kapelusznik18
****SPOILERS****Hard to swallow and even harder to digest spy drama that involves computer whiz kid James Douglas Clayton ,Colin Farrell, who attempts to join the shadowy C.I.A in order to find the truth about the fate of his dad who disappeared in the wilds of Puru some 13 years earlier while on a secret assignment for the agency. It's not known if Papa Clayton was killed kidnapped or even abducted by space aliens since the agency C.I.A he worked for has a policy of not releasing information of its personnel even to their immediate relatives like Popa's son James Clayton.It's top C.I.A spy Walter Burke, Al Pacino, who seeks out James for the job whom he feels, like father like son, he'll make a 1st class spoke-spy-for the agency. Going through the rigorous mental & psychical training for becoming a spook at the agency's Langton Farm James meets and falls in love with fellow spook Layla Moore, Bridget Moynahan, that seems to upset his controller Burke. It's Burke who suspects that she's in fact a spy for the other side-Russia China Iran or maybe North Korea- who's using her position to get important and critical computer information to the nation that she's spying for.***SPOILERS**** Like in most modern spy movie no one knows what's going on and on who's side their on their or working for until the films final moments. James who gets booted from the agency for cracking under pressure finds out later that he in fact passed with flying colors. Given a menial job as cover by his controller Burke at the agency emptying out ash trays and garbage cans James is told to keep an eye on Layla who's suspected of being a mole for the outer side. It's later that James finds out the truth and that leads to him also finding out just who the mole is that really is no surprise to anyone in just how crazy, just get a load of his reasons for selling out his country are , and obvious he is. As for James' Pop he in the end finds out what really happened to him as well as the person he was involved with who may have set him up for the kill.
coloradobloom7
Pretty bad film. Predictable plot line, obvious from the beginning. Sorry I wasted my time even though Colin Farrell was nice to look at. I'm surprised Al Pacino agreed to do this movie. He is much better than he showed in the movie. Maybe it was terrible directing or maybe a poor script. It's hard to say; but now I know why I had never heard of it. Thank god I didn't have to pay to see it. Lol
tbills2
Colin Farrell is the recruit, and Al Pacino is the instructor. CIA is the training grounds, and to be the best and beat the rest is the mission. Bridget Moynahan is the mark, and figuring out the truth from the untruth is the objective. Deceit is the name of the game, your identity is the ante, your life is the stake, and glory is the rake. Colin Farrell is the cardplayer, and Bridget Moynahan could be the winnings. Al Pacino is probably the dealer, and everything is wild!The Recruit is a really good movie. Colin Farrell stands out, while Al Pacino leads the film into relevance. The relationship between Ferrell and Moynahan is really good. Colin Farrell is searching for information about his father and he may have found his answers in the CIA. Al Pacino is the suspense. The Recruit is really good because of Al Pacino and Colin Farrell and Bridget Moynahan's performances. It has great CIA fantasy nostalgia and has the same identity to it as Training Day. Roger Donaldson is the director, The Recruit is the movie, and everything is a test!
wdllofzepia
As the title says, this is kind of a spy movie, about a specific recruit. The story is all about him and his time around his training. He has an instructor who shows interest in him and there are a couple of secondary characters who help promote the story.There is nothing wrong with the movie, technically it is fine and the acting is fine too. The story is (for a spy movie) believable enough to watch it without making fun of it, which is great. So, what is my problem with it and why I don't give it a higher score? It's too average. It doesn't go far enough (although it does remain faithful to the title). I don't usually like them, but the most interesting parts for me were the "romantic" parts. Bridget Moynahan is a knockout to look and she performs admirably. Colin Farrell is good and believable in his role. Al Pacino....well, he is Al Pacino.Perhaps too much cut in the editing room or changes in the script? I don't know, but as is, it's just too average.If there is nothing else on TV, worth watching or renting, but that's about it.
AD
