The Bourne Legacy

Matt Damon may have declined a fourth go-round as Jason Bourne, but Universal Pictures wasn’t about to let a good franchise die just because their star bailed on them. So guess what: In the script by director Tony Gilroy and his brother Dan, Jason Bourne isn’t the only product of the program that made him a hyper-efficient, conscienceless assassin. Meet Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), who must be disposed of so the higher-ups (Edward Norton, Stacy Keach, Scott Glenn) can cover their tracks. Fans may miss Damon, but Renner makes a nicely glowering action hero, and the globe-spanning chases and fights are staged with the usual high-voltage panache. Still, the movie is all middle with no beginning—and, of course, no end, so the franchise can go on. Rachel Weisz adds some spice as, basically, the “Bond girl.”