Welcome Aboard

The Recruit

Director: Roger Donaldson

Cast: Al Pacino, Colin Farrell, Bridget Moynahan

Cert: 15

Dubliner Farrell may be in just about every film that comes our way, but he's still picking good roles.

There is, for someone as prolific as Farrell, who also manages to match the frequency of his films with the frequency of his appearances in the tabloids for his, er, lavish and colourful lifestyle, the danger of making films merely for the money, or for the sake of it.

But if some of his films have not exactly been classics, Farrell has often risen above the carnage and gained rave reviews. Often, too, in the face of fierce competition from some of Hollywood's top stars.

He does it here - coming out well ahead of the great Pacino - in a complex thriller set in the murky world of the CIA.

Farrell plays a young recruit at the organisation's 'school' whose mentor is the mysterious Pacino.

Mystery is the big thing in this film for, as we seem to be constantly reminded (by some often trite dialogue): 'Things are not what they may seem!'

Is Pacino's character as honest and decent as he should be?

Bridget Moynahan is there to add an unnecessary romantic twist to the story.

It's a passable adventure, weak on sustaining the early promise and a bit too clever for its own good.

Star Rating: 3/5