Rating: 
Summary: No "Bourne Identity"
Review: I guess in this post-Sept. 11th era, we're going to see a spate of films with young CIA recruits as action-hero hunks. Ummm...why do the real guys always seem to look more like Aldrich Ames than Brad Pitt?Anyway, this film will probably get compared to the most recent movies of the same ilk, "The Bourne Identity" and (albeit pre-Sept. 11th) "Spy Games." Frankly, by those measuring sticks, "The Recruit" falls well short. There was next-to-zero development of the relationship between Colin Farrell and Bridget Moynahan. They get paired. They're a couple (in a way). 0-to-60 in nothing flat. Also, regarding the major twist at the end...you can see it coming from a mile away, but still: you get zero background for understanding that character's motivation for his/her deceit until it is packaged into a soliloquy right at the moment of revelation. It's an eye-rolling moment for the audience. Still though, Colin Farrell reveals himself as quite a capable leading man. It's the script that has the shortcomings, not Farrell...and not Al Pacino. He's just fine here in his role playing Al Pacino. Pacino does a great Pacino in his latest movies, and here, he shows that he really has Pacino down cold. Also, I was quite taken by Bridget Moynahan's performance. But I sat in the theater wondering: where have I seen her before? The answer: a) She's the "idiot stick figure with no soul" who married Mr. Big on "Sex in the City." b) She played the bride-to-be in "Serendipity" (left at the altar by John Cusack).
Rating: 
Summary: Decent spy flick
Review: The Recruit is a better-than-average spy thriller that is able to exceed its relatively routine storyline. It succeeds due to the good writing and the acting of the two principal leads, Al Pacino and Colin Farrell. Farrell plays an ace computer programmer haunted by the death of his father over a decade earlier. Pacino is a recruiter for the CIA who hints that Farrell's father may have been a member of the company. Farrell enlists and trains for field work; this recruitment and training takes up around half the movie. The second half of the story has Pacino - one of the main trainers - recruiting Farrell for his first assignment, dealing with a mole within the Agency. Although some of the plot twists are foreseeable, others are less obvious, and if the ending wraps up everything a little too neatly, it is nonetheless satisfying. In certain ways, this is a rather standard suspense flick, but as said before, it is the writing and acting that help it excel. Farrell holds his own with the veteran Pacino, and the rest of the relatively no-name cast also puts forth a decent effort. The Recruit is a solid four-star flick: not a classic but definitely a pleasant diversion.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Expect Much and it will Surpass Your Expectations
Review: This is a throw-away movie that you can leave behind but while you watch it, you'll enjoy it. If you like Colin and EVERYbody likes Pacino (don't they???), you'll enjoy the movie. You probably will realize who the good and bad guys really are fairly early, but even if you don't, it's fine when you find out. You won't be disappointed and you won't be totally shocked either. This is a good, action/military kind of movie but it won't stay with you. That's fine, we need lots of movies like this one to fill us up while we wait for the next Big Fish or something memorable like that.
Rating:
Summary: Double Dual Relationships Don't Pan Out
Review: _The Recruit_ is a film that revolves around 'tests' and two courtships: one between Walter Burke (Al Pacino) a CIA recruiter/instructor and James Clayton (Colin Farrell) a handpicked CIA recruit; and a 'forced' courtship of Layla (Bridget Moynahan) by Clayton. Burke goes out of his way to recruit Clayton: a hip MIT computer programming grad (who also happens to box and bartend).
Burke is the head instructor at 'The Farm' (CIA training school) and before, during, and after training, Burke takes a special interest in Clayton (even though Burke, at the start of training, personally informs Clayton that he is not a friend or ally). Clayton longs to know the story of his deceased father and Burke attempts to seduce Clayton into a mentorship (to fill the void created by Clayton's lost father). Burke tells Clayton he was born to be in the CIA and 'it's in his blood'. When the unsolicited Clayton questions whether his fitness to work for the CIA, Burke asserts: "I'm a scary judge of talent." After training, Burke becomes Clayton's only supervisor. Hollywood is a junkie for romance and Clayton and Layla find themselves trapped in a 'fateful forced courtship'. Layla, of course, plays hard to get. Clayton (shockingly) 'gets' Layla (after multiple acts of unrequited love) and they (perhaps) live happily ever after. Pacino, as usual, teeters on the verge of overacting. He drops multiple quotable one-liners, but falls short of another "Say hello to my wittle frien." Pacino holds viewers' attention as he plays hero with a villian's edge ("here goes nothin"). Colin Farrell appears to have an inability to do wrong (even while intoxicated) and maintains a meticulously sculpted 'messy' hairdo and 2-day old shadow beard for the film's duration. Bridget Moynahan injects little passion into Layla, resulting in a bland, forgetable character. I feel this film has very low replay value (unless a viewer aspires to join the CIA). The special features includes an informative, entertaining mini-documentary: "Spy School: Inside the CIA Training Program." The documentary includes actual footage of CIA trainings and interviews with a CIA agent (who doubles as a Kenny Rogers impersonator).
Rating:
Summary: Nothing is as it Seems
Review: Al Pacino delivers another great performance as a veteran CIA operative tasked with scouting and training young agent hopefuls. He recruits a MIT computer genius played by Colin Farrell. Colin is sent with other agent hopefuls to the CIA training facility known as the farm. Here they learn the basics of espionage, weapons, and survival. Only the best are selected to go on as CIA agents while others are weeded out. In the course of his stay at the farm, Colin falls for another agent recruit played by Bridget Moynahan. This is the type of movie that has a lot of plot twists, so too deep of an explanation could ruin the surprise. Suffice it to say that "nothing is as it seems". If you like spy thrillers and/or are a Pacino fan, this movie is recommended.
Rating:
Summary: VERY WATCHABLE DESPITE THE MISSING MEAT..
Review: The theme of a grizzled mentor and a hyper-energetic but gullible new recruit is a somewhat dated one (in recent memory, Spy Game, Training Day etc) but I watched this movie with no expectations, and found that it does a fairly good job of being fastpaced and gripping. What rides it above the predictability that could have drawn it down is its riveting pace. Glossy visuals are a plus too. The eminently watchable Pacino is no slouch in the charisma department as usual. Farrell merits a special mention, he maintains a credible dignity that lends a certain cachet to the movie, and his chemistry with Moynahan is searing. Last but not the least, there are not-so-subtle references to recent CIA glitches, most likely 911 and Gulf War. You'll probably not watch this flick more than once, but it's a decent rental for the first time. The extras on the DVD include some deleted scenes that reassured me that the movie is very well edited. Which helps.
Rating:
Summary: A thankless Job...
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Nothing is as it seems
Review: When you watch this movie you will remember two things. "Everything is a test", and Nothing is as it seems." You will find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to see what will happen next. Is this a test, or is this the real thing you will ask yourself over and over again. James Clayton is still dealing with his Father's disappearance. James is recruited by Walter Burke to join the CIA, but James will find that nothing is at it seems, and he will realize he can't trust anyone but himself. The movie is intense, and a great thriller. I liked the peek into the CIA and the recruiting process. Al Pachino and Colin Farral were good together in this film.
Rating: 
Summary: TWISTY AND EFFECTIVE THRILLER
Review: NOTHING IS AS IT SEEMS...that's true enough in the words of CIA instructor Al Pacino in Roger Donaldson's labyrinthine movie about a new CIA recruit, played with marvelous intensity by the gifted Colin Farrell. Pacino uses many of the elements of his previous roles, and why not--the man is a brilliant actor and sometimes you never know what to expect from him in spite of his familiarity. Bridget Moynihan (Sum of All Fears) co-stars as fellow recruit and would be lover for Farrell. (...) she possesses a strong sense of character in this multi-leveled role. Gabriel Macht in a smaller role as Zach is also very good, as Moynihan's other possible love interest. Even with the many clever twists and turns, the ending becomes predictable but not until the movie is almost over. Credit Donaldson for this succinct direction. The musical score is also brilliant; loved the use of usually boring synthesized music. It's effectively haunting in this movie.
Colin Farrell is destined for his Oscar; his intensity and his understanding of multi-levels of characterization will lead him to an even brighter future.
Rating:
Summary: Everything is a test
Review: Nothing is as it seems in this movie as Al Pacino plays a recruiter for the CIA who brings in Colin Farrell, playing a young computer programmer, to start a career as a new operative. The movie takes us through the training as well as other action as we see that recruits are tested as much mentally and emotionally, as they are tested physically. As par for course, Pacino does a great job and has the audience believing his portrayal of the character. Just as the plot is multi-layered, Pacino's character, Burke, is just as multi-layered. I would recommend seeing this movie. Although the gadgetry is not as you would see in a James Bond movie, it is fascinating seeing the training.
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