The Recruit (2003)

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writers (WGA):

Roger Towne (written by) and
Kurt Wimmer (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

31 January 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Thriller

Tagline:

Trust. Betrayal. Deception. In the C.I.A. nothing is what it seems.

Plot:

A brilliant young CIA trainee is asked by his mentor to help find a mole in the Agency.

Plot Keywords:

CIA | Mole | Mentor | Spy | Bathtub

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Walter Burke
Colin Farrell	...	James Douglas Clayton
Bridget Moynahan	...	Layla Moore
Gabriel Macht	...	Zack
Kenneth Mitchell	...	Alan (as Ken Mitchell)
Mike Realba	...	Ronnie Gibson
Ron Lea	...	Bill Rudolph, Dell Rep
Karl Pruner	...	Dennis Slayne
Jeanie Calleja	...	Co-Ed #1
Jenny Levine	...	Blonde with Cell Phone (as Jennifer Levine)
Angelo Tsarouchas	...	Cab Driver
Veronica Hurnick	...	Polygraph Interrogator (as Veronika Hurnik)
Eugene Lipinski	...	Husky Man
Mark Ellis	...	Test Instructor
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	Rob Stevens
John Watson	...	Guard
Chris Owens	...	Art Wallis
Jessica Greco	...	Hot Girl at Blue Ridge
Sam Kalilieh	...	Elliot
Merwin Mondesir	...	Stan
Elisa Moolecherry	...	Lisa Sahadi
Sheldon Davis	...	Security Officer #1
Oscar Hsu	...	Psychiatrist #1
Arlene Mazerolle	...	Psychiatrist #2
Brian Rhodes	...	Psychiatrist #3
Steve Behal	...	Exam Procter
Jane Moffat	...	Polygraph Technician
Bart Bedford	...	Co-Worker
Tony Craig	...	Transit Cop
David Boyce	...	New Security Guard
Tova Smith	...	Beth
Michael Rubenfeld	...	Felix
Domenico Fiore	...	Farm Instructor #1 (as Dom Fiore)
Steve Lucescu	...	Farm Instructor #2
Neil Crone	...	Farm Instructor #3
Ray Paisley	...	Farm Instructor #4
Janet Bailey	...	Young Instructor #1
Scott McCord	...	Young Instructor #2
Shaun Verreault	...	Band Member #1
Safwan Javed	...	Band Member #2
Earl Pereira	...	Band Member #3
Conrad Bergschneider	...	Firing Range Instructor
John Wayne Shafer	...	Langley Gate Guard (as John Shafer)
Stephen Lee Wright	...	Running Instructor (as Steven Lee Wright)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Enrique Chicas	...	Baliente brother / Burrito vendor (uncredited)
Pamela Fischer	...	Airline Traveler (uncredited)
Thomas M. Hagen	...	Business Traveler (uncredited)
Darrell Hicks	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Rick Kain	...	Metro Cop (uncredited)
Misty Kelley	...	Tourist Traveler (uncredited)
Aaron Michael Lacey	...	Truck Worker (uncredited)
Sherard Parker	...	Langley Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Donaldson

Writing credits (WGA)
Roger Towne		(written by) and
Kurt Wimmer		(written by) and
Mitch Glazer		(written by)

Produced by
Jeff Apple	....	producer
Gary Barber	....	producer
Roger Birnbaum	....	producer
Jonathan Glickman	....	executive producer
Ric Kidney	....	executive producer
Megan Wolpert	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Klaus Badelt

Cinematography by
Stuart Dryburgh

Film Editing by
David Rosenbloom

Casting by
Robin D. Cook
Marcia Ross

Production Design by
Andrew McAlpine

Art Direction by
Dennis Davenport
Eric Hunsaker

Set Decoration by
Peter P. Nicolakakos

Costume Design by
Beatrix Aruna Pasztor		(as Beatrix Pasztor)

Makeup Department
John Caglione Jr.	....	makeup artist: Al Pacino
Sylvain Cournoyer	....	key makeup artist
Angel De Angelis	....	hair stylist: Mr. Pacino (as Angelina De Angelis-Halko)
Patricia Medina	....	assistant hair stylist
Jennifer Bower O'Halloran	....	key hair stylist (as Jennifer O'Halloran)
Julia Valente	....	assistant makeup artist
Sherri Bramlett	....	additional hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Lori Greenberg	....	assistant production manager
Mathew Hart	....	production manager
Shelly Kidney	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeff J.J. Authors	....	first assistant director
Julian Brain	....	assistant director: Washington DC
Darrin Brown	....	third assistant director
Penny Charter	....	second assistant director
Donald Colafranceschi	....	assistant director
Raymond J. Duff	....	assistant director
Greg Edmunds	....	trainee assistant director
Neil Lewis	....	second assistant director: Washington D.C.
Noelle Stehman	....	dga trainee
Janet Zdyb	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Deryck Blake	....	property master
Michael Davis	....	construction coordinator
Dawn H. Fisher	....	third assistant art director
Danielle Fleury	....	assistant set decorator
Steve George	....	property master
Jeffrey Pratt Gordon	....	set dresser
J. Ryan Halpenny	....	art apprentice
Eric Hunsaker	....	set decorator: Washington DC
Jon Hunter	....	graphic designer
Ernst W. Laurel	....	set estimator
Rupert Lazarus	....	first assistant art director
Ted Lubonovich II	....	construction gang boss: Washington D.C.
Aleksandra Marinkovich	....	second assistant art director
Rob McCallum	....	storyboard artist
Jeffrey A. Melvin	....	property buyer
Brad Milburn	....	third assistant art director
Silvija L. Moess	....	scenic artist
Ted Nolan	....	prop maker
Taylor Savas Reese	....	on-set dresser: Washington D.C.
Dusty Reeves	....	art department coordinator
David Ritchie	....	set dresser
Arlindo Vicente	....	lead man
Gordon White	....	set designer
Kirk Cheney	....	research and development (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jessica Bellfort	....	first assistant sound editor (as Jessica Rankin)
Tom Bellfort	....	supervising sound editor
David Boulton	....	adr mixer
Jeanette Browning	....	adr recordist
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Lisa Chino	....	dialogue assistant
Travis Crenshaw	....	foley recordist
David E. Fluhr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Douglas Ganton	....	production sound mixer
John Gutierrez	....	boom operator: Washington
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
David C. Hughes	....	sound effects editor
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Stuart McCowan	....	assistant sound effects editor
Frank 'Pepe' Merel	....	foley mixer
Christian P. Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Narramore	....	sound re-recordist
Jonathan Null	....	foley editor
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Michael Paterson	....	daily sound transferer
Alex Raspa	....	adr recordist: New York
James Sabat	....	production sound mixer
Kevin Sellers	....	foley editor
Gregg Silk	....	second engineer
Michael Silvers	....	dialogue editor
Steve Slanec	....	assistant dialogue editor
Erich Stratmann	....	sound effects editor
Jana Vance	....	foley artist
Gwendolyn Yates Whittle	....	adr supervisor
Alan Zielonko	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Michael H. Clark	....	special effects foreman
Kaz Kobielski	....	special effects coordinator
Ian Locke	....	special effects shop builder
Gary Pilkinton	....	special effects foreman
Mark Rice	....	key special effects
Dean Stewart	....	special effects office administrator

Visual Effects by
Michael Curtis	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Ron Bell	....	stunts
Phil Chiu	....	stunts
Shelley Cook	....	stunt double
Shelley Cook	....	stunts
Tig Fong	....	stunt rigger
Tig Fong	....	stunts
Monique Ganderton	....	stunts
Joel Harris	....	stunts
Brian Jagersky	....	stunts
Blair Johannes	....	stunts
Jamie Jones	....	stunts
Danny Lima	....	stunts
Steve Lucescu	....	stunt coordinator
Christopher McGuire	....	stunts (as Chris McGuire)
Darren McGuire	....	stunts
Billy Oliver	....	stunts (as Bill Oliver)
Edward A. Queffelec	....	stunts (as Ed Queffelec)
Michael Russo	....	stunt coordinator (as Mike Russo)
Keith Siglinger	....	stunt double
Manny Siverio	....	stunt double
Nick Alachiotis	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hubert Boorder	....	stunt actor (uncredited)
Neil Davison	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Monique Ganderton	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Christopher McGuire	....	stunt double (uncredited)
George Ploszczansky	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bryan Thomas	....	stunt actor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Scotty Allan	....	lighting director
Nicole Blanchard	....	second assistant camera
Sean Bourdeau	....	assistant key grip
Craig Bulmer	....	electrician
Gilles Corbeil	....	Steadicam operator
Gilles Corbeil	....	camera operator
Richard Emerson	....	key grip
Amanda Goble	....	film loader
Courtney Graham	....	assistant camera
Kerry Hayes	....	still photographer
Richard Klompus	....	video assist operator: Washington D.C.
Tim Kossa	....	additional grip
Thomas Loizeaux	....	camera operator
Clyde Miller	....	assistant camera: Wescam camera
Charlie Newberry	....	camera loader: Washington D.C.
Tom Nichols	....	key grip
David Norris	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Danny Piva	....	electrician
Christopher Raucamp	....	first assistant camera
Ronald Schlueter	....	video assist
Kirsta Teague	....	assistant camera
Paul Thompson	....	digital video assist operator: StormVision
Dave Tommasini	....	pilot: camera helicopter
Dave Tommasini	....	pilot: camera plane
Jasper Vrakking	....	24 frame video operator
Mark Walpole	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, USA
Paul Zoskey	....	24 frame video operator
Alfred J. Caragay	....	24 frame video operator (uncredited)
Rob Coughlin	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
David Reppen	....	electrician (uncredited)
Rick Strodel	....	grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
Billy D. Choi	....	animator

Casting Department
Nadia Aleyd	....	casting assistant
Aric Dupere	....	extras casting assistant
Donna Dupere	....	extras casting
Nicole Hilliard-Forde	....	casting associate: Canada
Kate Lacey	....	casting associate
Betsy Royall	....	local casting
Aaron Unrau	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Natalie Bronfman	....	costume dyer
Carl Curnutte III	....	costume supervisor: Washington D.C.
Francis Maiorino	....	costume assistant
Linda Petty	....	costume supervisor
Carol Wong	....	costume buyer

Editorial Department
Jeremy Bradley	....	apprentice editor
Craig Brown	....	post-production assistant
Joe Finley	....	digital colorist
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Berenicci Hershorn	....	second assistant film editor
Shaun Newton	....	post-production coordinator
Gregory Plotkin	....	first assistant editor
Richmond Riedel	....	first assistant editor
Kurt Smith	....	film color timer
Mary Beth Smith	....	negative cutter
Dawn M. Stoliar	....	first assistant editor
Mark C. Pituch	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music clearance
Christopher Brooks	....	music editor
Simon Changer	....	scoring assistant engineer
Ramin Djawadi	....	composer: additional music
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Alex Gibson	....	music editor
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Ian Honeyman	....	technical score assistant
Alan Meyerson	....	music scoring mixer
Blake Neely	....	orchestrator
Denise Okimoto	....	music editor
Jeremy Raub	....	assistant music editor

Transportation Department
Ron Annabelle	....	picture car captain
John Coles	....	driver: Roger Donaldson
Dave Staples	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Markus Alexander	....	stand-in
Samantha Armstrong	....	script supervisor
Wayne Arnold	....	additional second assistant
Lorrie Barth	....	second assistant accountant
J.B. Benna	....	production assistant
John 'Frenchie' Berger	....	armorer
Stephanie Lee Berger	....	weapons handler
John Francis Black II	....	second assistant accountant
Jason Bogard	....	production accountant
Chase Brandon	....	technical advisor
Michael Buster	....	dialect coach: Mr. Farrell
Kim Buttlar	....	executive coordinator: Mr. Barber
Jessica Chavez	....	assistant: Mr. Glickman
Jeffrey Chernov	....	production executive
David M. Chisholm	....	production secretary
Donald Colafranceschi	....	production assistant
Sean Coyne	....	on-set craft
Lou Crisa	....	assistant: Mr. Pacino
John Martin Davis	....	office production assistant
Cass Donaldson	....	assistant: Roger Donaldson
Katherine Dorrer	....	assistant location manager: Washington D.C.
Valerie Espinoza	....	assistant: Ric Kidney
Claudine Farrell	....	assistant: Mr. Farrell
Tracy Fedak	....	third assistant accountant (as Tracy Marie Fedak)
Carol Flaisher	....	location manager: Washington D.C.
Giancarlo Giannini	....	voice dubbing: Al Pacino
Niko Godfrey	....	production assistant: Washington D.C.
Steve Holt	....	on-set medic
David Honaker	....	production secretary
Fred Kamping	....	location manager
Dione Kane	....	assistant production coordinator
Ashley Kravitz	....	script clearance
Brad Ling	....	caterer
Rose Lister	....	first assistant accountant
Vair Macphee	....	production coordinator
Peter Madamba	....	script researcher
Jay May	....	product placement
Mark McFadden	....	assistant location manager
Alex Nikolic	....	media producer: Yugoslavia, Macedonia
Tony Radwan	....	office production assistant
Charles Rapp	....	production supervisor: Spyglass Entertainment
Benjamin R. Reder	....	production legal counsel
Ruben Flores Rios II	....	production assistant: Washington D.C.
Stephan Rothman	....	post-production accountant
Dan Saywich	....	helicopter pilot
Rebecca Sernasie	....	assistant: Roger Donaldson
Misha Skoric	....	assistant: Mr. Pacino
Dave Ian Smith	....	fire safety officer
Michelle K. Smith	....	production assistant
Alan Sutton	....	fire safety
Marlena Thomas	....	executive coordinator: Mr. Birnbaum
Vicki Thornton	....	production coordinator
Karen Tyrell	....	unit publicist
Drew Vandervelde	....	production assistant: Washington D.C.
Nick Veziris	....	gun wrangler
Judith Walder	....	assistant accountant
Cassidy Watkins	....	assistant: Al Pacino
Wade Whitman	....	assistant location manager
Robert Milo Williams	....	synthesizer programmer
Garson Yu	....	title designer
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative (uncredited)
George Ploszczansky	....	personal security: Al Pacino and Colin Farrell (uncredited)
Mack Syler	....	photo double &; stand in for colin farrell (uncredited)
Christopher Tin	....	intern: Klaus Badelt (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures (presents)
• Spyglass Entertainment (presents)
• Epsilon Motion Pictures

Distributors

• Bandur Film (2003) (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) (theatrical) (Montenegro) (Macedonia)
• Buena Vista International Italia (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Pictures (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cascade Film (2003) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Constantin Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Prooptiki (2004) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Rialto Film AG (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Studios (2003) (Republic of Macedonia) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2003) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• PlazaVista Entertainment (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD) (as Medaria Home Entertainment)
• Prooptiki Video (2004) (Greece) (VHS)
• SBS6 (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Effects Group

Other Companies

• Act One Script Clearance  script clearance and research
• Global Music Service  music copyist
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services
• Studios  media production (Yugoslavia) (Macedonia)
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack published by
• yU+Co.  main titles

Also Known As:

The Farm (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Persian | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Malaysia:U | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A (original rating) | UK:12 (video rating) | USA:PG-13 | Canada:A

Filming Locations:

Arlington, Virginia, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

When shown in theatres, the movie was in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. When it was released on DVD in May of 2003, it was presented in a ratio of 1.78:1, preserving Roger Donaldson's vision.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When Clayton is working the punch bag, just after Burke tells him that the bag knows more about him than he does, you can hear the director shout "cut" as Burke walks off.

Quotes:

Zack: [to Burke] Are you a senior instructor at the Farm?
Walter Burke: [wired up to a polygraph machine] Yes.
Polygraph Interrogator: True. OK, if you look at the screens, you'll see that his pulse is even, respiration normal, pupils undilated. Signs of the truth.
Walter Burke: Come on, rough me up, let's go. Rough me up.
Zack: [smiling] Have you ever worn women's clothing?
Walter Burke: [mock angry] Who said that? Yes.
Polygraph Interrogator: [smiling] True.
James Clayton: Were you ever stationed in Peru?
Walter Burke: Yes.
Polygraph Interrogator: True.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Change

Deja view

Another in a long line of thrillers that aren't as smart as they think they are, populated with supposedly ultra-smart characters doing really stupid things.

"Everything is a test." "Nothing is what it seems." Doesn't anyone ever listen? And what sort of feeble recruit cracks under interrogation after a few personal questions about sex? If these are the types of people the CIA enlists, we're all doomed.

I'd hoped for more from the Pacino/Farrell interplay which is cute but uninspired, given their talents. The disappointment continues as Farrell and Moynahan generate about as much spark as a match under a cold shower.

Add that to a boring plotline about a dead father and a pointless car chase and it all adds up to a little more than a DTV potboiler with bigger names.