Yes No Maybe So: Jason Bourne
Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 1:00PM The Bourne Identity. The Bourne Supremacy. The Bourne Ultimatum. The Bourne Legacy. Miss Bourne If You're Nasty. Universal Pictures correctly assumes "You know his name" which is a brilliant tagline for the forthcoming fifth* entry in the franchise, titled Jason Bourne. In fact, it could well be a tagline for 60% of the franchises out there (the other 40% are led by concepts/groups, created "universes", or in YA dystopia cases >gasp< a young woman).
The question is are we excited to go another round with Matt Damon's leaping, punching, kicking, shooting, indestructable action man and the Oscar-nominated suits that are always trying to hunt him down? Let's find the answer together with our Yes No Maybe So game...
Damon's 'don't come for me' face.
NO. The trailer begins with a recap of the previous films. "I remember everything". Speak for yourself Jason. Our memory is spottier except for the basics. Super killer with amensiac tendencies usually with one super actress in tow. But previous on is annoying. We do not like being reminded that blockbusters are the new TV series, with long waits inbetween "seasons".
YES. On the other hand Julia Stiles has never been better than she's been in the Bourne movies so it's nice to see her contract renewed for the fourth season. And it looks like she's been promoted to co-lead.
Be very paranoid. Someone is always watching you on hi-tech systems
-Jesus Christ, it's Jason Bourne.
-Why would he come back now?
YES. If you accept that the answer is not "for the money and because Hollywood finally realized that Jeremy Renner is no leading man," than the question is a good hook and this is a really well-edited trailer. Grabby and swift.
MAYBE SO. Glimpses of action scenes. It all depends on execution there. In the past they've been relatively strong albeit with a side note of "would it kill you to use a few less edits so we can tell what's going on?"
He's seen things. He knows things. What if he's not coming for us? What if it's something else?
YES. You know, it's weird. Inbetween Alicia Vikander movies it's easy to forget that beyond that formidable beauty she actually has a really great actor's voice, full of feeling, mystery, and gravitas even when spouting dull exposition or narrative-egging questions as appears to be the case throughout this movie.
Not an approved thoroughfare
32 kills. People are safer because of what you did.
NO. Tommy Lee Jones has really bad maths skills. The way Jason drives through traffics and buildings and such I assume we're getting about 32 casualties per action scene but who cares about innocent bystanders amirite?
You're never going to find any peace. Not until you admit to yourself who you really are.
YES BUT, TOMMY LEE... the first rule of Fight Club is you're not allowed to talk about Fight Club. Don't you know anything?
THE TRAILER IN QUESTION
Jason Bourne opens on July 29th
Are you a Yes, No or Maybe So?
And where did you fall on the four* previous pictures?
*If you pretend the Jeremy Renner detour didn't happen, this is the fourth movie. If you accept its existence this is the fifth.
Reader Comments (16)
I'm a yes just based on the return of Damon and Greengrass (and Stiles!), and having Alicia Vikander and TLJ is just gravy...But where is Joan Allen?
FWIW, I didn't hate the Jeremy Renner entry, but it was by far the weakest in the franchise.
Heh, "Miss Bourne if you're nasty..." made my day.
I just watched a killcount of the first three movies, shut up, to see what had been verified. Turns out? Even COUNTING the collateral damage of car crashes (which is admirably thorough), Bourne is responsible for only 22 kills on screen as a rogue badass across the first three movies, not 32. I'd assume that's the context and math Tommy Lee Jones is using, so you're right that he's wrong, but you're right in the wrong direction.
PRINCE it's just been reported has passed away.
May see of courts if it's well reviewed, but I guess my question is what's the point? Jason Bourne now seems like he should be in prison or at minimum, a mental hospital. And the "Homeland" justification and logic of multiple "kills" that supposedly save lives is starting to not work for me anymore as entertainment. Murder is murder, si?
OT: The Founder's trailer is out. Position 14, you said? Yeah, try 3-5.
Maybe so. I didn't love The Bourne Ultimatum and wasn't really looking for them to continue this franchise, and honestly, the idea of Damon and Greengrass doing their liberal finger wagging thing (and I say this as a proud liberal) between action sequences already has me rolling my eyes.
YES, because I love Julia Stiles and it's great to see her back in more mainstream films again!
I agree on some things posted here. Julia Stiles is underappreciated in these films and the trailer is not selling me on the concept/story behind another Bourne film, though I do love the trilogy overall and the character.
But this trailer does remind me of my suspicion that Alicia Vikander can't play 2-dimensional stock/genre characters. She had a great narrative last year for her most high profile work, but I'm not the only film enthusiast/critic who noticed that she really struggled to invest any kind of personality and authenticity in some of her other supporting roles. She can kill it with emotional work, but if the performance doesn't lean heavily on that, her line delivery jumps out as really awkward.
So, is Alicia Vikander like the new Carrie Mathison in this?
When I heard that Alicia Vikander was cast I was so worried for Julia Stiles that she'd been shunted, but so pleased to hear she hasn't. They've used and evolved her character so well in these movies.
I would rather have some Joan Allen, she really raised the quality of this series.
Still I have a liking for Bourne & Julia Stiles is good in these films.
@Kate - I know what you mean about Vikander, when I saw her in both Burnt and Man From Uncle she seemed awkward, kind of flat. In contrast, Rosamund Pike has an ability to take an underwritten secondary role and make it shine.
Lady Edith & Kate -- i didn't mean to imply that she's infallible. I have my reservations about range (i also though she was weak in Man From UNCLE) but her voice is just great and when she sticks with drama and sci-fi (Ava 4ever) watch out.
Travis - thank you :)
I lost interest in the franchise when they killed of Franka Potente.
...albeit with a side note of "would it kill you to use a few less edits so we can tell what's going on?"
This is a serious understatement, and one of the most baffling Oscar wins of recent years is that Editing win. (For me, anyway. Apparently lots of people like action scenes that are cut this quickly.)
Stiles hovers close to auto-yes, but the truth is it's a summer blockbuster action movie and I'll see it if I'm in the mood.