Plot: What’s it about?
James Clayton (Colin Farrell) is a skilled programmer who turned heads during his time at MIT, not to mention got the attention of the CIA. Walter Burke (Al Pacino) is a seasoned CIA officer who sees potential in Clayton and recruits him to join the ranks, but he has to pass the entrance exams first. As it turns out, Clayton breezes through The Farm’s grueling training process, which fine tunes the recruits for actual service. While he is earmarked as the best of his class, Clayton does have some bad habits, namely his attitude and his emotional involvement with a fellow recruit, Layla (Bridget Moynahan). Burke is able to push Clayton to his limits, exploiting his weaknesses and testing him in intense mental & emotional trials. But when Burke offers his recruit the chance of a lifetime, how will Clayton respond and how will he perform?
The Recruit seemed to be a can’t miss, with established star power like Al Pacino teamed with rising stars Colin Farrell and Bridget Moynahan. But the movie turned out to be more miss than hit, pulling in negative critical response and a disappointing take at the box office. I don’t think The Recruit is a great movie, but it isn’t as bad as its reputation suggests. In truth, it is a basic spy thriller that has some bright spots, but never rises above the rest of the pack. Pacino is fun to watch, even in the more bland scenes, while Farrell and Moynhan offer solid performances as well. The leads can also do so much however, as the writing spirals down into formulaic waters and never looks back. But while it isn’t memorable, The Recruit does offer decent entertainment and is by no means bad, it just isn’t that good. So if you’re a fan of spy thrillers with ample twists and betrayals, then The Recruit makes a fine rental, especially in this Blu-ray release.
Video: How does it look?
The Recruit is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a solid visual effort that tops the DVD, but doesn’t keep pace with the best high definition transfers out there. The level of detail varies, so some scenes look excellent with tremendous depth, while others could pass for a high end standard resolution presentation. So when it looks good, it looks damn good, but sadly, it doesn’t always look that impressive. I found colors to be flawless, with vivid hues and accurate flesh tones, but contrast runs on the dark side and seems to obscure a little detail at times. In the end, I don’t want to seem overly harsh, as the transfer is good, it just doesn’t stand out like the best high definition transfers do.
Audio: How does it sound?
This uncompressed PCM 5.1 option isn’t the best I’ve heard, but is effective and enhances the experience. The surrounds are put to good use, both in terms of power and presence. So when things get loud, so do the speakers, but even the more reserved scenes have good ambiance. The background elements might not be memorable, but they add realism that helps us get pulled into the movie and that is always good. Not all scenes pack the same kind of punch, but most sound good and some sound great, so this is a more than solid soundtrack. This disc also includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 option, a Spanish language track, and subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main attraction here is an audio commentary with director Roger Donaldson and star Colin Farrell. The two provide their own unique perspectives, so Donaldson has a technical approach, while Farrell relies more on anecdotes and memories from the production. This gives the session a nice balance and while not one of the best tracks I’ve listened to, this is a good one and worth a spin for fans. This disc also includes a sixteen minute featurette, as well as some deleted scenes.
