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Plot Summary
James Clayton (Colin Farrell) is a computer whiz kid who
has just graduated top-of-the-class. He is in demand from the
computer companies who are always searching for new talent. But
Clayton is surprised when approached by Walter Burke (Al Pacino) from the CIA who tells
him that he thinks he would make an ideal
candidate. Clayton is intrigued; especially when Burke claims to
have known his father who Clayton believed, but could never confirm was in
the CIA. Clayton travels to the CIA's training facility known as
"The Farm" with other candidates and begins his training under
the watchful eye of Burke...
1st Review (by
Niall Quinn)
Moviegoers never have to wait long for the next spy
thriller movie. There are plenty of spies from the James Bond type
to the more plausible Jack Ryan! Because there are so many movies in
this genre, current releases need to offer something new and interesting
and while The Recruit is entertaining and amusing it lacks that special
something to take it out of the ordinary.
The best part of the movie is the start, which sees James
Clayton (Colin Farrell) recruited by the CIA into their training
programme. Clayton is a somewhat surprised if not reluctant recruit
and is initially more interested in finding out about the "father he
never knew". The story gets a little bogged down after this and
the question - who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? - takes
over. The idea of "nothing is what it seems" is heavy
laboured throughout the movie and perhaps it tries to be too clever to the
detriment of some good old tension, suspense and action.
The performance from the cast helps to lift the
movie. Al Pacino plays the older, wiser, weary veteran CIA man and
he is always a pleasure to watch even when the role doesn't challenge his
abilities. Colin Farrell does well as The Recruit and his character
is likeable for the start. Bridget Moynahan plays Layla Moore
another of the CIA recruits and needless to say sparks fly between herself
and Clayton.
The Bottom Line: 3 Stars. A spy thriller that
doesn't offer anything new or special but is nonetheless entertaining and
amusing. If you liked movies like The Bourne Identity,
High Crimes, Spy Game
or The Sum Of All Fears you should
enjoy this one.
2nd Review (by
Niamh Fox)
This film would not have been quiet as
watchable if a less attractive actor had played Colin Farrell's
character. The "smouldering" Farrell is very easy on the eye!
The story gets off to a good start when the characters are introduced. Farrell's character is likeable and
the story follows how he reacts to the nerdy and clinical surrounds of the
CIA training facility known as "The Farm". The love
interest works well as the initial attraction of the two recruits, Clayton
and Moore, grows during the training tests where their attraction is used
against them. The lines between them are amusing as their mutual
attraction develops. The Farm's environment, constant surveillance
and the tests inflicted on the recruits where "nothing is as it
seems" are greatly entertaining.
It is the final third of the film where
interest begins to dwindle. The recruits who complete their training
are assigned within the CIA. The "nothing is quite as it
seems" theme is taken to the extreme at this stage and we are taken
on an unwanted game of mind twister. By the end of this game, we
don't really care what the truth really is and when we finally find out
the truth, it all seems a bit silly and doesn't really add up.
The Bottom Line: 2 Stars. A
thriller that is easy to watch and fun for most of it but the ending is
weak.
PremierMovieReviews
2003
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