THE RECRUIT [2002] Al Pacino, Colin Farrell ; Rated 12A

Colin Farrell really is making sure that he starts his career off on the right foot. 'The Recruit' being just one of the many films he is starring in at the moment. Pairing him with Al Pacino also certainly doesn't do his credentials any harm and with Farrell just starting his acting career and well Pacino being obviously well established, the parallels which run between real life and the films characters are quite apparent. This I think is why on a sub-conscience level at least the film seems so down to earth. That however isn't all that's good about the film. The plot is intriguing and engaging, on many levels I might add, and even though the plot is more predictable than it thinks it is, it plays out very well and for the most part the movie keeps you interested. It's just as a result of the film trying so hard to keep it's feet on the ground and not slip in to the cheap shoes of a standard Hollywood action-thriller, it becomes a little too restrained for my taste. I always felt the film kept banging it's head on the genres ceiling, in parts it was clear it was trying to break out and become something better. Even though the 'The Recruit' does try to become more than it is, it unfortunately doesn't manage to and as a result of the directors attempts to add a sense of style to the flik, he not only misses the Hollywood stereotypical boat, he also misses the cool and slick boat as well. So he essentially makes a film that feels a little bland and unsure of it self. The girls will ignore all of those set backs and of course think the movie is the best thing since slice bread, obviously as a result of Farrell's apparent sex appeal. But for me, who isn't won over by the leads looks, I feel it could have been so much better.

3/5