“Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” (2014) / Z-View

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

Director:  Kenneth Branagh

Screenplay: Adam Cozad and David Koepp based on characters created by Tom Clancy

Stars: Chris Pine, Kierra Knightley, Kevin Coster and Kenneth Branagh.

The Pitch: “Maybe Chris Pine is the right guy to bring back Tom Clancey’s Jack Ryan!”

Tagline: Trust No One.

 

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Let’s call this Jack Ryan: Year One.

Jack Ryan (Pine) is an economic major in college when 9-11 hits.  Ryan enlists in the service and is severely injured when his chopper is shut down in Afghanistan.  Ryan earns the attention and (affection of his female doctor – Knightley) as well as the attention (but no so much affection) from CIA agent Thomas Harper (Costner) for Ryan’s strong will in rehab.  Costner secretly recruits Ryan to become a CIA analyst.

Several years pass with Ryan secretly working for the CIA (not even his longtime girlfriend and former nurse know).  Ryan uncovers a Russian’s (Branagh) plot to destroy the US economy.  Harper sends Ryan to Russia strictly as a behind-the-scenes agent to dig into financial reports — things go south and Ryan finds himself in 007-land.  Before it’s over Ryan has to save his wife and the good ole USA.

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