Film Review: Jason Bourne

04:30 July 28, 2016
By: Fritz Esker

** stars (out of four)

Film Review: Jason Bourne

The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy were solid summer blockbusters. But 2007’s The Bourne Ultimatum was the rare third installment that exceeded its predecessors. It’s a terrific film that holds up well on repeat viewings and serves as a fitting end to the story. Unfortunately, Hollywood never met a golden goose it couldn’t strangle, so nine years later director Paul Greengrass and star Matt Damon reunited for Jason Bourne.

Sadly, there’s an overwhelming “been-there-done-that” vibe to the film (a common theme with this summer’s films). Bourne’s on the run from another super-assassin (Vincent Cassel) commanded by another corrupt CIA official (Tommy Lee Jones). There’s also a fresh batch of code names for sinister operations. The only new information viewers learn about Bourne relates to his father and is not interesting enough to center a new film around, which is why so much of its running time is dedicated to rehashing elements of the previous installments.

Greengrass (Captain Phillips, United 93) is still a good director of action scenes and there is a pretty tense scene where Cassel chases Damon and Julia Stiles through a riot on the streets of Athens. But that comes early on and much of what remains does little but remind viewers of the previous, superior films.

Sign Up!

FOR THE INSIDE SCOOP ON DINING, MUSIC, ENTERTAINMENT, THE ARTS & MORE!