`The Recruit': Tension, action and talent
By RAMA GOTTUMUKKALA
Scene Movie Critic
Spy thrillers have always been a hot ticket in Hollywood and every year a new handful of these films are released. This year has been no exception, with recent thrillers such as "Die Another Day," "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," and most recently "The Recruit" hitting the silver screen. While "The Recruit" features solid acting from one of Hollywood's all-time greats and one of its brightest new stars, the film offers nothing new in terms of pushing the envelope for spy thrillers. Consequently, it emerges as an above-average thriller that is enjoyable but will probably get lost in the shuffle of other films from its genre.
In "The Recruit," James Clayton (played by Colin Farrell) is one of the top prospects in the new crop of CIA recruits. His intelligence and unconventional attitude attract the attention of CIA recruiter, Walter Burke (played by Al Pacino), who runs him through the Agency's difficult training courses and helps him to quickly rise through the ranks. Clayton is then given a special assignment to root out a suspected mole that has infiltrated the Agency.
"The Recruit" contains all the average aspects of a spy thriller, from the spiraling plot twists to a purported sense of mystery until the very end of the film, but it lacks something meatier for the audience to chew on. For much of the film the audience is kept guessing while Clayton tries to uncover the mole but the ending seems a little too contrived to swallow. "The Recruit" has a script with enough action to satisfy the audience while avoiding the worst of modern action stigmas: over-the-top special effects. Instead of gigantic explosions and flashy computer graphics, there are enough twists, turns, and double-crosses in the script to make your head spin.
While no one expects an Academy Award from this film, the performances are strong for an action thriller. The perennially great Pacino, fresh off of his gritty role in "Insomnia," steals the show with a powerful performance as a CIA recruiter who is more than he seems. Farrell does his job well, being convincing without overdoing it, while injecting his character with a sense of innocence needed to sell the role. These actors have excellent chemistry together and believably heighten the tension between them as the movie progresses.
Don't approach "The Recruit" with too many expectations. Watch for a reasonably compelling and entertaining spy flick that is better than the average. Employing the right balance of action, plot twists, and character development, it's a movie that will grab the audience's attention and hold on. Fans of the extravagant James Bond series as well as "Spy Game" should both enjoy this movie.
All Scene Stories for Thursday, February 6, 2003
