Haunted by the past
Bakang Israel | Friday August 12, 2016 15:08
He has been on the run since 2002’s Bourne Identity and nobody has ever managed to catch this rogue agent. He is that good. His 2016 blockbuster becomes the fifth film of the franchise after Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy, Bourne Ultimatum and Bourne Legacy (2002, 2004, 2007, 2012) in that respect just to jog your memory. This time Matt Damon returns to his most iconic role in Jason Bourne reprising the movie’s original storyline, reclaiming the baton from Jeremy Renner (Bourne Legacy/Avengers). Paul Greengrass, the director of The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, once again joins Damon for the next chapter of Universal Pictures’ Bourne franchise, which finds the CIA’s most lethal former operative drawn out of the shadows and on the run again. “Hoping to lure the agency’s most wanted target CIA director Robert Dewey assigns hacker and counterinsurgency expert Heather Lee to find him. Lee suspects that former operative Nicky Parsons is also looking for him. As she begins tracking the duo, Bourne finds himself back in action battling a sinister network that utilises terror and technology to maintain unchecked power”.
This latest spy thriller is based on the characters created by Robert Ludlum. The film is written by Greengrass and Christopher Rouse. The film takes a new direction as it blends in a whole new cast except for lead actor Matt Damon of course. For instance Tommy Lee Jones assumes the antagonist role suffocating the protagonist out of hiding. Supporting characters like Alicia Vikander also fuel the intensity and mystique as new alliances form.
Action
Bourne films give other spy action franchises like Mission Impossible and James Bond 007 a run for their money. Here are some of the catalysts to that theory. This franchise delights enthusiasts with mind bending unpredictable plots that always centre around Bourne’s amnesia and his unique predatory instincts. So I personally love this franchise for its intriguing plot as you never know what’s going to happen next. Somehow Bourne always finds a way to maneuovre any outcome situation. To some extent he shares characteristics of the 1980s hit TV show hero, MacGyver. For instance you never know who he is looking for and why, yet the film is centred around him hunting to please his insecurities. So the guess work makes it a huge fan favourite. Worth mentioning is the fact that this long awaited sequel has less loopholes, it fills in the gaps with flashbacks and narrations to put even a novice up to speed with Jason Bourne’s (agent David Webb/Damon) unstable state of mind. Moving right along this film is very adventurous because of its setting. Our hitman camouflages with environmental settings all over the globe (Athens for example) in search of peace. Meanwhile, the action is also fascinating with daredevil stunts, in fact, well amazing. The film transforms cinema into a hostile environment with the sound of knuckles smashing jaws, bullets flying all over from assassin rifles coupled with insane driving skills.
All that means a dose of adrenalin for action junkies. However, to some extent the action is overcooked. There is this scene involving mob altercations that consumed a huge chunk of the movie during which was at some point very exhausting even to concentrate on one scene for nearly 10 minutes. That moment made the film a victim of its length as it fails to sustain momentum therefore degrading Jason Bourne’s sense of creativity from the director’ capability aspect. None the less Paul Greengrass’ record is impeccable having directed two Bourne best seller films Supremacy and Ultimatums.
Apart from that Jason Bourne is enterprising because of the performances, just to mention a few, from Tommy Lee Jones who captivated as a back stabbing devious cog in this film. For instance the audience’s jaw-drops as he orders an official operation whilst on the other hand conducting a covert one to sabotage the other. It is a very exciting game of cat and mouse with secrets and espionage. The film paints a picture of how deadly information can be, so the overemphasis of that into dramatisation by Jason Bourne is quite scintillating.
Furthermore, apart from those this action thriller exaggerates themes of espionage, cyber crime, privacy, revenge amongst others that has trust as a rare valuable commodity.
Supplementary to that also, the cinematography is exceptional. The production team created a setting that puts loyalty and intelligence to the test. For instance among the other twists the hunter becomes the hunted as a result of factions and moles engulfing the intelligence world. The secrecy experience is fun.
MOVIE: Jason Bourne
GENRE: Action, Hitman Adventure, Thriller
DURATION: 2 hours 3 mins
AGE RESTRICTION: P-G 13
RELEASE DATE: July 29
DIRECTOR: Paul Greengrass
MAIN CAST: Matt Damon (Jason Bourne), Tommy Lee Jones
(Director Robert Dewey), Alicia Vikander (Heather Lee) and Vincent Cassel as (Asset)
Quotes
Quotes from the movie that shed more action
Jason: All that matters is to get off the grid and survive.
Asse: Bourne betrayed us, is always been personal.
CIA Director: Clear to engage target.
Reception
Box office stats, indicate that Damon’s new thriller headed the box office for weeks before succumbing to this week’s no 1 film in the world. Jason Bourne premiered worldwide closing July in style with revenue sales of $59 million. It now looks unlikely that this latest instalment can outclass the highest grossing Bourne film Ultimatum, which grossed well over $442 million. Currently Jason Bourne has grossed a worldwide sum of $194 million on its two weeks in circuit. This is impressive looking at its $120 million production budget.
Top Five movies in the world currently courtesy of the box office.
1.Jason Bourne
2.Star Trek Beyond
3.Bad Moms
4.The Secret Life of Pets
5.Ice Age: Collision Course
Ratings
Having waited half a decade for Damon’s amnesiac killer instincts, the sober mind in me rates it an eight out of 10. Perhaps the sequel will be even more smashing. Let’s hope there is one.