A movie review of The Bourne Legacy
By Kenneth Alexander Wrigth Vasquez
"THERE WAS NEVER JUST ONE". The expanded continuation of The Bourne Identity films, adapted from the late Robert Ludlum's trilogy of espionage books; THE BOURNE LEGACY, explodes onto the screen with more suspense, secrets, revelations, international intrigue and non stop action.
Taking place during and after the events of the previous film, The Bourne Legacy introduces a new operative and hero in the franchise. Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), subject of the "Treadstone" spy program, must go on the run after his superiors begin eliminating evidence to cover up their tracks.
Writer/Director Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton, Duplicity) succeeds at keeping his camera work still long enough to appreciate the hard hitting and fast pace action of this solid and pitch perfect entry in the series. Gone are the frenetic, overtly kinetic and fast cut aways of Paul Greengrass, the director of the previous Matt Damon starred films. From the cold, snowy and wolf infested Alaskan wilderness to the congested and traffic jammed streets of The Philippines, 'Legacy' is a good looking spy thriller.
Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, The Town, Marvel's The Avengers) leads an amazingly talented cast and carries this entire film while breaking arms and shooting down aerial drones. Renner brings a great deal of humanity and charm to a government assassin who values his own life, and is still able to take down heavily armed agents, forge documents and leap from roof to roof like a parkour expert. Jeremy Renner might just elevate the franchise to greater heights than Damon, who always felt kind of boyish to me.
Rachel Weisz is a vulnerable and highly capable research neuro chemistry scientist who aids Renner in his search for answers and a means to survive. Weisz remains a gorgeous sight and a sharp actress to this date. The always impressive and incandescent Edward Norton (American History X, Fight Club, The Incredible Hulk) plays an intelligence analyst trying to contain the "Treadstone" spy program fiasco and the truth of it all. Along for the ride is the talented Donna Murphy (Star Trek Insurrection, Spider Man 2) and 80s TV icon Stacy Keach (Mike Hammer, Escape From L.A., American History X).
Returning from The Bourne Ultimatum are Scott Glenn (The Silence of The Lambs), Albert Finney (Big Fish), Joan Allen (Pleasantville) and David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck); all providing powerful performances and more lies hidden within truths. I do wonder how long it'll take for Aaron Cross to run into THE Jason Bourne.
All the pieces are in the right place with THE BOURNE LEGACY; and with talent of this caliber and compelling storytelling this cool is only a matter of time, or sequels, until the whole truth is revealed.
