I happened across this movie on AMC a few weeks ago, and liked it enough to purchase it on Blu-Ray a few days ago. Colin Farrell plays a hotshot computer whiz named James Clayton. Clayton has just graduated from MIT, and has a promising future in the computer biz. But Clayton is soon approached by a CIA recruiter named Walter Burke(Al Pacino). Burke thinks James is definitely CIA material, and James, though wary at first, can't resist the temptation of a more adventurous life. James joins up with a host of other recruits, and they are taken to a CIA training facility known as "The Farm." There, the recruits are put through a bevy of tests and trials, of the physical and mental variety. Here, James must contend with the rigorous training overseen by Burke, as well as sorting out his feelings for a fellow recruit named Layla. Things soon become even more complicated when Burke informs James that there is a mole in their midst, and he gives James the task of finding out what the traitor is after. One of Burke's favorite sayings is "Nothing is as it seems," and that phrase definitely rings true throughout this film. There are twists and turns at various points throughout the movie, and they really pick up in the film's later stages. There are almost too many twists in the last 20 minutes, to the point that if you're not paying close attention, you'll miss something important. But overall, this is a very entertaining spy thriller/adventure. A thriller with a lot of twists + a memorable performance by Pacino(one of my all-time faves)= 7 stars in my book.
Review of The Recruit
