JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT

US, 105 minutes, 2013, Colour.
Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Kenneth Branagh, Keira Knightley.
Directed by Kenneth Branagh.

This film will probably not be on Vladimir Putin’s must see list. But, by the last scene, it will definitely be on President Obama’s list.

It is an action thriller, an espionage drama, based on characters created by Tom Clancy. In fact, Jack Ryan appeared on screen almost a quarter of a century ago in the form of Alec Baldwin in The Hunt for Red October. He was then portrayed by Harrison Ford in two films during the 1990s, Patriot Games and A Clear and Present Danger. His previous incarnation was by Ben Affleck in The Sum of All Fears ten years ago.

This time round it is a much younger Jack Ryan. He is played by Chris Pine who has come to substantial screen presence with his role as Captain Kirk in the new Star Trek films. He is young when the film opens, doing his PhD in London at the time of 9/11. As a result, he joins the marines, fights in Afghanistan, writes high-powered confidential reports and saves two fellow-marines in a helicopter explosion. And this before the title comes on screen.

During his rehabilitation and learning to walk again, he is helped by his physio supervisor, Kath (Keira Knightly) and visited by a CIA officer (Kevin Costner). Then it is 2013, Jack is a 30s something financial analyst on Wall Street, already in a relationship with Kath (no wasting time with onscreen romantics here). Transition to Moscow and an introduction to the villain, an ultra-patriotic financier who is masterminding a plot to bring the US enconomy to Depression. Everything introduced – and then into it.

A quick review would be to say that if you enjoyed the Bourne films, then you will probably like this one. It is smaller-scale, just over a day in Moscow for Jack (and Kath who turns up as well) with Kevin Costner there to supervise (with the help of a huge range of surveillance and tracking and communication soft and hardware that seems to work instantly), getting the blocked financial information. There are some fights and a desperate car chase. The rest of the film is a day in New York to stop an activated ‘sleeper’ from performing another terrorist attack. It’s a variation on those CIA espionage novels, not great but effectively entertaining. And very ra-ra pro-US – and the Russians sinister.
With Kenneth Branagh having time out from the classics (though he also directed Thor) and enjoying himself with this kind of popular fare, he guides Chris Pine in an action performance even though he looks, as Costner remarks, like a boy scout on a picnic. It is good to see Costner in a good part and Keira Knightly having something to do. But the key performance comes from Branagh himself, making the villain (whom we see as instantly brutal) an interestingly complex character, not a comic-book cutout.

1. The popularity of Tom Clancy’s novels, the film versions? The character of Jack Ryan?

2. A young Jack Ryan, the beginnings which led to the other stories?

3. The settings: London, Afghanistan, New York City, Moscow? The images of 9/11, the images of war in Afghanistan? The financial crisis? In the US? In Russia? The consequences?

4. The cast, the director, the score?

5. Jack’s seeing the television images in London, 9/11, the impact on him?

6. An American response, joining the marines, giving up his Ph.D. thesis, serving in Afghanistan, the important reports, his mission, joking with his fellow marines, the explosion? His injuries, his rescuing the others? The long rehabilitation? Kath and her forcing him to stand up? Harper and his visit, praise of Jack’s thesis, reports, encouraging him to finish?

7. The transition to 2013, Jack and his loyalty oath, the CIA, undercover, secrecy? The issues of Russia and the United States? The UN, the Russian and American ambassadors? The Russian schemes? The boats? Jack and the Finance Co, the government, the secret group? In Russia, the secret group, the aim to create a new depression in the US?

8. Jack, working well with his boss at the company, his fellow worker and helping him with his flirtation, his boss, working on figures? Getting the information about Russian companies? His decision to go? The secret meetings in New York, the screening of Sorry, Wrong Number? Passing documents? Flying to Russia, the chauffeur the meeting him, getting him through passport control, the gun? Settling into the hotel, the sudden shooting, the fight, Jack and his killing the chauffeur in the bath? Phoning, Harper and his assistance?

9. Kath, the relationship, the past, the work, at home, not married? Finding the cinema ticket? His denial? His oath and secrecy? The ordinary life, joy, planning a vacation?

10. Victor, first facing away from camera, his anger with the man injecting him, kicking him? Visiting the Minister in secret? The plan, his empire, his buildings, staff, technology? Jack’s arrival, the tension, the cover information about selling companies? The invitation to the meal? Kath and her arrival in Moscow? Harper and his supervision? Jack meeting him in the park, the discussions, the plans? Going to the meal, the drama about the engagement ring in the car, the technology for tracking? The meal, Jack drinking, needing to go from walk, Kath and her charming Victor and keeping him occupied? Their chat, her medical knowledge, diagnosing his illness?

11. The security guard, his return, entering the building, shutting the exits, Jack and his going into the room, the power and the connection, downloading, transmitting? His being guided out of the building by the back door?

12. Jack and his being picked up by the security van? Victor taking Kath? The chase throughout Moscow? Pinning the car down, getting Kath, the escape?

13. On the plane, extraordinaire surveillance, the information about the sleeper?

14. Michigan, the family, the FBI agent, his being killed by the young man, the young man being Victor’s son? Going to church, the announcement about Lamentations and the sleeper being activated?

15. The information about Pennsylvania, the raid on the house, the equipment? New York City, the plan on Wall Street, the police car, Jack and his pursuit, under the building, the tunnel, the water, the fight? Jack driving the vehicle, into the river and the explosion?

16. The strong American patriotism, the anti-Russian stances? In the final visit with President Obama to receive the medal?