Last week saw the unfortunate passing away of author Tom Clancy, but like all great writers, he will live on his work. And that work is not wasting any time to get to living, as arguably Clancy’s most famous creation, CIA analyst Jack Ryan – previously played on screen by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck – is back on screen in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.
Fresh from saving the galaxy from evil Sherlock Holmes, Chris Pine now takes up the mantle, as he battles Kenneth Branagh’s shadowy business dealings and Russian accent in this first trailer.
Based on the Jack Ryan character created by bestselling author Tom Clancy, the film is a contemporary action thriller set in the present day. The original story, written by David Koepp, follows a young Jack as he uncovers a financial terrorist plot.
I have to admit, I’m not a fan of the “Oh my wife just found out that I’m a spy… Oops!” angle here. It could be that there’s more to it than just that – as the trailer hints at – otherwise I can see the very predictable plot of “wife who’s angry with hero for keeping secrets from her, has to be rescued by husband using all his secret skills” inevitably rearing its head.
With the exception of The Sum of All Fears, the previous Jack Ryan movies (The Hunt for Red October, Clear and Present Danger, Patriot Games) have never tried to reach beyond their means, just delivering solid real world thrillers, without the crazy Bayhem that’s become obligatory for action blockbusters. This doesn’t appear to be breaking that mold as Branagh, who wears both the black and director’s hat, seems to be helming this without too much over the top fanfare.
The previous films pulled off this form of low-key escapism based on the caliber of the cast and taut scripts. Only time will tell if the same can be done again.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit will be shooting up cinemas on December 25, 2013. Or perhaps not.
Last Updated: October 7, 2013
James Francis
October 7, 2013 at 13:37
Glad to see Jack Ryan back – this has real promise.