectations, as well the resulted action that gone strengthened, as seen in the trailers. Unfortunately, albeit the pleasantness, it's one of those films whereas the first half is all great till the climax messed it up with inferiority. It's also one of those unbalanced with an out-of-placed plot that could've gone more aligning with the rest. You could say that this is the "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"-type of comeback.

Greengrass stated that he'd return to the franchise if it was written right. Based on the storyline and after seeing the film, there's no doubt that he saw it was finely written for him to continue Bourne's story. However, since it's an original screenplay without being based on any of the other Bourne books that would've made an interesting adaptation within a continuing direction of the franchise, it would be a bad novel by how it was written. It was solely written to just be a film that tells a new story to the series in a filmic fashion with a flawed, mindlessly destructive climax that disrupted the whole realistic element that the action-packed films are known for. The director may knew what he was doing while trying to maintain his directing's footing, but it's not the same as "Ultimatum" nor his previous thriller "Captain Phillips".

Damon, after being on Mars and back in "The Martian", gets welcomed back upon returning to his iconic role, still bringing the action he still contains. His performance is like before with attitude towards the strong hits and tensed wit, but at the same time innocent when faltering in the climax while following the written direction. It's still the same Jason Bourne that compels and entertains, as well thrills, since he was last seen replicating his introduction after truly knowing everything about his identity.

The new antagonist taking charge of the whole operation is veteran actor Tommy Lee Jones with his usual charisma, but corrupted. His character, CIA Director Robert Dewey, with intentions to take down Bourne after exposing them, represents the out-of-place development that surrounds his character's plot that flows through the narration for the agency's attempt to resurrect their failed programs. It has an understanding position, but it could've been written better to go with the franchise's narrative flow that seemed to may have been broken in this latest installment.

Growing actress Alicia Vikander ("Ex Machina") goes for the position of the female lead on the different side of things, partially in place of absent Joan Allen's Pamela Landy. Her character directs the film's challenging obstacle for the main target's moves being now predicted, which is a tactic to fuel the thrilling aspect of the enjoyment, next to the performances of the discussed stars.

Ranking "Jason Bourne" in the franchise would probably tie with "Legacy" beneath the trilogy. While the return of the action-packed style driven by Damon and directed by Greengrass is genuinely a pleasure, it fell below expectations that were a little messed up when being executed, especially the overdone action sequence in the climax that lacked logic. But besides the narrative and execution flaws that caused the IQ point to be lowered in inferiority, it's still a thrill ride with genuine pleasantness, witty hard action, the inclusion of the franchise's theme "Extreme Ways" by Moby, and beneficial performances and effects. It's luckily enough to maintain the targeted/probably predicted rating of 4 stars. (B+).