After doing three Bourne films and then taking a nine year hiatus, Matt Damon returns to the role that he first created on screen in 2002. This one's simply called "Jason Bourne."
For those who need a refresher course, Bourne — the ex-CIA assassin and amnesiac — does indeed remember who is he is. This time out he's trying to uncover more details about both his past and his father's.
There's also a subplot here involving a tech company that's spying on everyone, as well as a terrifying Edward Snowden-like cyber threat to the government that threatens to expose CIA secrets.
Julia Stiles returns to the series, while Tommy Lee Jones is now the head of the CIA and still sees Bourne as a threat. Then there's newcomer Alicia Vikander, who's quite good here, as an ambitious CIA analyst who's trying to bring Bourne in. French actor Vincent Casell plays an assassin who's targeting Bourne.
There's very little dialogue, particularly from Matt Damon, as the focus of this film is on action. And from an action standpoint, there are some great choreographed scenes by director Paul Greengrass who also returns to the series.
The opening action scene involving a motorcycle chase is well done, while another highly destructive sequence, shot in Las Vegas, is a spectacle to behold, even though it's a bit eerie to watch now and feels insensitive in light of recent events in Nice.
If it's strictly action that you're looking for, the latest instalment delivers big time. But sadly, the plot is dull and never grabs you. Fans of the series will enjoy the chase scenes, but story-wise it's nowhere near as satisfying as some of its predecessors.
Neil Rosen’s Big Apple Rating:
Two Apples