Run Away! Run Away!

Rating: 6/10 (12 August 2012)

Greetings again from the darkness. The Bourne series has often been viewed as the American version of James Bond ... more serious and with more action. Doug Liman directed the first, which was taken directly from the Robert Ludlum novel. Paul Greengrass then assumed control over the next two and added hyper-kinetic speed to the action sequences and focused on the conspiracy theories, with a fascinating hero looking to take down a corrupt system. Involved in all three as a writer, Tony Gilroy takes over as director in this fourth entry. Unfortunately, the Bourne series is not similar to Bond, in that the directors and lead actors are not so easily replaced.
With Matt Damon (Jason Bourne) present only on computer screens, Jeremy Renner takes over the lead as the next super-spy-weapon. When Pam Landy (Joan Allen) blows the lid off Treadstone in a Congressional hearing, the shady back office meetings lead to the decision to shut down the program. We all understand what that means ... destroy the assets and lose the records. This decision is made by Edward Norton and Stacy Keach, both new to the series.
The decision leads to a vicious scene featuring the always dependable character actor Zeljko Ivanek who almost completes his assignment, but misses out on Rachel Weisz (playing Dr Marta Shearing). Dr. Shearing is involved in the manufacturing of the "meds" that keep our super-spies and super strength and super intellect. Yes folks, our superheroes are roided-up! You have to hand it to Dr. Shearing - for a lab rat, she has a remarkable ability to stay alive despite being the target of many highly trained assassins. Of course, she does have a bit of help from Aaron Cross (Renner).
Here is the real issue with the film. Instead of Bourne trying to bring down the corrupt system, this is really two hours of survival mode for Aaron Cross. It reminded me of the Monty Python bit as they face opposition on their castle storm "Run Away!, Run Away!". Most of the first half of the film is spent with him in search of meds, like any common drug addict, and the second half is spent on a motorcycle chase that goes on forever.
As an action film, this one works just fine. The limited fighting and expanded chase scenes are well filmed and intense, it's just that as a viewer, it really isn't as much fun to cheer for someone who is running away as it is for someone (Bourne) looking to bring down a corrupt system. In addition to those I've mentioned, we get brief appearances from series' regulars Albert Finney, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Joan Allen, and Paddy Considine.
The hope is that this is just a placeholder in the series. It's been five years since The Bourne Ultimatum, and hopefully, if the series continues, we will get Paul Greengrass back in the director's seat and Matt Damon teaming up with Jeremy Renner to wreak havoc on the true enemies of the state. Otherwise, the American Bond ends up as nothing more than an action film with no real purpose.