The Recruit (2003)

A computer programming expert James Clayton is offered a job at the CIA by senior CIA instructor Walter Burke. Clayton has a job offer from Dell as well. But, he wants to know more about his missing father who was a former CIA agent. Thus James takes up the offer and an intense training period follows.

He clears all the hurdles and just when we think he is thrown out of 'the farm', Burke says that he has been selected as an NOC agent. His task is to find out the person to whom a mole in the CIA is reporting to. Clayton takes up the job earnestly. Clayton also has a romantic track running with a fellow CIA agent Layla.

In the end, all is not what it seems and there is a twist in the tale. The climax pattern has inspired Ajith's Billa's climax.

The training regimen is interesting. Colin Farrell comes across as a young Turk with his energy, intensity and super looks. Its a cake walk for Al Pacino and he does well towards the climax. Bridget Moynahan looks very pretty as Layla

Pretty gripping movie, watchable once on the whole.

VERDICT: A straight-forward Hollywood thriller with the mandatory twist in the end.