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‘Bourne Legacy’ Swaps Psychological Intrigue with Murky Science

Jeremy Renner in The Bourne Legacy © Universal Pictures

“Bourne” is in the name, but that doesn’t mean The Bourne Legacy could pass as a sibling to the films starring Matt Damon. Tony Gilroy’s spy flick isn’t close family. It’s more like a less interesting distant cousin.

Considering Gilroy’s work as a scribe on all three previous Bourne movies, he seemed like the logical candidate to pen this tale and to helm The Bourne Legacy. So what did he change with The Bourne Legacy to make it much less interesting than its cousin? Gilroy abandons the heady plot that kept you on your toes during the original trilogy, while still retaining all the tense chase sequences. And as much as strong action scenes are integral to a good “Bourne” film, they can’t replace a compelling, complex narrative.

The Bourne Legacy focuses on Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), an operative in a U.S. Department of Defense secret program called Operation Outcome. The operation enhances the physical and mental abilities of its field agents with special pills that they call “chems.” After Jason Bourne’s actions in The Bourne Ultimatum cast a glaring public spotlight on the CIA’s recent shadowy activities, higher ups in organization decide to eliminate programs similar to Bourne’s while the heat dies down. That includes taking care of any loose ends like agents and scientists involved.

The CIA calls in Eric Byer (Edward Norton), head of CIA clandestine operations to clean up the mess. Byer dispatches measures to kill all Operation Outcome operatives including Cross. But he doesn’t count on Cross surviving the assassination attempt and seeking help from a pharmaceutical company doctor Marta Sheering (Rachel Weisz) who can help him maintain his enhanced abilities. The two go on the run together in the hope of living long enough to get their information into the protection of the public eye.

Rachel Weisz does a fine job in her role, but her character is a confusing mix of naive and knowledgeable about her company’s involvement in dirty dealings. For a smart person it’s hard to believe that she would be so in the dark. Renner’s Aaron Cross on the other hand is a blast to watch. He’s strong and quick on his feet, with a lot more personality than Jason Bourne. He’s compassionate and protective, yet also really sarcastic and funny in a couple of instances.

Rachel Weisz and Jeremy Renner in The Bourne Legacy © Universal Pictures

With its shift in theme from recovering fractured memories in the original series to investigating superspy meds, The Bourne Legacy frustratingly swaps psychological intrigue with murky science. It’s not a worthwhile trade because the lack of full explanation on how the meds work doesn’t suck you in, it just annoys you.

Instead of unraveling mysteries about Aaron’s past or gathering counterintelligence, the pair can use against their oppressors; the main characters only worry about survival. They spend the majority of the film running, with absolutely no offensive plans, something that makes their story much less engaging Jason Bourne’s. This absence of a strategy or a resolution to their persecution leads to a very anticlimactic and disappointing ending.

Probably the most obnoxious aspect of The Bourne Legacy is its arrogance. It automatically assumes that its audience saw the Matt Damon films, so it drops names like Operation Blackbriar and Treadstone constantly with zero background. Like The Bourne Identity, this film is not the strongest start to a new series. However there is the possibility that with sequels that Aaron Cross could become a more compelling character like Bourne did. Let’s not wait around to find out though.

✭✭ ½

Evan Crean: Hello! My name is Evan Crean. By day I work for a marketing agency, but by night, I’m a film critic based in Boston, MA. Since 2009, I have written hundreds of movie reviews and celebrity interviews for Starpulse.com. I have also contributed pieces to NewEnglandFilm.com and to The Independent, as a writer and editor. I maintain an active Letterboxd account too. In addition to publishing short form work, I am a co-author of the book Your ’80s Movie Guide to Better Living, which is available on CreateSpace and Amazon. The book is the first in a series of lighthearted self-help books for film fans, which distills advice from ’80s movies on how to tackle many of life’s challenges. On top of writing, I co-host and edit the weekly film podcast Spoilerpiece Theatre with two other Boston film critics. I’m a founding member and the current treasurer for the Boston Online Film Critics Association as well. This site, Reel Recon.com, is a one-stop-shop where you can find links to all of my past and present work. Have any questions or comments after checking it out? Please feel free to email me (Evan Crean) at: ecrean AT reelrecon DOT COM .

View Comments (5)

  • Nice review Evan. Is it as memorable as the franchise that came before it? No, but what really makes this film even slightly memorable is that it’s very thrilling, has a fun time with itself, and also features plenty of great characters that I would like to hold onto for a whole new franchise. Hopefully that actually happens though.

    • Thanks for reading Dan. Jeremy Renner was definitely my favorite part of the movie. Lots of personality and easier to relate to than Jason Bourne I think.

  • Nice review and a class looking production. That is annoying the director thinks that you have seen the other films. It is more professional that the new should stand alone as if the other 2 Bourne films had never been created.

  • Shame this couldn't reinvigorate the franchise. I'm not a big fan of the Bourne films...so maybe I'll enjoy this one more?

    • I suppose it's possible, but I doubt it Dan. The other ones were much better films, so if they weren't your cup of tea, I don't think this one will hook you in.

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