Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
The great Kenneth Branagh (Thor) directs this national security thriller based on Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan character. The young C.I.A. agent (Chris Pine, Star Trek) discovers a sinister terrorist plot aimed at the heart of the U.S. economy. Also stars Keira Knightley, Kevin Costner and Branagh himself.
Recruited into the CIA as an analyst after being wounded in combat, Jack Ryan works undercover on Wall Street, tracking financial transactions and trying to spot the next attack on the U.S. When he spots suspicious activity, Ryan is dispatched to Moscow to dig deeper but quickly finds his role change from auditor to active field operative as he goes up against ruthless Russian mastermind Viktor Cherevin (Branagh). Even worse, Ryan's suspicious fiance Cathy (Knightley) has touched down in Russia to check on what he's up to... With the help of his mentor (Costner), Ryan will have to survive this difficult situation if he's to thwart Cherevin's plan to kill tens of thousands of Americans and destroy the U.S. economy.
The character of Ryan features in nine Clancy novels, and has been played on screen by previously by Alec Baldwin (The Hunt for the Red October), Harrison Ford (Patriot Games) and Ben Affleck (The Sum of All Fears). Unlike those movies, Shadow Recruit is not based on one of Clancy's books.
- Director:
- Kenneth Branagh ('Thor', 'Hamlet')
- Writer:
- Adam CozadDavid Koepp
- Cast:
- Chris PineKeira KnightleyKevin CostnerKenneth BranaghNonso AnozieGemma ChanColm FeoreKaren David
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Tony Stamp
flicksThe fifth film to feature the Jack Ryan character, this instalment attempts to rebrand its hunky spy for a new decade. We meet him as a budding university student in 2001, before the 9/11 attacks prompt him to sign up and head off to war, eventuating in an act of heroism that leads to his recruitment into the C.I.A.
Much better than expected
Had marginal expectation & really enjoyed it. Very good acting from Chris Pine and cast (even Kenneth Branagh was a believable Russian baddie), and fast paced plot with good amount of action without being OTT, and same with the quota of love interest. Kept my interest throughout without any lulls. Overall - great.
Won't do much for U.S./Russian relations.
Tom Clancy's 'Reds under the bed' obsession continues and this time sees Kenneth Branagh, of all people, as the Ruski villain. He also directs this fast paced but predictable flick. Chris Pine looks gorgeous in his usual Chris Piney sort of way, Kiera Knightley manages an American accent ( but begs the question, why not cast an American?). If you love...
Tom Clancy : Shadow Movie Writer
Jack Ryan:Shadow Recruit Well worth a anxiaty attack, in parts as fast paced as 'XXX' and with the same baddie. Action packed with lots to think about along the way. Some parts seem little far fetched, yet believable, set in the now, I liked that. A movie from a polictical, espionage military writer Tom Clancy. In the favour of 'Clear and Present Danger'...
Variety
pressCrisp, efficient and appreciably modest in scale...this conspicuous attempt to breathe new life into a long-dormant action franchise gets at least a few things right, chiefly the shrewd casting of Chris Pine.
Time Out
pressThe plot’s a bit complex for what amounts to a lot of running around — the movie can’t help but evoke the Bourne series along with a high-gloss hint of Skyfall, not wholly unpleasantly.
The Dissolve
pressThere’s promising raw material here, particularly in the early scenes. But the film’s second half seems determined to snuff out the promise of its first, making it hard to wish for this incarnation of the character, or any, to have more big-screen adventures.
New Zealand Herald
pressYes JR:SR does the talking-acting bits well. But it can't quite match them with action or get past the feeling that this reboot story is an unspectacular retread of so many others.
FilmInk
pressWhile Kenneth Branagh does a competent job behind the camera, he’s unaided by a lazy, uninspired and hollow screenplay.
Flicks, Tony Stamp
flicksThe fifth film to feature the Jack Ryan character, this instalment attempts to rebrand its hunky spy for a new decade. We meet him as a budding university student in 2001, before the 9/11 attacks prompt him to sign up and head off to war, eventuating in an act of heroism that leads to his recruitment into the C.I.A.
Variety
pressCrisp, efficient and appreciably modest in scale...this conspicuous attempt to breathe new life into a long-dormant action franchise gets at least a few things right, chiefly the shrewd casting of Chris Pine.
Time Out
pressThe plot’s a bit complex for what amounts to a lot of running around — the movie can’t help but evoke the Bourne series along with a high-gloss hint of Skyfall, not wholly unpleasantly.
The Dissolve
pressThere’s promising raw material here, particularly in the early scenes. But the film’s second half seems determined to snuff out the promise of its first, making it hard to wish for this incarnation of the character, or any, to have more big-screen adventures.
New Zealand Herald
pressYes JR:SR does the talking-acting bits well. But it can't quite match them with action or get past the feeling that this reboot story is an unspectacular retread of so many others.
FilmInk
pressWhile Kenneth Branagh does a competent job behind the camera, he’s unaided by a lazy, uninspired and hollow screenplay.
Much better than expected
Had marginal expectation & really enjoyed it. Very good acting from Chris Pine and cast (even Kenneth Branagh was a believable Russian baddie), and fast paced plot with good amount of action without being OTT, and same with the quota of love interest. Kept my interest throughout without any lulls. Overall - great.
Won't do much for U.S./Russian relations.
Tom Clancy's 'Reds under the bed' obsession continues and this time sees Kenneth Branagh, of all people, as the Ruski villain. He also directs this fast paced but predictable flick. Chris Pine looks gorgeous in his usual Chris Piney sort of way, Kiera Knightley manages an American accent ( but begs the question, why not cast an American?). If you love...
Tom Clancy : Shadow Movie Writer
Jack Ryan:Shadow Recruit Well worth a anxiaty attack, in parts as fast paced as 'XXX' and with the same baddie. Action packed with lots to think about along the way. Some parts seem little far fetched, yet believable, set in the now, I liked that. A movie from a polictical, espionage military writer Tom Clancy. In the favour of 'Clear and Present Danger'...
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