Lost Under the Weight of a Franchise: In Defense of 'The Bourne Legacy'

I really wasn't interested in ever seeing this one. Indeed, with none of the key players returning, The Bourne Legacy just felt like an unnecessary addition to the iconic and beautifully bookended trilogy of films that changed the spy genre for good. Add to that a fairly negative critical reception and the fact that 2016's Jason Bourne was often summed up as "not as bad as Legacy" and I was perfectly fine with ignoring this seemingly misguided attempt to cash in on a famous franchise.

However, as I was looking for a random spy flick to unwind with the other day, Legacy came up and I decided to finally give it a go. The result? Well, while I still don't think it needed to exist, I'm happy that it does. Not only was it a perfectly serviceable spy flick, but it also added a subtle yet fascinating element to the Bourne franchise. So, let's take a quick look why The Bourne Legacy is due for some praise.

The Bourne Legacy As A Standalone Spy Flick

Essentially, what we have here is a a run-of-the-mill spy affair in the best sense of the word. You see, after a tad long (but surprisingly well crafted) setup, the film settles into a nice pace, while also providing just enough intrigue to keep us engaged. In other words, it doesn't try to punch above its weight and aims to tell a straightforward spy story in as effective way as possible. In fact, the same goes for the leads. Granted that there isn't a lot to them, but they do have relatable motivations and a clear backstory. Furthermore, both are extremely well cast, as Renner and Weisz do a great job with the little they are given. Therefore, while certainly not the most memorable characters, Aaron and Marta do serve their purpose well as our companions in this cat and mouse game.

All in all, if you're just looking for a nice spy flick to chill out with, Legacy is certainly a good bet. It's just unfortunate that this virtue got somewhat hidden by the weight of expectations that inevitably came along with being a part of the Bourne franchise.

The Bourne Legacy As A Part Of The Franchise

As said before, the original three films really didn't need a continuation. However, by continuing it anyway, the filmmakers behind Legacy actually managed to give us something that rarely gets explored in storytelling. Namely, what happens after the curtains close and the main story ends? In fact, this is why Legacy is a near perfect title, as the entire film is built around exploring the legacy that Jason Bourne left behind.

Now, what's crucial here is that the film is ambitious enough to first delve into the negative side of it. You see, while Bourne was doing the morally right thing when exposing all these illegal government programs, he also inadvertently doomed many innocent lives in the process. Simply put, with the risk of further investigation, these shady parts of government now needed to quickly cover their tracks. That, in turn, meant burying many of their programs and — along with it — the subordinates attached to them, thus leading us to the main characters (and setting up the their escape for survival).

However, it is also important to point out that Legacy doesn't just undermine Bourne's actions, as it also shows the positive side to them. What Bourne proved was that an individual can rise above being a mere pawn in this gigantic mechanism and make a difference. From that point of view, seeing Aaron and Marta go up against that same establishment beautifully carried Jason Bourne's legacy on.

So, while this movie answered a question no one asked in the first place, at least it did it in a rather clever manner.

To Sum Up

All in all, watching The Bourne Legacy was an important reminder of something we often tend to forget as film fans: every movie should be given a chance to be viewed on it's own merits separate from everything going on around it. That way, we can appreciate a a movie for what it is, while also noticing its hidden virtues.