The Recruit (DVD, 2003)

"The Recruit", starring Al Pacino and Colin Ferrell,
just released on DVD. This film is about the CIA's recruitment and
training techniques. Colin Ferrell plays a bartender who is recruited to
the CIA by Al Pacino, and faces a series of unique tests and ordeals in
order to become a full fledged agent. He finds himself in an array of
situations, and is never quite sure what is real and what is just
another test. These twists and turns are meant to kept the audience guessing
as well as the main character, I was fully aware of the movie's outcome right from the start. Perhaps I would have been more interested if the trailer had not given away so much. The movie does have some interesting moments, Colin Ferrell certainly possesses the star power to carry the movie, and Pacino is as good as ever in a lesser role, however I found the film predictable and,even though it is filled with action, a bit boring at times. The movie is uneven, wanting very badly to be a psychological thriller, yet rarely elevating beyond typical action flick. There are some minor subplots that never go anywhere which I found frustrating. The premise of the CIA's recruitment procedures is new and interesting, but there are just too many
loose ends dangling after the climax of the movie, leaving the viewer
unsatisfied.