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The Recruit 2003 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Roger Donaldson
PG-13, 105 min. (violence, sexuality, language) |
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Starring: Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Bridget Moynahan, Gabriel Macht, Kenneth Mitchell
Producers: Jeff Apple, Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum
Screenplay: Roger Towne, Kurt Wimmer, Mitch Glazer
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Released: 1/31/03 (Wide) |
Rating:
 (out of ) |
For about 2/3 of its running length, The Recruit is an involving, highly watchable motion picture. Unfortunately, its final
third, which I read was rewritten several times (it sure looks that way), is a mess of miscalculation on the screenwriters'
part. With Al Pacino as its anchor and two up-and-coming stars in the suddenly red-hot Colin Farrell and the playful Bridget
Moynahan, the film exudes a suavity and confidence in itself that is adeptly directed by Roger Donaldson. This is a film
that could have been much better given a smoother, more reasonable conclusion. As it is, it's a near miss, but will be one
of my guilty pleasures for the year.
Farrell plays James Clayton, an MIT whiz kid that turns down the likes of Dell Computers to sign on with Walter Burke
(Al Pacino), a convincing CIA recruiter who is "a scary judge of talent." Clayton, whose father was also involved with
the CIA, finds himself immersed in stressful situations at the Farm, a training ground for future agents. He meets
Layla (Bridget Moynahan), an attractive recruit who has an instant attraction to him, even though she has a mysterious side
to her. After seemingly washing out after an excruciating torture exercise, Burke informs Clayton that his efforts have
actually earned him the status of a NOC, or "non-official cover operative," meaning he would be working directly for Burke
without anyone knowing he was actually an agent. His first target - Layla, who is apparently a double agent trying to steal
a dangerous computer code that could wreak havoc on computers worldwide. It's not long until he realizes that something
doesn't quite add up.
The Recruit falls prey to the need to add unnecessary twists and turns in a plot that would have been better served
going the simple route. One of the problems that face screenwriters today is that audiences have seen almost every
conceivable surprise ending or twist that confounds their expectations. So, in order to keep up, they feel they must
give the viewer the next "Sixth Sense" moment, especially in thrillers, which this film is one. Sometimes less is more, and
that certainly qualifies here. Had the film played it straight and focused on the strained relationships between Burke,
Clayton, and Layla, it would have been a rousing success. Instead, we're so queued into the unexpected that the story's
revelation is borderline absurd and unfortunate.
However, there's a lot to like here. Pacino, who always exudes the charisma necessary to play characters of authority,
gives his usual schtick with aplomb, generating friction that contrasts with Farrell's nice-guy charm. It becomes apparent,
especially here, that Pacino's talent has been taken for granted over the years, an actor's actor that could play virtually
any role given him. It's neat to watch him drop lines like "I don't have answers. Only secrets," "They show you your
medal. You don't even get to take it home," "Nothing is what it seems. Trust no one," and "It's not the money, sex, or fame.
It's because we believe," when addressing his recruits at the Farm. There's a ring of truth to not only what he says but
how he delivers these words of wisdom. Meanwhile, Farrell, whose career is skyrocketing with roles in Minority Report and
the upcoming Daredevil and Phone Booth, plays Clayton with a intensity that smolders opposite Moynahan's (The Sum of All Fears) tender but
mysterious Layla. He generates considerable chemistry with her, and although we know it won't last, it's fun to watch.
For Donaldson, whose previous efforts include the underrated Thirteen Days
and the gripping No Way Out, The Recruit represents effective if flawed work. There's no question the tension is
high and the audience can't keep its eyes off the screen, however, his heavy-handedness at the film's climax is disappointing,
especially during a pedantic speech by the villain that unravels everything he had worked hard to build previously. Still,
there's enough to absorb in the film's first half to make it an enjoyable misstep.
The Recruit will most likely be a success with audiences, and it deserves to be seen even if it's too coy for its
own good. The performance by Pacino and the likability of Farrell and Moynahan is enough to please most viewers, who
are used to sloppy, cliched conclusions. But it's disheartening to see a film with as much promise as The Recruit falter
under the weight of its own misjudged labrynth-like plot contrivances.
© 2003 Jonathan Cornwell
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 |
 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
 | Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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