Cross lacks Bourne’s all-American earnestness, and his relationship with Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz), the Defense Department scientist he saves, feels perfunctory. Though Renner is already familiar as super-team backup (in both the Mission: Impossible and Avengers franchises), here, thrust into the lead, he’s charismatic and skilled, but also generic. Neither man’s motivation is immediately clear the script reveals Cross’ background at a steady, compelling drip a process that turns out to be more intriguing than his actual character. To his credit, Gilroy takes his time for the first half of the movie, cutting between isolated Outcome agent Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) as he makes contact with a fellow, unnamed agent (Oscar Isaac), and higher-ups, led by Norton, scrambling to contain the problems of Bourne’s return to US soil at the end of The Bourne Ultimatum.Ĭross’ efforts to discuss the program with his counterpart produce a quiet unease.

The rogue spy eludes his pursuers the story will continue next time.Īs yet another step in this continuity, The Bourne Legacy appears seamless as filmmaking, it’s less impressive. But this reputation ignores that after the freshness of Doug Liman’s original Bourne Identity, and despite Greengrass’ instantly recognizable style, the sequels can only re-tell the same story: a near-super-powered operative goes on the run from foot soldiers and government agents who oversee everything from offices and control rooms. Of course, this follows from the premise that the Greengrass Bourne pictures are as good as their reputation, that they’re sophisticated, adult-oriented thrillers with a dash of real-world relevance. Gilroy’s screenplay, co-authored with his brother Dan, repeats the name “Jason Bourne” like an incantation, assuring the audience that yes, this does have to do with the character you love and yes, it is equally fascinating. This might as well be a mission statement for the newest Bourne movie, the first without Jason Bourne: find the points where The Bourne Legacy can intersect with the preceding three movies.įor this mission, Universal Pictures has recruited series screenwriter Tony Gilroy to direct, replacing and sometimes emulating Paul Greengrass.

The goal is to find “all points of convergence” between the Treadstone project that created Bourne and a similar Department of Defense super-soldier operation called Outcome. Early in The Bourne Legacy, Eric Byer (Edward Norton) orders his underlings to go over the files on amnesiac super-spy Jason Bourne.

Jason bourne movies in order of story