The spy film is generally a springboard for a rugged male operative to happily immerse himself in whatever maelstrom of action, violence, duplicity, sex, and general mayhem has been stirred up for him by his masters. The silver standard is the best of the James Bond movies — but we hardly think of Bond as a grubby bureaucrat who, after taking down some world menace and saving Britain, goes home to his suburban burrow to await further orders.Indeed, Bond — it’s in the books — is an alcoholic murderer and sex addict, who, if at home, probably spends his time staring at porn. Of late Daniel Craig has sought to break free of the original colonial rigmarole; but, somehow, it doesn’t always work since cybercrime and universal surveillance have overtaken a Brit snob who knows his wine. Goodbye Spectre, hello targeted drones.Jason Bourne’s initials are the same as Bond’s, as one observer has crucially noted — he’s an American fist-fighter compared to one swilling G&T at The Club. Bourne is ...
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