The Recruit
The Recruit ★★½ 2003 (PG-13)
In a role that should mean leading-man superstardom, Farrell is James Clayton, an MIT graduate on his way to the good life when he's approached by CIA “talent scout” Walter Burke (Pacino). Walter says James has the goods to be a top agent and entices him with the promise of info on his dad, who died in a plane crash in 1990. Once on the Farm, the CIA training center, James learns the ropes and meets beautiful fellow spook-wannabe Layla (Moynahan), who may not be what she appears. Pacino is in full-on scenerychewing mode, which helps when the plot heads into spy cliche territory near the end. Farrell and Moynihan provide good chemistry, which helps pick up the slack when Pacino's not around. 105m/C VHS, DVD . US Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Bridget Moynahan, Gabriel Macht, Karl Pruner, Eugene Lipinski; D: Roger Donaldson; W: Roger Towne, Mitch Glazer, Kurt Wimmer; C: Stuart Dryburgh; M: Klaus Badelt.