Chris Pine’s The Contractor is The Perfect Jason Bourne Replacement

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When you think of modern American spy movies, two franchises stand out. Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible series has been a blockbuster for three decades, consistently delivering incredible and daring stunts. But the Bourne series, starring Matt Damon as a super-spy with amnesia battling the secret CIA program that made him, is just as impressive, though it’s known for being more realistic and intense. Some would even say the Bourne movies have had a bigger impact on the genre, as evidenced by similar action thrillers like the one starring Chris Pine.

When it comes to thrilling, over-the-top action, Mission: Impossible is in a class of its own, and most other franchises don’t even try to match its intensity. Director Paul Greengrass, known for The Bourne Supremacy, revolutionized action filmmaking with his fast-paced, shaky-cam style. This approach was so influential that even James Bond adopted a grittier, more realistic feel. Many action movies since then have copied Greengrass’s style and documentary-like storytelling, including The Contractor starring Pine, which unfortunately didn’t get the attention it deserved when it was released on Prime Video in 2022.

The Contractor’s Story Is More Nuanced Than Most Action Movies

J.P. Davis (writer of Plane) and Tarik Saleh (director of The Nile Hilton Incident) bring us the story of Harper, a highly decorated Green Beret forced to leave the army after it’s discovered he used steroids to cope with a severe knee injury sustained during service. Suddenly without purpose, Harper faces a deep personal crisis, compounded by the loss of his pension and healthcare. He’s left with mounting bills and no way to support his family.

Desperate to avoid financial ruin, Harper seeks help from his close friend and fellow veteran, Mike Hawkins (Ben Foster), who works for a private military company led by Rusty Jennings (Kiefer Sutherland). Jennings says his company handles secret operations for the Department of Defense and offers Harper a job, given his skills. After receiving a $50,000 payment to cover his debts and feeling a renewed desire to serve his country, Harper accepts a well-paying mission in Germany. He’s tasked with monitoring a scientist from the Middle East who Jennings claims is creating a biological weapon for Al-Qaeda.

As you’d expect, Harper soon discovers things aren’t what they appear. After being assigned to eliminate a scientist and steal his research, Harper, Mike, and their team are double-crossed by Jennings, who sends both the German police and a team of professional killers after them. The scientist wasn’t developing a weapon, but a free vaccine, and Jennings’ company was secretly paid by large pharmaceutical companies to suppress it. Now, Harper, wounded and fighting for his life against relentless waves of Jennings’ agents, is desperately trying to escape.

The Movie Exists In A Morally Murky World, Just Like Bourne Did

The Bourne films are famous for their exciting action and spy stories, but they also explore complex moral issues. Jason Bourne isn’t a typical hero; throughout the series, he actively tries to escape the clutches of Treadstone, the program that created him as a ruthless assassin. Starting with amnesia in The Bourne Identity, he spends several movies uncovering a past he finds deeply disturbing, realizing he’s responsible for the deaths of many innocent people. He doesn’t save the world from over-the-top villains; instead, he’s a damaged instrument of violence haunted by his actions, a man lost and unsure whether he’s seeking forgiveness or just peace.

In The Contractor, James Harper is a restrained and intense man, haunted by his experiences – a stark contrast to action heroes like James Bond. The film immediately earns the audience’s sympathy because Harper’s dismissal from the army feels unjust, reflecting the troubling reality of soldiers being discarded when they’re no longer useful. While we understand his motivations – providing for his family and finding purpose – he still makes some poor choices driven by desperation.

At his core, Harper is a soldier who obeys orders, even when they’re questionable, as seen when he kills a scientist on an illicit mission. He initially prioritizes personal gain over serving his country, only acting morally after being betrayed. However, even then, his sense of justice is focused on revenge rather than ensuring a vital cure is released. Like the character Bourne, Harper is a complex and flawed hero in a morally gray world. The film reflects this complexity by avoiding simple resolutions, which ultimately makes it more compelling.

The Contractor Should Have Been Pine’s Ticket to a Bourne-esque Franchise

While sharing some similarities with the Bourne movies, The Contractor didn’t quite achieve the same level of success – which is unfortunate. Had things gone differently, it could have easily launched a series of films, giving Chris Pine the realistic action franchise he’s been aiming for since his attempt to revive Jack Ryan in 2014. Pine is a consistently excellent, yet often overlooked, leading man, and his portrayal of Harper is among his strongest, showcasing a nuanced and thoughtful performance. The supporting actors – including Sutherland, Eddie Marsan, Gillian Jacobs, and Nina Hoss – all deliver impressive work, and the dynamic between Pine and Foster (who previously starred with him in Hell or High Water and The Finest Hours) remains captivating.

Despite initial hopes, the film flopped when it premiered on streaming, receiving poor reviews and failing to attract much viewership. While some reviews were positive, they mostly described it as a typical action thriller. Looking back four years later, its lack of success is surprising. The film is actually a gripping, well-made thriller with intelligent themes and intense action, anchored by a fantastic lead performance. If you enjoy movies like the Bourne series, this film is a great choice, and it’s definitely worth revisiting if you didn’t appreciate it the first time around.

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2026-04-16 01:07