JASON BOURNE

US, 2016, 120 minutes, Colour.
Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Julia Styles, Vincent Cassell, Riz Ahmed, Bill Camp, Scott Shepherd,
Directed by Paul Greengrass.


One of the great reading pleasures for many of us in the 1980s was going through the exciting conspiracy novels of Robert Ludlum, one after the other. And then there were the film versions during the 1980s and into the 1990s, including seeing Richard Chamberlain in the first version of The Bourne Identity.

When Paul Greengrass directed the first Bourne film with Matt Damon, it was like welcoming a familiar character with the added pleasure of the two sequels. It has taken more than a few years for Jason Bourne to return.

On the whole, this is a very entertaining action thriller (with a reservation to be mentioned later). Jason is having moments of memory recovery even though he is wandering around Europe involved in cage fighting – Matt Damon having beefed up considerably for this role. After fighting in Albania, he goes to Athens where he is contacted by an agent from the past, Nikki (Julia Stiles) who has been doing some computer investigation into his past, into his identity, and has some documents on a USB.

In the meantime, the head of the CIA and his associate, Tommy Lee Jones and Alicia Vikander) are on Bourne’s trail, making contact with one of their assassin agents, Asset (Vincent Cassell) which leads to a rendezvous in Athens in the very middle of a large political protest and chase, motorbike and car through the congested city.

With the USB, Jason then begins a series of international journeys, all the while under most elaborate surveillance at CIA headquarters, cameras everywhere, the ability to keep a check on Bourne, satellite coverage as well. This leads him to Berlin and, armed with more information, to London.

The head of the CIA has also been in collusion with one of those young computer geniuses, this time played by Riz Ahmed, publicly proclaiming that his inventions make full acknowledgement of the need for privacy – but, we know, that the deal with the CIA means exactly the opposite. And when the head is played by Tommy Lee Jones, doing very well what he’s been doing for the last 40 years but this time looking more than his age, we know that there’s going to be a confrontation.

But it is Heather Lee, with Alicia Vikander, present in so many films these days and winning an Oscar for The Danish Girl, who has a conflict of sympathy and ambition, conflict between loyalty to the CIA head and to Bourne.

Since the head of the CIA and the computer expert are going to a convention in Las Vegas, that’s where Jason Bourne goes, that’s where Asset (who has tried to kill him in London) goes, all converging for a shootout.

Basically, the culmination of the film is the confrontation that has been expected all the time. This is where the reservation comes in. There has been a steady pace, the characters continually on the move, quick-paced editing to keep the audience involved. It is when the pace more than picks up for one of the most elaborate car chases you could see, cars smashing into one another all over the place in Las Vegas, the streets, the carparks, everywhere – it is almost as if somebody challenged Paul Greengrass, “I bet you can’t smash so many cars in the one film” and he said, “you’re on”. While it might be a piece de resistance in itself, seems very much and out of place, given the plot and pacing of this Jason Bourne adventure.

Instead of a happy ending, there is a nice piece of ambiguity care of Jason Bourne, now recognised as David Webb in reality, that sets us up for a sequel.

1. The popularity of Robert Ludlum’s novels? The Cold War, the American hero, special services, identity, the CIA, patriotism? Deadly espionage killer? Defending the US?

2. The past films, reputation and success? Matt Damon as Jason Bourne?

3. 20th-century espionage, 21st century? International scope? Albania, Greece, Iceland, London, Birmingham, Washington DC, Langley? The international field? The score and the mood and intensity?

4. The pace, the narrative, editing? The techniques of surveillance, authorities in control, the attention to detail, instant information? Individuals and their eluding surveillance? Using their wits? Backup agents, assassins? The action? The fights? The crowds, the bike and car chase, the final car chase and smashes?

5. The background, the Albanian border, Jason and the tough fights? The background of Touchstone? Jason Bourne as David Webb? His father’s idea? The meeting in Beirut, David being under surveillance, to be chosen as an agent? Talking with his father, his father’s regrets, his father’s death? The assassin killing him? His role being covered? Jason and his remembering the past?

6. Nicole, in Icland, communications, the gun and destruction of the centre? The documents? going to Greece, tracking down Jason, the note, involved in the Greek protests? The meetings, the chase on the bike, her death, giving Jason the USB stick? The assassin in pursuit?

7. Dewey, as director of the CIA, his responsibilities? His age, personality? His political contact and communication? The range of staff, his assistant, the surveillance, the groups of agents? Heather, her request to be in charge? His allowing it? Her role in control, directions?

8. Jason going to Berlin, the taxi, the pursuit, going to the house of the controller, the decoding of the USB stick, Heather deleting it by phone? The phone message and warning him?

9. Going to London, the information, going to see the supervisor, Smith? Bourne finding him, following him, the rendezvous? Heather and the tracking? Following him? Smith with the earpiece and the instant contact with Dewey? Asset and his killing the agent squads, his vengeance on Bourne, his imprisonment in Syria and torture, wanting revenge?

10. Deep Dreaming? Aaron and his skills, entrepreneur, the company? The conventions, the applause, his speech about privacy? His discussions with Dewey, selling out, Dewey wanting complete surveillance? The betrayal by his friend?

11. Going to Las Vegas, Heather helping with the passport? His using his wits, getting into the hotel, guns, disguise?

12. Dewey, his assistant, going to the suite in the hotel? The plan for the panel, his presence, Aaron, Heather? His instructions to Asset? Asset getting inside? The shooting, the wounding of Aaron?

13. Jason, entering the hall, shooting at Asset? The people scattering, Jason disarming the elevators? Going to the suite, the confrontation with Dewey, their talk, the threats, Heather shooting him? Her mixed motives?

14. Asset, Jason, the car chase, the mayhem and so much destruction?

15. The buildup to the final fight, the confrontation between Asset and Jason?

16. The aftermath, meeting Heather, inviting him to come in – and the irony of his giving her the tape with her comments about bringing him in ore his destruction?

17. For further drama and sequels…?