THE RECRUIT

Year: 2003
USA: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
UK: Buena Vista International UK
Cast: Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Bridget Moynahan, Gabriel Macht, Kenneth Mitchell, Brian Rhodes, Eugene Lipinski, Clayne Crawford, Mark Ellis, Misty Kelley, Aaron Michael Lacey, Jenny Levine, Steve Lucescu, Merwin Mondesir, Karl Pruner, Mike Realba, Michael Rubenfeld
Director: Roger Donaldson
Country: USA
USA & UK: 115 mins
USA Rated: PG-13 for violence, sexuality and language
UK Certificate: 12A contains one use of strong language and some moderate violence
USA Release Date: 31 January 2003
UK Release Date: 28 March 2003
UK Release Date: 21 March 2003 (Limited Release - London, West End)

Synopsis

In an era when the country's first line of defense, intelligence, is more important than ever, comes an explosive thriller starring Al Pacino and Colin Farrell that for the first time opens the CIA's infamous closed doors and gives an insider's view into the Agency: how trainees are recruited, how they are prepared for the spy game, and what they learn to survive.

James Clayton (Colin Farrell) might not have the attitude of a typical recruit, but he is one of the smartest graduating seniors in the country - and he's just the person that Walter Burke (Al Pacino) wants in the Agency. James regards the CIA's mission as an intriguing alternative to an ordinary life, but before he becomes an Ops Officer, James has to survive the Agency's secret training ground, where green recruits are moulded into seasoned veterans.

As Burke teaches him the ropes and the rules of the game, James quickly rises through the ranks and falls for Layla (Bridget Moynahan), one of his fellow recruits. But just when James starts to question his role and his cat-and-mouse relationship with his mentor, Burke taps him for a special assignment to root out a mole. As the suspense builds toward a gripping climax, it soon becomes clear that the CIA's old maxims are true: "trust no one" and "nothing is what it seems."