GUEST EDITORIAL: The Film "Jason Bourne" Offers Thrills and Technology
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The Film Jason Bourne Offers Thrills and Technology
by Lewis Robinson
The series of Jason Bourne movies are among the most popular and successful in the action-adventure genre. The 2016 installment has the character's name as the title and continues the story from the previous four movies.
Plot
Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon, has recovered from amnesia. He has been living in isolation for the 12 years since he exposed Operation Blackbriar. Bourne is on the run from the CIA as he tries to uncover information about his father. He earns a paycheck by taking part in savage fighting bouts in Greece. Nicky Parsons, played by Julia Stiles, tracks down Bourne. Parsons has hacked into the CIA's computer mainframe to expose its black ops programs. She has found documentation that links Bourne and his father to Treadstone. Parsons sets off for Greece, probably packing her rugged laptop, to find Bourne.
Bourne and Parsons meet in Syntagma Square during a violent protest. Parsons is shot by the Asset, an assassin who was once involved in Operation Blackbriar and still holds a grudge against Bourne. Parsons gives Bourne a key to a locker that holds CIA files before she dies.
Bourne meets Dassault, Parson's cohort played by Vinzenz Kiefer, in Berlin. Bourne is eager to learn about his father. However, the CIA director Robert Dewey, played by Tommy Lee Jones, has ordered the head of cybersecurity to hunt down Bourne.
Heather Lee, the cybersecurity head played by Alicia Vikander, gets permission from Dewey's boss to track down Bourne. She believes she can persuade him to rejoin the CIA.
Bourne learns that his father started Treadstone but made considerable efforts to keep his son out of the program. Bourne also learns that Dewey ordered the Asset to kill Bourne's father, making it look like a terrorist attack. Dewey believed this would persuade Bourne to join the program.
When Dewey finds out that Lee doesn't like his unconventional methods, he orders her assassination. Bourne is able to intercept the attempt and confronts Dewey. Lee kills Dewey before he can shoot Bourne.
Bourne chases down his father's assassin and kills him to avenge the deaths of Parsons and his father. Lee creates a plan to replace Dewey as the CIA head and bring Bourne in with her — but plans to kill him if he refuses. Bourne learns of her plan to gain his trust and walks away before Lee can get to him.
Reviews
The film enjoyed commercial success. It made more than $400 million, making it the second film in the franchise to reach the milestone. Only The Bourne Ultimatum made more money in the series. Jason Bourne opened at the number one spot in 50 markets.
Critics have noted the film's success while pointing out that it is successful because it delivers exactly what viewers expect from the franchise. Some critics believe that is also the movie's biggest flaw.
Mike Ryan of Uproxx notes that it was a very big deal that in The Bourne Legacy, no one could find him, yet his discovery in Jason Bourne didn't generate much of a stir. He believes the movie barely moves the plot along and is rather "unnecessary."
Peter DeBruge of Variety comments that the original Bourne trilogy wrapped up the plot but left fans wanting more. Jason Bourne offers closure but leaves the possibility of yet another movie.
In 2017, Jason Bourne won the Empire Awards spot for Best Thriller Film. Matt Damon and the film were both nominated for Critic's Choice awards but didn't go on to win.
If you enjoy action-adventure movies that include a lot of technology, you may enjoy the film Jason Bourne.
