# The Recruit **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 1, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recruit/152030 "2003-02-01T02:48:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recruit/152030/1 "2003-02-01T02:48:36Z")
I saw The Recruit this afternoon. There was a lot of twists and turns. I have a question or two… When James Clayton chased down Zack(?) by the train, and ended up killing him he was holding that note that said something like “Clayton is getting too close, get me out of here”. If she wasn’t really a double agent, why would she be passing that note? I thought I saw the guy that Clayton killed (Zack?) at the “stand-off” at the end of the movie. Was that someone else? I’m sure I’ll think of more. Pretty weak movie, the more I think about it. E3 ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recruit/152030/2 "2003-02-01T06:11:21Z")
[spoiler]_I thought I saw the guy that Clayton killed (Zack?) at the “stand-off” at the end of the movie. Was that someone else?_ No. Remember Burke told him the gun he gave him had blanks. So he didn’t actually kill Zack. [/spoiler] Pretty weak movie, the more I think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recruit/152030/3 "2003-02-01T07:55:21Z")
]He was just saying that. The gun didn’t have blanks in it, because in the ensuing struggle they shot out a window. ---
**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2003, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recruit/152030/4 "2003-02-01T09:07:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enright3 \* > > [spoiler]_He was just saying that. The gun didn’t have blanks in it, because in the ensuing struggle they shot out a window._ > > While that could be true. It’s more likely a logical inconsistency in the script than a clever and deeper twist. > > [/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recruit/152030/5 "2003-02-02T04:57:13Z")
That’s kind of my point, Gyan9. A movie doesn’t have to be believable for me to enjoy it, but it has to make sense! E3 ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-recruit/152030/6 "2012-02-23T13:44:23Z")
I know this is 9 years old but I didn’t think this warranted a whole new thread (plus, there are 3 threads from around the same time about this movie). This came on the TV last night and I watched it again for the first time since, well, probably about 2003. I had forgotten about the crappy 2nd half of the movie because the first half is so good. Regarding the 2nd half of the movie, I don’t understand why the hell they had to go there. The first half of the movie was brilliant. It was suspenseful and compelling. It _didn’t need a big twist_. At all. It could have just been investigate the girl, she’s a mole, then some surveillance and whatnot, then once he’s got her caught, bang! it was all just a training exercise. Congratulations, you made it, you’re an agent, The End. I’d have been satisfied and happy with that, but they ruined it.