Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Al Pacino | ... | Walter Burke | |
Colin Farrell | ... | James Douglas Clayton | |
Bridget Moynahan | ... | Layla Moore | |
Gabriel Macht | ... | Zack | |
Kenneth Mitchell | ... | Alan (as Ken Mitchell) | |
Mike Realba | ... | Ronnie Gibson | |
Ron Lea | ... | Bill Rudolph, Dell Rep | |
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Karl Pruner | ... | Dennis Slayne |
Jeanie Calleja | ... | Co-Ed #1 | |
Jenny Cooper | ... | Blonde with Cell Phone (as Jennifer Levine) | |
Angelo Tsarouchas | ... | Cab Driver | |
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Veronica Hurnick | ... | Polygraph Interrogator (as Veronika Hurnik) |
Eugene Lipinski | ... | Husky Man | |
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Mark Ellis | ... | Test Instructor |
Richard Fitzpatrick | ... | Rob Stevens |
In an era when the country's first line of defense, intelligence, is more important than ever, this story 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 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 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, 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 ... Written by wild62
In "The Recruit" a computer whiz (Farrell) is recruited to be trained as a CIA operative and ends up playing cat and mole inside the agency while keeping the audience wondering who's "cat" and who's "mole". The film is a slick shoot with a convoluted plot which tries to work the notion that in the spy game no one can trust anyone. Unfortunately the film is dumbed down, full of plot holes and obvious contrivances, doesn't work well in the human drama, and relies too much on techno-junk and gobbledygook computer hacking spy stuff. Though "The Recruit" isn't much of a movie given the talent behind it, it is busy and keeps you guessing all the way to the conclusion. An okay watch for Pacino fans and anyone in the mood for a lukewarm spy flick. (B-)