Rating: 
Summary: ESPIONAGE CAPERS TWIST YOUR NECK & NERVES
Review: WHO'S WHO?? AND WHO'S THE TRAITOR??GET THIS FROM THE BARGAIN BIN, USED, OR RENT, BUT IT WAS SUPRISINGLY BETTER THAN I ANTICIPATED. MADE THE HAIR STAND UP ON THE BACK OF MY NECK! COLIN FARREL IS GETTING BETTER WITH EACH FILM AND I HOPE HE DOESNT BURN OUT WITH B-GRADE MOVIES!!!
Rating: 
Summary: SOMEWHAT SILLY, THOUGH MODERATELY ENTERTAINING, SPY FLICK...
Review: This film is a fast paced, cat and mouse, guessing game type of spy thriller. The cinematography is suitably dark and dreary for the most part. The overall cast is excellent. It is the screenplay that is problematic, as it has a great many plot holes and fails to provide sufficient motivation for the actions of its main characters. The ending, unfortunately, is the biggest problem of all. Quite frankly, if the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) were run in real life the way it is run in this film, no wonder we have had trouble with intelligence, as that is what is lacking in this film. Al Pacino plays the role of Walter Burke, the CIA recruiter whose catch phrase is "nothing is as it seems". He woos a potential new recruit, computer whiz James Clayton (Colin Farrell). Manipulated from the get go by Burke, Clayton, who has daddy issues, reluctantly signs on. He is sent to CIA training school, which is called "The Farm". While at "The Farm", Clayton meets fellow recruit, Layla Moore (Bridget Moynahan), to whom he is attracted and with whom he is later paired for a training exercise that proves to be more rigorous than anticipated. When things at "The Farm" do not go as expected , Clayton gets a series of surprises, one of which is that Burke claims that Layla is a mole and it is Clayton's mission to expose her and her handlers. Initially reluctant, Clayton takes on the assignment, though he is clearly conflicted by his feelings towards Layla. There are some intriguing scenes and plot twists leading up to the ostensible denouement of Layla and the ultimate betrayal. The grand finale, however, is laughable, as well as totally ludicrous. Al Pacino is, for the most part, good as the somewhat bombastic CIA scout, though at times, he seems more like a flim-flam man in whom only the terminally stupid will believe. This, however, is more attributable to the script, then to the acting. Colin Farrell is fine as the wide-eyed recruit with the perpetually scruffy, five o'clock shadow on his face. Bridget Moynahan is also good as Layla, Clayton's love interest and fellow recruit. While they never really heat up the screen, it is not for lack of trying. This is a film that one should rent rather than buy.
Rating: 
Summary: SOOOOO GOOD!!
Review: I LOVED this movie!! It had so many twists and turns I thought that Id go mad before it was through!! Definitely a movie worth watching...and of course theres the added incentive of Colin Farrell who is just too yummy for words. Buy It!!
Rating:
Summary: 3 stars: Flawed, but charismatic.
Review: As a big fan of spy thrillers, I amazed myself in that I didn't see this one in the theatres. Nevertheless, I am glad I had the chance to sit down and view the DVD, several times in certain places for clarification. The film is marvelously directed, and Al Pacino, as almost always, is well suited for his role. The film attempts a series of twists in turns playing to the observant viewer, meaning that you can read more than one meaning into the direction of the story. Although, I felt that the opening and much of the movie nearly copies the movie Antitrust. The movie is certainly riveting and has its moments worth watching again, but as a paranoid thriller it lacks a certain pinnache found in such movies as the Manchurian Candidate and even more recently the oft-besmirched Bourne Identity remake. As to the DVD features, some were moderately interesting, but nothing to write home about. I was hoping the commentary would help shed light on events, but director Roger Donaldson and actor Colin Farrell (who actually was quite humorous) tended more to banter about the situations on set than plot. Overall, this movie makes an excellent rental for fans of spy movies and thrillers. The plot leaves a little something to be desired, although if you pay attention but not nit-pick it almost completely makes sense. Plus, there is some great dialogue from Pacino. Much of the acting leaves a little something to be desired, but go in watching with lowered expectations, and you may be pleasantly surprised!
Rating:
Summary: Do...Not...Get...Caught
Review: Thanks to the recent success of espionage themed movies and TV shows, like Enemy Of The State, The Agency, Alias, and 24, the "spy game" is back in style. It used to be that fans of the genre, could only get their fix by watching the latest Bond or Jack Ryan film. Some of these projects are really well done, like 24 and the film Spy Game. While others either come up just short or miss the mark entirely. The Recruit ends up somewhere in the middle of my scale. Computer whiz James Clayton (Colin Farrell), is approached by CIA recruiter Walter Burke (Al Pacino) to join the agency. Clayton is reluctant at first, however, after some coaxing he agrees to give it a shot. Once there, he makes quite an impression during training. At the same time, he falls for Layla (Bridget Moynahan), a fellow recruit. Just as James begins to wonder if he's cut out for the rigors of the job, Burke asks for his help in exposing a "mole" in the agency. Directed by Roger Donaldson, the film starts off like a different kind of thriller, taking viewers inside the CIA and their training program. But then quickly turns into a predictable film. Some of the twists and turns that occur late in the movie, were, in my humble opinion, fairly easy to figure out-The suspects are far too limited here for the culprit NOT to be obvious Farrell is very good in the film. He is better than I thought. Since it seems he has a role in almost every flick released lately, I only thought of him as pretty boy...till now. He also has some nice "spark" with Moynahan. As for Pacino, I felt as though he was just phoning it in here. He is one of my favorite actors. But there's nothing new here Really disappointing if you ask me. The DVD has a handfull of extras that are average at best. The audio commentary by director Roger Donaldson and actor Colin Farrell is just ok. As for the deleted scenes with optional commentary, everthing was well chosen to be cut out of the film And as cool as the featurette "Spy School: Inside the CIA Training Program" sounds. I would also have liked to hear from the actors and crew about how the film was made more too The commentary does some of that but not enough. The film and DVD is recommended. But only as a rental The Recruit is available in separate widescreen and fullscreen formats
Rating: 
Summary: sad laugh
Review: very poor movie. I feel sad for Al Pacino...he had to agree to play in this film?...
Training sessions for CIA agents are ridiculous....they're trained all together???
Al Pacino as an instructor...and he is teaching every single class?! It's BS.
Bad, bad, bad movie. Bad plot, bad implementation and yes, bad acting too.
Big disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE IT!
Review: I started watching this movie not remembering why I had wanted to see it in the first place. I was soon reminded. This movie is non-stop twist and turns and keeps the audience very interested. Although, I think the plot is somewhat confusing at times (when it comes to what is REALLY happening) that did not stop me from thinking about how great this movie is all day! Also what's greater than an Al Pacino movie and now we have Colin Farrell who I must say is an absolute hottie! Anyway, if you are reading this right now in order to see if you should buy this movie. BUY IT! BUY IT! BUY IT! you will not regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Phone Booth meets Nick of TIme
Review: Well, seems like poor Colin Farrell just cant stay out of troble these days, whether in a phone booth or here where he is recruited by a crafty CIA Recruiter (Al Pacino) for some ole fashion fun and games into a world where, "Nothing is what is seems", oh really, never heard that one before. Ok, the story line is weak, or lets hope the CIA doesnt recruit like this, but the film does have its way of keeping your attention through the plot twists and turns. Pacino is in his perfect enviroment here as the CIA man testing the agencies efficency through some newly recruited moles. Now, this is a film that is supposed to give us a real life glimpse into the ways and means of the CIA, but I dont hardly think so. Still, its good movie fare and and not a bad way to spend a couple of hours, especially now that the final epsiode of Six Feet Under has aired.
Rating:
Summary: gripping
Review: The Recruit
10 1/2 Of 10
Hold on to your seats because this movie is an adrenaline rush of an action packed thrill ride. James is a guy who just want's to know about his father. Burke is a recruiter for the cia. He recruits james. At the training center a.k.a the farm he meets Layla and falls in love with her but what Mr. Burke does is horrible. He sets Layla up and makes James think she's the villain. Burke plays this game all over the place. The game works for a while until the incredibly creepy climax. The climax was great and there will be a sequel thank's to the obvious ending. Al Pacino played his charector well. Collin Farrell did an great job. Bridget Moynahan is just along for the ride but still put in A worthy performance. Does this movie workin the end? Yes. Does it carry any major thrills? Yes you have to figure out who the real bad guy is. You don't know what's real and what's not. Did I solve it easilly? No but noone will. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Overall I thought it was a great movie I'd watch again and again. So invite the boys over , order a few pizzas , drink a few beers , and enjoy this movie. You will not be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Works well until you really think about it
Review: Summary:
James Clayton (Colin Farrell (I)) is a brilliant computer programmer who has just developed a groundbreaking new program and is being recruited by big name comptuer companies. When he is approached by a CIA recruiter, Walter Burke (Al Pacino), who drops several hints about his father's actual job as a member of the CIA, James decides to give it a try. James passes the entrance exams and interviews and ends up training as a CIA agent on 'The Farm', a clandestine location for training spies. While there he meets Layla (Bridget Moynahan) with whom he falls in love. Eventually James because the ultimate CIA agent, a NOC, whose existence is completely denied by the U.S. government. His first mission, given to him by Burke, is to find out who Layla is working for. Burke convinces James that Layla is a double agent and that she is trying to steal a computer virus developed by the CIA. However, there is more to what is going on and, as Burke says at the Farm, "nothing is as it seems." My Comments:
There were two major problems with this movie. First, it's too short to develop the real plot lines that it needed to develop to be a convincing story. From when James is put on his first case to when he cracks it takes all of about a week. There is no plot development, no relationship negotiation, nothing. It's just James having sex with Layla and voila, he cracks the case. If the writers of the movie really wanted to spend that much time on the training, which was kind of interesting, then they at least had to compensate for it by increasing the length of the movie so the real story could be at least an hour long, but instead it only takes up maybe the last 40 minutes or so. The allotment of time to the different story elements (introduction, main plot, etc.) was way off. The second major problem is that there are all sorts of holes in the story. The end of the movie is fast enough that you are drawn into it without thinking through all of the problems. However, when you sit down and think about the movie afterwards you realize that there are problems. I'll just give a few I thought of: 1. Why is Layla working with Zack (Gabriel Macht) and giving him notes? 2. Why does Zack run from James, he doesn't really have anything to hide? 3. Why is Burke the only contact James has with the CIA? 4. Why isn't James carrying a gun from the beginning and only gets one from Burke? 5. Why does Burke, a trained spy, spill the beans at the end, even though he can easily see that all of the laser sights are on James and not on him (the reason given isn't convincing)? Anyway, I'm sure you could spend hours listing all of the problems with the story. But, the movie isn't all that bad. If you can look past the time allotment and plot holes, the movie is kind of fun to watch, mainly because you get to see kind of what CIA trainees go through. The special features on the DVD include some additional information from a member of the CIA who helped with the film that claims that the training from the movie is similar to the training that takes place in real life. Overall, the movie is interesting as a look inside the CIA, but is far too short to really develop a good plot. I think my wife might disagree because she was sucked into the story and was trying to figure out what was going on even though she guessed that Burke was not who he said he was from the beginning. If you like espionage type movies, you'd probably enjoy this one. It isn't perfect or anywhere near it, but it's fun and entertaining.
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