An Exercise In Nonsense

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

The Recruit (2003): Dir: Roger Donaldson / Cast: Colin Farrell, Al Pacino, Bridget Moynahan, Gabriel Macht, Kenneth Mitchell: Total mind game where viewers are sent through the same sort of manipulation as the hero. The title seems to suggest recuperation of our past. Colin Farrell seeks answers regarding his father who was a C.I.A. agent who died in 1990. An encounter with Al Pacino has him asking more questions but instead he is trained as a C.I.A. agent. He assigns Farrell to find out who a fellow trainee is working for and from there he is led deceit, betrayal and near death situations. Setup gives backgrounds then the screenplay delivers numerous effective plot twists until unveiling a mindless conventional climax. Directed by Roger Donaldson after having directed such crap as Species and Dante's Peak. Farrell presents emotional confusion and frustration as he is sucked into the past. He survives out of luck and intellect. Pacino succeeds as a connection to the past who tests Farrell for a mission that will reveal certain people as something other than what they are presenting. Bridget Moynahan makes a great impression as a female recruit whom Farrell is ordered to follow. The romantic elements are obvious. Gabriel Macht is too brief as a trainee, and other roles are pretty much standard issue for this sort of film. Plays like an episodic crime show and that's not a compliment. Score: 5 ½ / 10

This was pretty good. A thriller(ish) movie with a very twisty storyline; who's the spy, who's the mole, who's working who, what's a test? Great leads in Al Pacino & Colin Farrell who spar off well against each other with good chemistry.The story follows a young computer whiz/bartender (Farrell) who is recruited by (Pacino) to join the CIA. We then watch 'James' go through some (brief) yet intimate training at The Farm (which I liked), get all flirty, flirty with a fellow student (Bridget Moynahan) and then flunk out after a brutal hostage taking exercise exposes his weaknesses. All is not as it seems though and the second half sees Farrell go undercover to expose the mole within, have bit of romance, try to figure out how his dad was involved and again everything is not as you'd expect.I did enjoy this movie, (Colin Farrell helped) however even with all the twists and turns it ended up being quite predictable. The viewer is never sure who is working who and begins to doubt everyone so that by the time you get to the big twist at the end its not all that surprising. 2/9/15

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.

A spy movie about secrets and lies inside the C.I.A. Washington: Mr Walter Burke (Al Pacino) serving C.I.A. as a recruiter for 25 years needs someone smart and with knowledge about computer programs. James Douglas Clayton is the perfect guy. Determined to find out the true story about the tragic end of his father, James accept to be recruit under Mr Burke who seems to know a lot regarding Clayton's father. During the training he meets Leyla Moore (Bridget Moyanahan) fellow student who will be not just a college mate... nothing is what it seems. It may be not one of the most known movies of Al Pacino but his performance is always worth seeing. Pacino's character goes well in pair with young movie star Colin Farrell. The only negative point that you might find is the 'CIA movie stereotype' which was repeated many times in cinematography.