The Recruit - Al Pacino, Colin Farrell (2003)
Synopsis of the DVD Movie: The Recruit
James Clayton might not have the attitude of a typical recruit, but he is one of the smartest graduating seniors in the country--and he's just the person that Walter Burke wants in the Agency. James regards the CIA's mission as an intriguing alternative to an ordinary life, but before he becomes an Ops Officer, James has to survive The Farm, where the veteran Burke teaches him the ropes and rules of the game. James quickly rises through the ranks and falls for Layla, one of his fellow recruits. But just when James starts to question his role and decides to "wash out," Burke taps him for a special assignment to root out a mole. It soon becomes clear that at The Farm, the CIA's old maxims are true: "trust no one" and "nothing is at it seems."
DVD Movie Rating for: The Recruit
Rating 3 out of 5 stars
Movie Plot of: The Recruit
Trust. Betrayal. Deception. In the C.I.A. nothing is what it seems.
In an era when the country's first line of defense, intelligence, is more important than ever, comes an explosive thriller starring Al Pacino and Colin Farrell that for the first time opens the CIA's infamous closed doors and gives an insider's view into the Agency: how trainees are recruited, how they are prepared for the spy game, and what they learn to survive. James Clayton (Farrell) might not have the attitude of a typical recruit, but he is one of the smartest graduating seniors in the country - and he's just the person that Walter Burke (Pacino) wants in the Agency. James regards the CIA's mission as an intriguing alternative to an ordinary life, but before he becomes an Ops Officer, James has to survive the Agency's secret training ground, where green recruits are molded into seasoned veterans. As Burke teaches him the ropes and the rules of the game, James quickly rises through the ranks and falls for Layla (Moynahan), one of his fellow recruits. But just when James starts to question his role and his cat-and-mouse relationship with his mentor, Burke taps him for a special assignment to root out a mole. As the suspense builds toward a gripping climax, it soon becomes clear that the CIA's old maxims are true: "trust no one" and "nothing is what it seems."
DVD Production Details of: The Recruit
Starring: Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Bridget Moynahan
Director: Roger Donaldson
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound
Studio: Buena Vista Home Vid
DVD Release Date: May 27, 2003
DVD Features:
Commentary by director Roger Donaldson and actor Colin Farrell
Theatrical trailer(s)
Deleted scenes with optional commentary
"Spy School: Inside the CIA Training Program"
Widescreen anamorphic format
DVD Easter Eggs
None
Cast of the movie: The Recruit
- Al Pacino .... Walter Burke
- Colin Farrell .... James Clayton
- Bridget Moynahan .... Layla Moore
- Gabriel Macht .... Zack
- Mike Realba .... Ronnie Gibson
- Kenneth Mitchell .... Alan (as Ken Mitchell)
- Ron Lea .... Bill Rudolph, Dell Rep
- Karl Pruner .... Dennis Slayne
- Jeanie Calleja .... Co-Ed #1
- Domenico Fiore .... Instructor #1 (as Dom Fiore)
- Jessica Greco .... Brunette at Blue Ridge
- Angelo Tsarouchas .... Cab Driver
- Veronica Hurnick .... Polygraph Interrogator
- Eugene Lipinski .... Husky Man
- Steve Lucescu .... Instructor #2
- Richard Fitzpatrick .... Rob Stevens
- John Watson .... Guard
- Chris Owens .... Art Wallis
- Janet Bailey .... Young Instructor
- Sam Kalilieh .... Elliot
- Merwin Mondesir .... Stan
- Elisa Moolecherry .... Lisa Sahadi
- Sheldon Davis .... Security Officer #1
- Oscar Hsu .... Psychiatrist #1
- Arlene Mazerolle .... Psychiatrist #2
- Brian Rhodes .... Psychiatrist #3
- Steve Behal .... Exam Procter
- Jane Moffat .... Polygraph Technician
- Bart Bedford .... Co-Worker
- Tony Craig .... Transit Cop
- David Boyce .... New Security Guard
- Tova Smith .... Beth
- Michael Rubenfeld .... Felix
- Mark Ellis .... Test Instructor
- Neil Crone .... Farm Instructor #3
- Ray Paisley .... Farm Instructor #4
- Scott McCord .... Young Instructor #2
- Jenny Levine .... Blonde (as Jennifer Levine)
- Shaun Verreault .... Band Member #1
- Safwan Javed .... Band Member #2
- Earl Pereira .... Band Member #3
- Conrad Bergschneider .... Firing Range Instructor
- John Wayne Shafer .... Langley Gate Guard (as John Shafer)
- Stephen Lee Wright .... Running Instructor
- Misty Kelley .... Tourist Traveler (uncredited)
- Aaron Michael Lacey .... Truck Worker (uncredited)
Photo Gallery of the movie: The Recruit
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Reviews of the movie: The Recruit
"Nothing is as it seems" in The Recruit, a guessing-game thriller that employs plot twists and conflicting loyalties as its primary raison d'être. Surrounded by potential deception, a newly recruited CIA officer (Colin Farrell) must determine if his manipulative instructor (Al Pacino) is being honest when he identifies Farrell's fellow recruit and love interest (Bridget Moynihan) as an enemy "mole" assigned to steal a dangerous computer virus from CIA headquarters. While claiming to offer an insider's look at CIA training methods, this engrossing yet ultimately predictable plot is pure Hollywood fantasy; any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental, leaving the perpetually unshaven and scruffily coiffed Farrell to fend for himself in Pacino's cynical arena while tracing his familial roots in the spy game. Wearing its cleverness on its sleeve, The Recruit is an adequately elaborate puzzle of perceptions. "Everything is a test," as Farrell soon realizes, and attentive viewers will enjoy piecing it all together.
The beginning, the training scenes, acting, and suspense where great. Colin Farrell, can act with Al Pacino; there is a chemistry. I hope they do more films together. This film has many twists and turns, but one too many. The ending is a joke, I figured it out, and said you got to be kidding. Far fetched. Still, a good film in spite of the weak ending. The Bourne Identity is better. Hey how can I get a job with the CIA?
