Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’ review
By Steven Cayer, Senior Columnist
4/5
Jack Ryan is back on the big screen, this time portrayed by Chris Pine, who has become a well-known actor in the past couple of years from playing everything from James T. Kirk in the rebooted Star Trek series to the charming lead in a string of romantic comedies.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit tells the character’s origin story of how he became a CIA spy and what he had to do in order to save the world. Ryan is one of the late Tom Clancy’s characters, but this is the first movie about Ryan that is not based on a Clancy novel.
Back in 2003, Ryan was a lieutenant in the army who got shot down by an RPG. What followed was a few years of physical therapy where he met Cathy, a physiotherapist played by Keira Knightley. He gets a visit from a CIA agent played by Kevin Costner, who thrusts Jack into the undercover world of the CIA as an analyst. Ten years go by and Ryan discovers that the Russians are hiding secret accounts from the US, forcing him to go to Moscow—things quickly escalate from there.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also stars as the antagonist, this film shows that he can make a really good action movie, as evidenced by the intense car chases and fighting throughout the film.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Chris Pine has another franchise under his belt with this one.
The film is dedicated to Tom Clancy himself, who passed away last October. Rest in peace, Tom. Jack Ryan is here to stay.
