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Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Bridget Moynahan, Gabriel Macht, Karl Pruner ... see more see more... , Eugene Lipinski , Conrad Bergschneider , Tony Craig , Ron Lea , Chris Owens , Richard Fitzpatrick , Janet Bailey , Arlene Mazerolle , Ray Paisley , John Shafer , Brian Rhodes , Domenico Fiore , Elisa Moolecherry , Steve Lucescu , Merwin Mondesir , Jessica Greco , Mark Robert Ellis , Jeanie Calleja , Neil Crone , Oscar Hsu , Kenneth Mitchell , Scott McCord , Jenny Levine , Angelo Tsarouchas , Mike Realba , Steve Behal , Sheldon Davis , David Boyce , Veronika Hurnik , John Watson , Sam Kalilieh , Jane Moffat , Bart Bedford , Tova Smith , Michael Rubenfeld , Shaun Verreault , Safwan Javed , Earl Pereira , Steven Lee Wright

A brilliant young man is tapped to join the elite branch of American intelligence, only to discover how complex and dangerous the job can really be in this suspense-drama. James Clayton (Colin Farrell... read more read more...) recently completed his studies at MIT, where he graduated at the top of his class and is pondering his next move while he works as a bartender at an upscale nightspot. One evening, Clayton is approached by Walter Burke (Al Pacino), a recruiter for the Central Intelligence Agency, who describes himself as "a scary judge of talent" and believes Clayton is just the sort of man the CIA is looking for. Clayton, who has little interest in an ordinary nine-to-five career and suspects his father (whom Burke claims to have known) worked for the Agency, accepts the offer and is soon sent to the CIA's secret training camp. It soon becomes obvious that Burke's intuition has not failed him; Clayton is smart, fast on his feet, a crack shot, and possesses a very agile mind. In training, Clayton notices a few things, most notably one of his fellow students, Layla (Bridget Moynahan), a beautiful woman whose skills equal his own. Clayton becomes quite infatuated with Layla, and after a fashion the attraction appears to be mutual, but Clayton has to keep in mind Burke's dictum that "nothing is as it seems," especially when Clayton is given a special assignment -- find the mole within the Agency's training program who is actually feeding information to America's enemies. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

63% liked it

103,456 ratings

Critics

43% liked it

164 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Roger Donaldson

Release Date: January 31, 2003

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DVD Release Date: May 27, 2003

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Stats: 2,899 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,899)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    February 4, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The Recruit is a film that showcases an interesting idea, but simply doesn't quite get there. It's a great shame because this film could have been something great, unfortunately it falls flat after 45 minutes in, and the plot seems to stop dead in its tracks. The recruit could ha... read moreve been a good film, but instead it just becomes a mediocre film that ends up being a waste of time. You'd think that a film with a strong lead in Al Pacino would be good, right? Well, this one disappoints and by the end of the film you feel that something is missing to really make this film a must see film. Unfortunately , this film is not interesting, and the plot goes nowhere after 45 minutes. The acting was decent, but overall everything seems out of place after a while. The Recruit is a pointless action film that just doesn't deliver. I thought the film could have been much better than this, and it was a total waste. The Recruit had a good idea for a plot, unfortunately the second act of the film just doesn't deliver, and that's what makes this film mediocre. The Recruit is one of those films that had a good idea, but due to a poor script, simply doesn't cut it, and ends up being a flawed film. If you're looking for a good action spy thriller, then don't watch this film. This film is quite disappointing and ends up being a dud by the time the credits role.
  • fb100001048934982
    July 13, 2011
    fb100001048934982
    'The Recruit' is a nasty little thriller whose twists and turns keep you guessing until the end, even if its obvious who the real antagonist is. The plot is a bit contrived and the performances aren't spectacular, but the movie delivers cool, swift entertainment. It's not incredi... read morebly well-made, but much more enjoyable if you sit back and let the plot unfold before you.
  • moonrivers
    April 9, 2011
    moonrivers
    Okay performances in a rote exercise of predictability.
  • imrealgod
    February 7, 2011
    imrealgod
    Same old CIA crap. I was expecting a thriller, if not a suspense, but this was outright predictable (lacks even a single unexpected twist) with a rotten presentation. Al Pacino's star power didn't make it any better. He was mediocre (as was the movie).
  • 76Majikat
    December 22, 2009
    76Majikat
    It was hard to believe that Colin Farrell was putting on an accent in this film, the accent seems to come second nature to him now. A smooth, Action Thriller, which glimpses into the presumed training techniques within the CIA.

    Trust and loyalty cannot be depended upon and ... read moreeverything is a game!

    Another good role for Al Pacino and an enjoyable conclusion.
  • ythelastman89
    November 24, 2009
    ythelastman89
    While the plot is a little predictable and weak, Al Pacino and Colin Farrell make this an extremely fun movie. The acting is just so good that it almost balances out the mediocre nature of it. It's worth watching at least once, but is a failure in being an effective spy thriller.
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    This film has its moments but it is basically a ?Frankenstein film? put together from parts of other, superior war films.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    April 4, 2009
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Trust. Betrayal. Deception. In the C.I.A. nothing is what it seems."

    A brilliant young CIA trainee is asked by his mentor to help find a mole in the Agency.

    REVIEW

    There's not too much to say about ... read moreThe Recruit. It was definitely solid from start to finish. To start out, the story was fairly decent. I suppose it would be classified as a mix of thriller/suspense/drama. But, there is a style to this movie that in a sense makes it a partial comedy. More specifically, Al Pacino, who is excellent in his role, is non intentionally amusing in several scenes. The rest of the cast is decent as well. For a CIA movie, it is easy to understand and moves at a good pace. Nothing too slow or complicated. This is a good movie and should be at least watched once, if not several times to fully enjoy it.
  • thmtsang
    January 5, 2009
    thmtsang
    A bit like the rookie, Chris is the new CIA recruit put through his paces by his mentor (Al) to find a mole in the agency. Who can he trust? Good performances.
  • middleeasternfilms
    May 27, 2008
    middleeasternfilms
    Al Pacino has gone downhill in recent years (10 of them at least) and this predictable, drawn-out mess is a good example of why. The only bright spot in this thing is the acting of Colin Farrell, who doesn't phone in a performance here. He's very good in it. What a waste of talent.

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Critic Reviews

Andrew Sarris
February 12, 2003
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

Here I suspected the ultimate villain almost from the very beginning -- and, if I wasn't fooled, I can't imagine anyone else will be, either. Full Review

Michael Atkinson
February 5, 2003
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

The Recruit weighs in like a porous brick of recycled polypropylene. Full Review

Richard Roeper
February 3, 2003
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

I liked all those set pieces where they set up these elaborate schemes, and you're not sure who the good guy is, and the bad guy. Full Review

David Edelstein
February 1, 2003
David Edelstein, Slate

A conjurer's trick that delights for about an hour, then spirals into idiocy. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 31, 2003
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

A compelling, if throwaway, drama.

Stephen Hunter
January 31, 2003
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

It's nothing but style and noise, threadbare of content, empty of ideas.

Geoff Pevere
January 31, 2003
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

The Recruit manages to be almost utterly without innovation apart from its heroic determination to make matinee idol material out of a spy agency that pioneered the process of extra-legal bureaucratic... Full Review

Glenn Lovell
January 31, 2003
Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News

Unfolds more like a 100-minute game of Gotcha! than a conventional spy drama, and, depending on your tolerance for such things, this will either thrill or bore you. Full Review

Carla Meyer
January 31, 2003
Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle

The Recruit falters after it leaves the Farm, throwing in unbelievable plot devices and losing its high-wire tension. Full Review

Joe Baltake
January 31, 2003
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Taut psychological thriller. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Recruit Trivia

  • Name the director who links these movies? Species Cocktail Dante's Peak Cadillac Man The Worlds Fastest Indian Thirteen Days The Recruit  Answer »
  • What is James Clayton's special assignment in The Recruit ?  Answer »
  • In the film The Recruit, who was the recruiter?   Answer »
  • Whose film resume includes Minority Report, S.W.A.T. and The Recruit?  Answer »
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