Mercifully Short Review
by Jonathan Empson

We meet genetically enhanced assassin Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) as he survives the Alaskan wilderness. Meanwhile, CIA bigwigs shout across tables at Edward Norton, who runs the whole super-assassin program, which is so secret that the CIA doesn’t know about it, or even how he got in the building.

Jeremy survives the wilderness a bit more. Edward has more meetings. Because Jason Bourne has gone rogue, and he needs to shut the program down. By killing everyone involved in dramatic, public ways, as obviously this will draw less attention.

Geneticist Rachel Weisz is one of those targeted, but Aaron saves her and they’re soon on the run. At some point, off camera, they must get the Bourne trilogy out on DVD to see how he did it, because this film offers nothing new, and much less character development. Renner and Weisz are good, though. 7/10

7/10

Released August 15, 2012.

Jonathan Empson’s TV script Chromewas nominated for an AWGIE in 2010.

His recently completed historical drama-comedy feature Leonardo’s War is in circulation, and his black comedy-thriller Get Out of Here has been optioned.

He is represented by Rick Raftos Management.

Mercifully Short Review
by Jonathan Empson

This melodrama set in post-war London starts with Hester (Rachel Weisz) trying to kill herself in a traditionally genteel 1950s way – with gas. Perhaps it’s to avoid having to star in the rest of this rather glacial film, and it represents the high point of the action.

Hester has left her wealthy, conservative, sweet but passionless (and older) husband to run off with an ex-fighter pilot who’s finding peacetime a bit of a bore, and Hester a bit clingy. It’s a grim and unliberated time to be a woman, and Hester is short of options despite her independent streak.

Small in ambition and minimalist in plot, this is nevetheless more watchable than you might think, largely thanks to the mesmerising Weisz.

6/10

Released April 15, 2012.

Jonathan Empson’s TV script Chromewas nominated for an AWGIE in 2010.

His recently completed historical drama-comedy feature Leonardo’s War is in circulation, and his black comedy-thriller Get Out of Here has been optioned.

He is represented by Rick Raftos Management.