The Recruit
Posted by David | Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Film Reviews
There’s a new name in Hollywood that has the charm, talent, and sheer luck to unseat Tom Cruise from his action hero throne: Colin Farrell. If you’ve been paying attention, you can easily point out his supporting roles in Minority Report and Daredevil; or, if you’re particularly good, you might have recognized the name from the somewhat lackluster Bruce Willis feature, Hart’s War. Farrell’s real claim to fame, however, has been The Recruit, starring as a CIA trainee under the watchful eye of everyone’s favorite hardball, Al Pacino.
This kid’s got it made. The film, which almost plays out like an unofficial Mission:Impossible, does a better job of shining a bright spotlight on Colin than it does telling the story — a student/master conflict that aptly captures the idea of “in with the new, out with the old.” Don’t get me wrong, the plot is actually very engaging and deliciously complex, but in ten years it’ll be Farrell who’s remembered. And for good reason, as he is the strongest lead actor I’ve seen since, well, Cruise.
If you’ve seen the trailer for Recruit, then you likely already know the plot and its twist ending (or at least one of them) — as a side note, considering the sheer brunt of interest the trailer generates, film studios should really put more effort into enticing rather than spoiling the plot of potential blockbusters. For those who haven’t seen the trailer, young college graduate James Clayton (Farrell) is recruited in thrilling cloak-n-dagger fashion by CIA trainer Walter Burke (Pacino). Through the course of who-knows-how-long, Clayton endures the tests and trials of the Farm, a highly secret facility that transforms wannabe spies into real James Bond-style agents. Of course, the CIA knows a pretty face when it sees one, and has also recruited Layla Moore (Bridget Moynahan, another rising star). Clayton and Moore are inevitably paired up on operations and form a pseudo-competitive relationship, just as the plot takes off and the fun begins.
Previous films notwithstanding, director Roger Donaldson carefully lays out this multi-tiered spy flick layer by layer, building suspense and intrigue until the last scene; even if you have seen the trailer, this film wins by being so enjoyably intricate. The beautiful cinematography, thoughtful script, and top-notch acting definitely help, however.
In the end, the Recruit should be enjoyed while calling one’s agent to book Farrell — before he reaches Tom Cruise’s multi-million contract fees.
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