The Recruit

“The Recruit,” released in 2003, shows that the training process of the Central Intelligence Agency is like a fraternity beginning, but more dangerous. At one point wanna-be agents are given a time limit to walk into a singles bar and report back to the parking lot with a partner willing to sleep with them. Strange, isn’t it? As for the Company’s years of embarrassments and enemy spies in the ranks? Do you think you can quickly think up of any historical event in world history that is given a stamp of CIA success? The senior teacher is Walter Burke, played by Al Pacino in a performance that is just plain fun to watch, bad-tempered, dull, with a wrinkled charm. He recruits an MIT smart-aleck named James Clayton, played by Irish actor the women go crazy over, Colin Farrell, who turns down a huge offer from Dell Computers because he wants to know more about the fate of his late father, a CIA agent, or maybe because he uses a Macintosh.

Clayton is taken to The Farm, a country hideaway somewhere in Ontario, copying for Virginia, where during the entrance exam he instantly falls for the lovely and fragrant Layla, played by the hot Bridget Moynahan. He also meets Zack, played by Gabriel Macht, a former Miami cop who speaks English, Spanish and Farsi.

The training process has a series of Bond-like sequences where the agents learn certain skills like blowing up cars: (a) throw the bomb under the car and (b) detonate. They are also taught about recyclable listening devices, weapons usage and how to shadow someone. Roger Ebert mentioned, “And they are told of an agency superweapon that (I think I heard this right) can plug into an electric socket and disable every digital device connected to the grid. Agents: Be sure Mr. Coffee has completed his brewing cycle before employing weapon.”

The beginning scenes in the film are entertaining, of course, because Pacino works his character for all its grayish charm, and Colin Farrell is not only extremely likable but fascinates audiences with his permanent four-day beard. His chemistry with Layla is real enough, but come on: When he walks into the bar to pick up someone, doesn’t he think that it is obviously a coincidence that Layla is already there? Ebert mentions, “Mata Hari would make mincemeat of this guy, but the girl shows promise; as Marlene Dietrich usefully observed, "It took more than one man to change my name to Shanghai Lily."” Still, it’s fascinating to see these young novices learning about their job, and to hear Pacino’s observations, which are to the point (“I don’t have answers. Only secrets.”), tough (“They show you your medal. You don’t even get to take it home”), satisfied (“Our cause is just”) and helpful (“Nothing is what it seems. Trust no one.”). Burke wisely sticks to political generalizations, so that the film can play in foreign theaters. The closest it comes to current events is in the mention of Farsi, which is the native language of Iran, although, as Michael Caine likes to say, not many people know that.

Ebert comments, “The first two acts of the film are fun because they're all setup and build-up, and because the romance between James and Layla is no more cornball and contrived than it absolutely has to be.” The third act is a mess. It assigns Pacino with the thankless role of the Talking Killer (not the he necessarily kills). That’s the guy who has to stand there and explain the difficulties of the plot with any real CIA veteran would just kill the guy mercilessly. By the time Burke finishes everything, we’re realizing that the songs “Nothing is what it seems” and “Trust no one,” if taken seriously, reveals the entire story. There is however a nice little misunderstanding at the end that earns a laugh.

Ebert said, “The movie was directed by Roger Donaldson, who does political thrillers about as well as anyone; his "Thirteen Days" (2001), about the Cuban missile crisis, and "No Way Out" (1987), about a scandal in the Pentagon, were gripping and intelligent, and "The Recruit" is so well directed and acted that only a churl such as myself would question its sanity.” It’s the type of movie you can sit back and enjoy, as long as you don’t make the mistake of thinking too much.

Anyway, if you think this movie is for you, then go ahead and watch it. I’m not very fond of Colin Farrell, but if you want to watch it for him, then go ahead. My main reason was Pacino followed by Moynahan, and it’s a great film that shows the inside of the CIA. Definitely check it out because it is good, but only up until the third act.

Watch out for this Friday because it will be the conclusion of “Al Pacino Month.”