Home :: DVD :: Mystery & Suspense  

Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem
British Mystery Theater
Classics
Crime
Detectives
Film Noir
General
Mystery
Mystery & Suspense Masters
Neo-Noir
Series & Sequels
Suspense
Thrillers
The Recruit

The Recruit

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $11.99
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 5 .. 13 >>

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Just A Stepping Stone For Farrell
Review: "The Recruit" is just a stepping stone for Colin Farrell. This fast paced action movie is a "C" at best. There is too many twists and turns for anyone to catch up with. James Clayton (Farrell) is a CIA in training where "nothing is what it seems." Clayton is recruited by Walter Burke (Pacino) and taken to "the farm" to learn all that is to know about the CIA. There Clayton finds out that everything is a test. Even his relationship with a fellow recruit. Pacino pulls off another tiring role. Farrell is getting better with each role he's in. (See Phone Booth) Overall, I thought that the story was new, but just because it was something new doesn't mean it was great.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Decent thriller that tries a bit too hard
Review: "The Recruit" is a decent spy thriller about an up-and-coming CIA agent (Colin Farrell) being mentored by an old veteran (Al Pacino) in the ways of being a spy. This movie packs in the plot twists, deceptions and misinformation, often leaving the audience as much in the dark as the characters. At times it seems like it almost tries a little TOO hard to be edgy and warped, with more twists than really seem necessary. It's kind of like taking a good stew and throwing in more ingredients than you really need, deadening the taste.

Still, if you can put that past you, it's a pretty exciting movie, a decent action flick, and it really shows off the talents of Pacino and Farrel, who were both made to play the roles they've taken on. Definitely worth a rental, and even worth buying if you're really into spy movies that are a bit more realistic than James Bond.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An engaging and fun post-Cold War spy thriller
Review: While not the success "The Bourne Identity" was, "The Recruit" is a fun and involving spy thriller set in the post-Cold War era -- something so many spy films haven't been able to successfully pull off.

Pacino predictably chews up all the available scenery as a CIA recruiter, and Farrell is the MIT grad with the deus ex machina software recruit of the title. The film spends a little time at The Farm (the not-particularly-secret CIA training facility -- the counterpart to the FBI's training facility in Quantico) before moving to Washington, DC and an intrigue concerning one or more moles within the CIA and a not-as-complex-as-it-looks whodunnit mystery.

While there are a few wrinkles in this mystery -- who's the guy in the hooded jacket, for instance -- mostly the enjoyment of this film comes down to how they hit the fairly standard plot points, not which plot points they choose to hit. In the interests of keeping the plot moving, most of the training on the Farm was unfortunately cut -- watch the DVD extras for a glimpse at what is, perhaps, the most interesting part of the film.

A decent rental in the espionage genre, but not a must have purchase except for die hard fans of one of the principal actors.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Farrell and Pachino are Great
Review: From the start of this movie you wonder where everything is going. It moves quickly and a lot of twists and turns. What has Farrell gotten himself into. You could say the movie is almost a CIA Rookie Survivor. Wow, what action.

Get this one, it is worth the watch.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: the recruit Good or Bad?
Review: this is a good movie. Both pachino and farrell does a great job in this movie. I watched it twice to amke sure I didn't miss anything or any sceens. This is a great movie, clearly not what I would think is Pachino's best movie. After all, Scarface, The Godfather,and heat is his best. On the other for Collan Farrell this is his best. He does a great job and will brings a excellent performance. Try it you will find that is isn't a bad movie as others has thought it to be.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Don't trust ANYTHING in this flick
Review: A thriller that just never lets up and keeps you guessing till the last scene, The Recruit is a movie that deals with a new batch of recruits for the CIA undercover section. The training sessions and 'tests' bear no resemblance to reality, but who cares? It's great drama, great plot, great theater - and besides, Al Pacino's in it, so it's all good.
Don't miss it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Greatly Made Movie.
Review: "The Recruit" is a top notch movie of cat and mouse with two great actors (Pacino & Farrell) and is a must have DVD.

James Clayton is a brillian computer programmer who is approached by a C.I.A recruiter named Walter Burke (Pacino) who gives little hints that point to the fact James's dad might have been in the C.I.A.But when James goes into a training program he becomes the best agent and ends up getting asked by Burke if a beautiful young trainee named Layla is a mole the story turns into a classic cat and mouse tale.

The film was well written and has as many plot twists as a Quentin Tarantino movie.James is in love with Layla and feels like he is betraying her and he also doesn't realize if he trusts Burke.
This is the best movie about the C.I.A by far and is a must see movie and is one of Colin Farrell's best.A for the movie,B+ for the acting.Enjoy!!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: In Short "Nothing Is As It Seems": Enjoyable But NOT Classic
Review: Roger Donaldson's films have always the same trait, which many film buffs can easily detect; that is, A) it starts with superb premise; B) it gives fine acting from the stars; C) it ends not so well. Look at "No Way Out" or "Dante's Peak." ("Thriteen Days" is one exception.) And with "The Recruit," did he change? Apparently not.

So, the film starts well. Al Pacino literally recruits a MIT computer wiz Colin Farrell. Come with me, and work for CIA. Al (with thick beard) trains him with other applicants in "The Farm," where the US government secretly teaches ABC of being spy. But the young Colin soon realizes that he can trust nothing during the tricky course of the training.

The first half is pretty interesting even though the training programs are obviously imagination of the filmmakers. Of course, CIA must have shown some part of the facilities but if there should be really 'The Farm,' they will neither affirm nor deny the existence of it, let alone show it to you. But still the production designs are polished (like that of "Anti-Trust") and the story is stylishly done.

The problem is the second half, in which another character (played by Bridget Moynahan) steps in. Quite honestly, the plot is predictable to the discerning eyes of the fans of the genre, and I want no more not-so-stylish use of guns, chases, and so on. And the conclusion is a huge letdown, or in other words, impossible.

Another weakness is (don't worry no spoilers) the characters' motives. Why Colin's character wants to be a spy when he is a top student from MIT? It is explained in the opening credits, but it is not strong enough. Moreover, the film even seems to forget that original motive in the long and widing road of mysteries that come again and again, as if never content with the initial premise. Surprise is surprise when it seldom comes, but in "The Recruit" they rush to you like avalanche.

Al Pacino, one of the greatest actors living, is not bad, but not good either. At least his beard is not a good idea, making him too conspicous (hey, he is working for CIA, isn't he?). He is much better in other films like "The Insider" (or any of his films in the 70s). Colin Farrell is just fine, but I am afraid his turn in "Phone Booth" is much more convincing as the man in the extraordinary situations.

Just a good thriller, and just that. Enjoy it as such.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great movie! Great acting!
Review: Oh, buy this movie. It's interesting and keeps you thinking throughout the whole movie. I own it and still watch it frequently, so you won't regret it. The deleted scenes are interesting and if nothing else, worth a look. You'll like it, you know you want to buy it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: EXCELLENT MOVIE!!! KEPT ME GUESSING!!!
Review: This is a very good movie. I really don't know if you would want to watch it more than once because it's the sort of thriller that you would be like "I already know what's gonna happen" It is a very tense thriller of a movie. Al Pacino & Colin Farrell are a awesome team. I watched it 7 times & still love it. I recommend you rent it!!


<< 1 2 3 4 5 .. 13 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates