RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / The Recruit
The Recruit

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Recruit (2003)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
43 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:163

Fresh:70

Rotten:93

Average Rating:5.5/10

Consensus: This polished thriller is engaging until it takes one twist too many into the predictable.

Runtime: 1 hr 55 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: James Clayton is fired up. A bartender by night and computer hacker in the few hours of daylight for which he manages to leave his water bed, the kid is flying high, on a roll with a laid-back... James Clayton is fired up. A bartender by night and computer hacker in the few hours of daylight for which he manages to leave his water bed, the kid is flying high, on a roll with a laid-back lifestyle that suits him just fine. Played by an agile Colin Farrell, Clayton is also a heartthrob with his five o'clock shadow and chiseled pecks. A cushy job offer from Dell computers peaks his interest in securing a professional career, and at the same moment he meets Walter Burke (Al Pacino), a recruiter from the CIA. Though Clayton's better judgement tells him to stay away from the shady Burke, he is curious to learn whatever he can about his father, who was also a CIA agent, killed in the line of duty. Clayton is sent to an intensive CIA training camp called "The Farm," where he quickly learns the gravity of his decision as he undergoes gruelling tests of physical, mental, and psychological strength. His romantic interest in the gorgeous, tough-as-nails Layla (Bridget Moynahan), a fellow trainee, becomes a weakness as the pressure of the tests steadily increases. Finally, without warning, Clayton is thrown into action as he and Burke go head-to-head in a mission that is more dangerous than either of them realize. With top-notch performances from a sly Pacino and a pumped-up Farrell, THE RECRUIT's best moments come from the intensity resonating between its characters. In addition, the settings and training activities at "The Farm" give intriguing insights into CIA recruitment and initiation. [More]

Starring: Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Bridget Moynahan, Gabriel Macht

Starring: Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Bridget Moynahan, Gabriel Macht

Director: Roger Donaldson

Director: Roger Donaldson
Screenwriter: Kurt Wimmer, Mitch Glazer, Roger Towne
Producer: Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Jeff Apple
Studio: Touchstone Pictures

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 17

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for The Recruit

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
61 - 80 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Slick, suspenseful ... aimed at those who relish cloak-and -dagger mind games.

Full Review Source: www.susangranger.com | comment Comment
02/03/03
Susan Granger
Susan Granger
www.susangranger.com

I liked all those set pieces where they set up these elaborate schemes, and you're not sure who the good guy is, and the bad guy.

Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
02/03/03
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper

Namby-pamby criticisms of omission aside, The Recruit is a solid and enticing little thriller, a fun and engaging movie.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Today | comment Comment
02/03/03
Brent Simon
Brent Simon
Entertainment Today

When it comes to action and suspense, The Recruit delivers.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
02/03/03
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
Film Threat

The Recruit is slick entertainment that's surprisingly restrained.

Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | comment Comment
02/03/03
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

The story is almost to the point that if you saw the trailer - you saw the film.

Full Review Source: KBTV-NBC (Beaumont, TX) | comment Comment
02/02/03
Danny Minton
Danny Minton
KBTV-NBC (Beaumont, TX)

Roger Donaldson's The Recruit represents the cool, jaded spy flick our dissatisfied generation needs today. And that's a good thing.

Full Review Source: Film Snobs | comment Comment
02/02/03
Jimmy O
Jimmy O
Film Snobs

We're in serious trouble if The Recruit even approaches accuracy about CIA operations.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
02/02/03
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Modamag.com | comment Comment
02/02/03
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
Modamag.com

Tries hard to work its audience into a second-guessing frenzy just for the sake of doing it.

Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | comment Comment
02/02/03
Jeffrey Chen
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies

Farrell nearly perfectly portrays this role, capturing the intelligence, physicality, sex appeal and wit of the character.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
02/02/03
Annlee Ellingson
Annlee Ellingson
Boxoffice Magazine

Its intense storyline and engaging characters gradually manage to enthrall you up until the clumsily orchestrated climax.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
02/01/03
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

Two acts in search of a third.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
02/01/03
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

A conjurer's trick that delights for about an hour, then spirals into idiocy.

Full Review Source: Slate | comment Comment
02/01/03
David Edelstein
David Edelstein
Slate

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
02/01/03
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

The Recruit is tense and smart -- perhaps too smart for its own good.

Full Review Source: Journal News (Westchester, NY) | comment Comment
02/01/03
Marshall Fine
Marshall Fine
Journal News (Westchester, NY)

Somewhere in Al Pacino's contract there must be a clause that says he must have a 10-minute speech somewhere toward the end of the movie that allows him a super-dramatic moment and gives him an ultra-dramatic speech.

Full Review Source: Zap2it.com | comment Comment
01/31/03
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski
Zap2it.com

Pacino is brilliant as their up front and cagey CIA instructor.

Full Review Source: CinemaBlend.com | comment Comment
01/31/03
Joshua Tyler
Joshua Tyler
CinemaBlend.com

A compelling, if throwaway, drama.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/31/03
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post

It's nothing but style and noise, threadbare of content, empty of ideas.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/31/03
Stephen Hunter
Stephen Hunter
Washington Post
 
 
61 - 80 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
all

Latest News for The Recruit

April 22, 2008: Pacino, De Niro Take Lumps for Recent Choices Opens in new window
Robert De Niro and Al Pacino might be among the greatest living American actors -- but have they forgotten why they started acting in the first place? More...

January 19, 2006: Critical Consensus: "Spear," "New World" Are OK, Not Great
This week at the movies brings us three culture clashes: Native Americans and Europeans ("The New World"), the Waodani people of Ecuador and a group of missionaries... More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
14% 14% The Ugly Truth
98% 98% Up
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
36% 36% Angels & Demons
68% 68% Funny People
25% 25% Four Christmases
45% 45% Shorts

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

5 facts straight from the cast.

Disney Animation

Disney Animation

We chart the studio's classics.

Avatar

Avatar

An exclusive look at the human hardware.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana

The Star Trek star talks cars with RT.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
51
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
24
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
48
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
26
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
128
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
181
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
92
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
77
  • Friday Harvest: The Road, Avatar, and more!
75
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
69
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
45
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
22
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
17
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
16
  • Duncan Jones Reteams With Kevin Spacey
2
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
16
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
11
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
21
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
21
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Recruit at Rotten Tomatoes
  • The Recruit at IGN
  • The Recruit at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.