The Recruit
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.04 You Save: $6.95 (70%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Recruit
Movie Review: A thankless Job...
Summary: 4 Stars
This film is an insiders view of the Central Intelligence Agency. It examines the agencies recruiting techniques and the intense and unique training the new recruit must go through in order to become a full operative. Colin Farrell plays the new recruit acquired by the agencies veteran recruiter and instructor, played by Al Pacino.The film communicates well the reality that, out of all the law enforcement organizations, the CIA is the most thankless of the lot. We only hear about them when they fail, never when they succeed. The heroes who have died in the line of duty in the field are never named, but are coldly referred to by only a star and the year they perished. But why would anyone want to be a CIA operative? It's not about money because they're under paid. It's not about fame because, for the most part, throughout their careers, they remain anonymous. These spies work gruelling hours and are constantly on the move, packing and unpacking, and sometimes go for months, even years away from their families. The film addresses this question in an interesting and entertaining way.
The underlying theme of the film is the notion that nothing is as it seems. The only thing you can believe is that you cannot believe anything. Trust no one because everyone has an agenda. Building relationships is not done for the obvious reasons but to use as a means to an end. The mission is everything and exploitation is the means to the goal. You have to be a certain type of person to do this kind of thing. I've always wondered how undercover agents can live with themselves and how terribly lonely this profession would be. This film expresses all these things compellingly.
~The Recruit~ is also a great story with many twists and turns. Nothing is what it seems until the end. This is a stylish thriller produced well and directed with skill. The DVD also includes interviews with the producers and a true twenty-five year CIA veteran that acted as a consultant on the movie. The film is instructive and entertaining. Excellent viewing.
Movie Review: Hoo Ha! Same Al, different movie.
Summary: 4 Stars
Al Pacino may not be the most versatile actor in the world, but he is a good actor; and, he proves it in this movie. Al plays a 'scout' for the CIA looking for a few good spies. He finds bartender and computer hacker extraordinaire (how's THAT for a double career) played by Colin Farrell. The first spy talent seems to be keeping your 5 o'clock shadow exactly the same throughout the entire movie. :)
Colin and several other spy wannabes are chosen and sent to a training camp called 'The Farm' where Colin meets a delicious recruit played by Bridget Moynahan (NOTE: calling them by their character names just slows me down). Bridget quickly learns the spy trait at crying at the drop of a hat.
Without blabbing off too much more of the storyline, Al gives Colin an assignment that prepares him quite well for the life of a CIA agent.
There are several plot twists in this movie but not so many that it gives you a migraine. About the only thing that does is the constant verbal reminder in the film that "nothing is as it seems".
Overall, great acting all around and very good action scenes. The PG-13 rating is well deserved since it isn't overly bloody or violent.. i.e. it isn't going to put an idea into your teenager to go out and do something stupid.
Movie warnings: almost but not quite nudity (backless Bridget in a shower scene), sex with WAY too many covers, and profanity (mostly by the audience complaining about the covers).
Is it worth seeing? For matinee prices, definitely. For evening prices, yes, if you're into thriller movies.
And, just like in the movie, "PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES." :)
Movie Review: You've seen it before, but you'll see it one more time
Summary: 4 Stars
"The recruit" is like this: Collin Farrell is James Clayton. He's graduated top of his class in MIT, he's a computer wizard, he's developed a revolucionary software and he's currently working as a bartender in Boston. Hmmm. Al Pacino is Walter Burke, a CIA recruiter and instructor who claims to have an eye for good talented fresh spies. So, Walter Burke recruits James Clayton to work with CIA. At some point of the movie, Al Pacino's character says: "Nothing is what it seems". This is what "The recruit" is about. Deceiving. Of course, it's a good thriller, lots of action scenes, interesting psychological (even if it's very shallow) aspects, a love affair between two of the main characters, a good car-chase scene, etc. Even so, the script is very formulaic, following a pattern that has done well previous times. There are plot twists every time, but every time you see them coming.
Colin Farrell seems to be the star of the moment. Although in this movie the producers tried to fix him an image of never-shave-bad-boy-baby-face, he's competent and talented, giving credibility to his scenes. Al Pacino has to take care: he's starting to repeat himself. His character Walter Burke is like his character in "Donnie Brasco", "The insider", "Carlito's way", etc. But, still, his mere presence is motive to watch this movie. This is Bridget Moynahan's most-time-on-screen movie, and her career should get going well if she keeps it like this.
There are a lot of plot-holes and things that make the viewers role their eyes, so this is the "put your brain in neutral" kind of movie.
Watch and have fun.
Grade 8.0/10
Movie Review: A SCARY Judge of Talent that smells of lilacs.
Summary: 4 Stars
A SCARY Judge of Talent that smells of lilacs. Suppose Hollywood made a mystery - thriller without nudity, foul language, spurting blood, 8 car chases or long simulated sex scenes. Suppose that the movie was NOT the typical anti-American diatribe or subtle assault against the CIA, a political party or the USA that we so often get from Hollywood. Holy cow, you would have this movie! This is NOT typical Hollywood. 911 must have changed everything for many. One reviewer complained that this was not a celebration of those who fight the secret wars at the CIA. Maybe not, but it is as good as anything we can expect out of Hollywood. This movie is done as non-partisan and politically neutral and this is a big step for Hollywood!
This is a story of the recruitment into the CIA of a bartender who also graduated number one at MIT, and is an expert in software. The rules are laid down; nothing is as it seems, everything is a test and never get captured.
James Douglas Clayton, played by Colin Farrell, is recruited by CIA scout and a trainer at THE FARM, Walter Burke, played by Pacino. Burke tells James that he is a scary judge of talent, and that this judgment for talent is Burkes one true gift. James ends up as an operative of Burkes working at the CIA in Langley, famous for its Lilac bushes. There are plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing, though my first guess as to where this was going was correct. Still it was a fun ride and I would watch it again.
Movie Review: Almost brilliant
Summary: 4 Stars
Before going to see this film I was sceptical. I mean, Colin Farrell is nearly as well known for his acting as he is for his looks and lifestyle. I mean the only reason why I was persuaded to watch the film was because a friend of mine wanted to see the "fit Irish guy". But despite my initial doubts, I loved the film. It was excellent... well, almost. The storyline was great, astonishing but believable. It let the viewers into an area of the American government that many people had not imagined or considered in so much depth. It revealed a completely different world; a dark world filled with misconceptions, secrets and, of course, lies. It really did get the viewers attention and managed to capture it for the whole length of the film. I personally didn't expect the film to end in the clever and twisted way it did. Like I said, it was almost perfect. But there was one flaw. The whole scheme of the film was very quickly revealed and the actual exposure of the plot needed to be explained. I left, feeling unsure of who was who and what each character's genuine storyline was. I turned to my friend seeking an explanation and I was surprised when she was as baffled as I was. After thinking about it, I thought I had an idea of what had happened but was still unconvinced. All in all, it was a very good film...if I only I had understood the last crucial ten minutes. Oh, and Colin Farrell.....an exceptional and very talented actor. I will not hesitate to watch "Phone Booth".