The Bourne Legacy Directed by: Tony Gilroy Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton Rating: Not Yet Rated Release Date: August 3, 2012
TRAILER SCORE: 8/10
Thoughts by TSR: I have no real love for any of the Bourne films – I like all three, but none come close to being favorites – so I haven’t been paying much attention to the development of The Bourne Legacy. Usually I’m on top of these things, but somehow I missed that Edward Norton and Rachel Weisz were in this. Even though the trailer only gives them about five seconds of screen time combined, their names alone count for quite a bit. This isn’t a film I’ve been hotly anticipating, but this trailer goes a long way towards getting me interested.
It helps that the actual content looks solid in its own right. Obscuring part of the screen for the first half of the trailer is an idea that fits well with the series. It’s an intriguing sequence, one leaving me with questions that make me want to see the film. There’s a lot of good stuff going on in the back half as well. I don’t hate the shaky-cam style Paul Greengrass used, but I much prefer the steadier look Tony Gilroy appears to be going with. As far as the film’s star is concerned, Jeremy Renner is obviously up to the physical demands of the role. Still, nothing beats his awesome usage of a nail and fire extinguisher.
The tagline – “There was never just one” – serves as a nice jumping off point for a new Bourne film sans Matt Damon. We’ll see if they have to retcon much to make it fit, but Gilroy is a talented writer so I’m sure he has it under control. Plus, this means Treadstone and the other various groups will once again be involved, thus offering us more Albert Finney, Joan Allen and David Strathairn. And that is always a good thing.