Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Writers: Adam Cozad & David Koepp
Based on characters created by the late Tom Clancy
Starring: Chris Pine (Jack Ryan), Keira Knightley (Cathy Muller), Kevin Costner (Thomas Harper), Kenneth Branagh (Viktor Cherevin), Lenn Kudrjawizki (Constantin), Alec Utgoff (Aleksandr Borovsky), Elena Velikanova (Katya), Nonso Anozie (Embee Deng), Seth Ayott (Teddy Hefferman), Colm Feore (Rob Behringer), and Gemma Chan as Amy Chang.
911 the year the twin towers went down by an act of Terror. We open our story in the London School of Economics, Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) watches as the towers fall. Afghanistan, young lieutenant Ryan of the Marine Corps. is riding a helicopter with his fellow soldiers, when suddenly a rocket attack brings down the Chopper. Barely, alive, Ryan (Pine) is taken to the hospital.
The soldier is taken to a rehab center where he meets a young women who will become his wife, Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley). While recovering, the CIA has interest in Ryan's ability to recognize complex patterns. Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner) observes, and approaches the lieutenant with an offer in the CIA. he would work as an analyst, choices are made and Ryan is pulled in the hidden world of that makes up the government agency.
Ten years later, Ryan works on wall-street, as a shadow agent under cover job as a compliance officer at a stock brokerage, and a analyst for the CIA. He is to look for any acts of terror, which he suspects financial
transactions that would provide him with information leading to acts of Terror. The Russian federation loses a key vote before the United Nations, Jack Ryan suspects that the marks do not respond in a certain way. Trillions of dollars have fallen off the radar. Extreme amounts of money is held out of view that the United States economy may be vulnerable. All of these funds are controlled by Viktor Cheverin (Kenneth Branagh).
Lets dive right into this film, was it good? Yes, it has just enough of a story and some action to make a good spy thriller. The film is fast, doesn't bore you into long scenes, it delivers where others do not. Chris Pine is good as Jack Ryan, especially the scene where he had his first kill as an agent. Not over powering, it really provided you with the fact that Jack Ryan is no super hero. The film didn't make him a terminator spy, which is refreshing in spy movies. Out of respect to James Bond fans, the character of Jack Ryan is believable, not out of the realm of reality. That being said, lets go right in that parts of the film i didn't like.
The relationship with the doctor was OK, i love a good spy thriller to have some romance, it felt forced. Maybe the actors had problems with attraction, or acting out their scenes together. love Keira Knightley and Chris Pine, i just didn't like the on screen romance. remember the scene where she trying to find out what is wrong, and what is happening with his reactions towards her in the hotel. The delivery between both actors hit me the wrong way. What if you were a shadow agent and your girlfriend or wife to be finds out. What would you do? Would the reaction be as Keira Knightley's character. Her moment with him was bland, they at least could've delivered a different reaction.
The second major issue i had with the film is the terror plot. Lets say that this was real, and if it was the Russians would've challenged Jack Ryan (Pine) in a very different way. remember when the assassin body guard named Embee (Nonso Anozie) tried to kill him, i guess being a huge 24 fan, this film really didn't go for the neck. Instead it pulled punches, and held back. The Russians would've had ops units all over Ryan, he entered the Cherevin building way to easy. Maybe, I'm being a bit harsh, and not just liking this film with all my heart.
The fact is if you like a want to be spy thrillers, this film i recommend. I brought up some issues that i considered to be flaws. Action, story, decent acting, then you will like this film. Spy thriller films i recommend. The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Sum of all fears.
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