The Recruit

There is plenty to like about The Recruit. The film features a nifty premise and a solid cast. Unfortunately, the films script collapses under a weight of plot twists, which are fairly predictable. Its a close call, because I really wanted to like The Recruit, but ultimately I felt buried underneath the avalanche of a shaky screenplay. Colin Farrell stars as James Clayton, a hotshot computer whiz who gets recruited by Walter Burke (Al Pacino) to join the CIA. Clayton is reluctant at first, until he begins to suspect that Burke may have information about Claytons father who disappeared under mysterious circumstances about 10 years earlier. Clayton is sent to a remote Virginia farm where he begins to train with other prospective CIA workers, including Layla (Bridget Moynahan), a feisty beauty that Clayton begins to have feelings for. As fate (or at least Hollywood screenwriters) would have it, Clayton is soon given his first assignment gathering evidence that proves Layla is actually a mole. The first hour of the film really clicks as we are taken inside the training of techniques of these CIA trainees. I doubt the training sequences are actually that authentic (after all, how important to national security is an agents ability to pick up a woman in a bar?). Still, the film moves along at a brisk pace with a slick stylistic feel by director Roger Donaldson. But once the film gets off the farm, it comes crashing to a halt, despite desperate attempts by Donaldson and screenwriters Roger Towne and Kurt Wimmer to keep the film moving along. The espionage material tries to be surprising, but anyone who has seen the films trailer probably has a good idea where the plot is going. Despite the plot problems, I liked the chemistry between the leads. Pacino has always been one of my favorite actors and, until an over-the-top monologue that borders on self-parody in the final third, he seems a calm, cool and interesting mentor. Farrell (Minority Report) continues to develop into a credible leading man and has a brooding quality that really fits his character. He also has really nice chemistry with Pacino, and with Moynahan, who adequately captures her characters sexy and seductive nature. Unfortunately, good performances arent quite enough. There were some interesting possibilities that Towne and Kimmer could have explored, but instead they resort to red herrings and mistaken identifies. Plus, Donaldson could have pulled it off; his handling of similar material in the Kevin Costner film No Way Out was much more effective. It all adds up to a disappointing case of what could have been. Its appropriate that The Recruit got a winter release date. Although it tried to provide heat and energy to its genre, it ultimately feels like cold leftovers that have been lingering for months. Sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton wont leave well enough alone, and after reviewing two CIA movies in as many weeks, is trying to keep a low profile. To comment on his reviews, e-mail him at mcompton@bgdailynews.com… but do it in some sort of code, and remember: The crow flies at midnight.