The Bourne Legacy

August 9, 2012

83783146

The “Bourne” franchise may have seen the last of Matt Damon’s ruthlessly suave killing machine, but it’s still a reliable source for classy espionage, as proven by “The Bourne Legacy,” the first installment to not boast Damon as the lead.

Inheriting the role of vengeful, geneticaly-modified super-agent is Jeremy Renner, who, as Aaron Cross, the ultra-efficient survivor of the CIA’s mass killing of its altered operatives, delivers the hand-to-hand combat skills and the acting chops to go with them. Whereas Damon gave a largely stoic performance to underscore Bourne’s crippling amnesia, Renner’s work is animated while still being steely, and it makes you grateful for the doors that opened after his breakout turn in “The Hurt Locker.”

In this pseudo spinoff, loosely adapted from Eric Van Lustbader’s extension of Robert Ludlum’s book series, there’s a host of “Bourne” hallmarks that fans will devour, including rooftop chases, neck-snapping scuffles and familiar characters back for round four. Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Albert Finney, and Scott Glenn all return as members of the shady block-ops unit constantly covering its unethical tracks, and they’re joined by first-time cast mates Edward Norton (the new chief baddie) and Rachel Weisz (the new main squeeze).

Also reprising his duties is series screenwriter Tony Gilroy, who, additionally, steps into the director’s chair vacated by Paul Greengrass. In a script he co-wrote with brother Dan, Tony Gilroy keeps his urbane intellect intact, and his latest keeps the “Bourne” series among the smartest of action films, but he’s still a rung or three down from his predecessor, who made hyperkinetic, handheld art of the material. Tony Gilroy isn’t so savvy with the set pieces, and his surplus of shady, backstage exposition can be taxing (there’s surely no shortage of suited men eyeing up screens and asking, “Why wasn’t I told about this!?”). Rather than rocketing forward, the film can feel like it’s spinning its wheels.

And yet, it’s heartening that there’s still a brainy action option for viewers, even if it isn’t operating at full capacity. The saga hasn’t lost its claim to being the ultimate anti-Bond.