Having had to go all the way to Glasgow to fast track my passport renewal, I ended up with 3 hours to kill. At least that's my excuse for going to see such an amazingly average film. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit was the only film that would really allow me to get to my train home on time. Jack Ryan has previously been played by 3 actors, (though to be honest I can't remember Ben Affleck's portrayal) and now it's Chris Pine's turn to bring whatever he brings to the role.
The story is concerned with Ryan's beginnings and his first mission to prevent a national economic disaster precipitated by a terrorist attack on New York. The plot is methodical, ponderous and predictable; nothing inventive at all. Chris Pine is fine, Keira Knightley isn't sprightly and Kenneth Branagh, erm doesn't rhyme with anything other than spanner, but he's OK, just not a villain really (and has no lips!). Crinkly faced Kevin Costner was the best thing, but that's rather like saying a ray of sunshine is the best thing on a rainy day.
The film was full of fast edits contrasting with several steady cam moments; which was presumably a conscious decision by Branagh, who was behind the camera as well as in front of it. Otherwise nothing stood out in this film to analyse at all. A barely passable way to waste some time in Glasgow. But, well, you know, that’s just, like, er, my opinion, man.
