Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Theatrical Release Date: 2014 01 17 (USA - IMAX) / 2014 01 17 (USA) / 2014 (USA)

UPC: 097363526445

Studio: Paramount

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:[Violence, Profanity]

Summary: CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) uncovers evidence of a Russian conspiracy to destroy the U.S. economy, and races to protect his fianc�e (Keira Knightley) while working with his seasoned mentor William Harper (Kevin Costner) to prevent a disaster of catastrophic proportions. Meanwhile, the malevolent Russian businessman (Kenneth Branagh) behind the terroristic plot awaits the perfect moment to set it into motion. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Category: Spy Film

Features: cc

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Format: DVD

Release Date: 06/10/2014

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 105 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French,Spanish

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish,Portuguese

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
1. Scene 1
2. Scene 2
3. Scene 3
4. Scene 4
5. Scene 5
6. Scene 6
7. Scene 7
8. Scene 8
9. Scene 9
10. Scene 10
11. Scene 11
12. Scene 12
13. Scene 13
14. Scene 14
15. Scene 15

Jason Buchanan

Just three short months after the death of author Tom Clancy, his iconic character Jack Ryan is reborn as a sort of Jason Bourne/James Bond hybrid in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, a throwback espionage thriller that finds the Cold War turning frosty again thanks to a malevolent Russian oligarch who hatches a terror plot to crash the U.S. economy. Despite being released into theaters in January -- a month typically known as a multiplex dumping ground -- those in search of a little celluloid sustenance to get them through the winter may be in for a pleasant surprise here: While this satisfying origin story doesn't exactly reinvent the spy film, it succeeds at holding us rapt thanks to both a cracking screenplay by David Koepp and newcomer Adam Cozad and some smart directing by multiple Oscar nominee Kenneth Branagh (who also impresses as the highly quotable Russian villain).

We first meet Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) on that fateful September day back in 2001. Awoken from a peaceful sun nap on a college campus by the bustle of his fellow students, Ryan makes his way to a television set to see the World Trade Center on the verge of collapse. Flash forward three years to Afghanistan, where we now find Lieutenant Ryan serving his country on the front lines before nearly being killed in an RPG attack on a military helicopter. With the help of compassionate medical student Cathy Muller (Keira Knightley), Ryan eventually gets back on his feet. When he does, U.S. Navy commander Thomas Harper (Kevin Costner) is there to recruit him into the CIA.

Ten years later, Ryan is living with Muller, now his fianc�e, and leading a clandestine double life as a CIA analyst on Wall Street. When he uncovers evidence of a conspiracy to destroy the U.S. economy, he is sent to Russia to investigate the records of nefarious businessman Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh). A study of Cherevin's financial records has yielded some potentially disturbing discoveries, but it isn't until Ryan arrives in Moscow that he realizes that the truth is more terrifying than he could ever imagine. He is subsequently deemed an active agent, but his investigation is complicated when his suspicious fianc�e unexpectedly shows up in his hotel room. Now, with time running out before Cherevin's diabolical plot is set into motion, Ryan must protect the person he loves most while preventing a disaster of historic proportions.

Having first appeared onscreen in 1990's The Hunt for Red October, Jack Ryan has become a familiar name to moviegoers with a taste for intrigue. He's an astute character with a particular talent for thwarting apocalyptic plots, and Clancy's unique skill for placing him in a historical perspective has ensured a successful leap from page to screen. But, as anyone familiar with Hollywood can tell you, every great hero needs an origin story, and here Koepp and Cozad do a commendable job of building on Clancy's vivid mythology. Though detractors may complain that the writers are being too hasty in their attempt to portray the bulk of Ryan's backstory even before the opening titles, their efficient approach manages to tell us quite a bit about Ryan and his inner conflicts while smartly working within the sturdy framework established by Clancy. Likewise, once the main plot gets underway, they remain focused enough to maintain that brisk pace without sacrificing any character work; their skill for efficient dialogue complements the action and suspense quite nicely.

As a director, Branagh appears harmoniously attuned to his writers' strengths. Every shot serves a purpose -- even if it doesn't appear clear to us in the moment -- and thanks to a smart bit of misdirection shortly after Ryan arrives in Moscow, Branagh effectively establishes an air of uncertainty that reverberates through the entire film. Together with Pine, the Oscar-nominated director uses Ryan's initial uncertainty to form the foundation of an assured hero whose willingness to test his own limits will ultimately guide him to greatness. In his role as Cherevin, the filmmaker draws on the strength of the adroit script as well, quite obviously relishing his villainous role with poetic threats, icy glares, and a penchant for menacing with energy-efficient lightbulbs. While Costner primarily appears to offer some levity early on, it's fun to watch him get in on the action as the story moves along, and even Knightley manages to become an effective junior agent when the opportunity arises. It may not be the best or most original spy film ever made, but in terms of maintaining tradition, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit most certainly gets the job done, and chances are it would have made the author who created the character proud. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Kenneth Branagh  Director 
Patrick Doyle  Composer (Music Score) 
David Koepp  Screenwriter 
Mace Neufeld  Producer 
David Barron  Producer 
Dana Goldberg  Executive Producer 
Lorenzo Di Bonaventura  Producer 
Mark Vahradian  Producer 
Paul Schwake  Executive Producer 
David Ellison  Executive Producer 
Tommy Harper  Executive Producer 
Adam Cozad  Screenwriter 
Chris Pine  Actor 
Keira Knightley  Actor 
Kevin Costner  Actor 
Peter Andersson  Actor 
Michael Starke  Actor 
Kenneth Branagh  Actor 
David Paymer  Actor 
Colm Feore  Actor 
Lenn Kudrjawizki  Actor 
Alec Utgoff  Actor 
Elena Velikanova  Actor 
Nonso Anozie  Actor 
Seth Ayott  Actor 
Gemma Chan  Actor 
Alexander Aleksiev  Actor 
Andrew Byron  Actor 
Derek Lea  Actor 
Andy Butcher  Actor 
Lloyd Bass  Actor 
Marat Berdyyev  Actor 
Leonard Redlich  Actor 
Nick Court  Actor 
Nathan Wiley  Actor 
Parker Sawyers  Actor 
Georg Nikoloff  Actor 
Angus Wright  Actor 
Hubert Hanovich  Actor 
Alexander Mercury  Actor 
Benny Maslov  Actor 
Terry Cade  Actor 
Lee Morrison  Actor 
Lloyd Bass  Actor 
Jordi Casares  Actor 
James Grogan  Actor 
Russell Barnett  Actor 
Mike Noble  Actor 
Montego Glover  Actor 
Mike Houston  Actor 
Jordan King  Actor 
Santino Fontana  Actor 
Sam Rosen  Actor 
Karen David  Actor 
Matt Rippy  Actor 
Denis Khoroshko  Actor 
Bogdan Kominowski  Actor 
Maggie Daniels  Actor 
Erich Redman  Actor 
Amy J. Kim  Actor 
Kate Arneil  Actor 
Keiron Jecchinis  Actor 
Ian Bonar  Actor 
Daisy Ashford  Actor 
David Hayman  Actor 
Meghann Marty  Actor 
William Meredith  Actor 
Hannah Taylor-Gordon  Actor 
Michael Siegel  Actor 
Frank Harts  Actor 
Cotter Smith  Actor 
Chinasa Ogbuagu  Actor 
Steven Lee Merkel  Actor 
Eisa Davis  Actor 

Country: USA