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The Recruit

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James Clayton: Everything is a test! The Recruit

Walter Burke: Nothing… is… what it seems.

Ever have those times in life when you feel like you can’t trust anybody?  That everyone is out to get you?  Try to imagine being a spy.  Imagine watching your back at every turn, having to guard any information about yourself and having to be skeptical of anything you’re told.  For most of us, those times of distrust are usually periodic, but for spies, that sort of thinking has to be constant or they make deadly mistakes.

The Recruit is one of those films that will make you distrust just about everything.  James Clayton (Colin Farrell) is recruited for the CIA by Walter Burke (Al Pacino).  He tells James that James’ deceased father was a CIA agent and that James was made for work at the CIA. So James jumps in and training begins.  But, after a grueling series of tests it appears that James “washes out,” until Burke tells him, that in reality he passed and he is the CIA’s newest NOC agent.  But the series of events that follow make him question everything he’s been told and those he cares about.

Be careful who you trust:  One thing this movie portrays is trust no one.  But, in that you can’t trust any body, we can use it to reinforce the one we should all trust…God.  Since He’s about the only one that won’t let you down, even though he’s never mentioned in the movie.  But when you can’t trust the girl you’ve got feelings for, your instructors, your co-workers, or even your own instincts, who’s left??  What is frustrating is the lack of respect for life and especially the focus on “get them before they get you” mentality.  It also completely denies the “see Christ in everyone” ideal.  But, I would say that seeing what all that distrust, fear and constant doubt shows in such an extreme way what life is like when you don’t look for the good in everyone and don’t trust in God.  So how can we change our attitudes to see God in everyone?  How can we help others try to live more positively?  How can we encourage We’ve all seen it; a negative environment breeds distrust and more negativity.  But positive environments encourage, support and are just plain happier places to be.

Everything is a test, nothing is real:  Wow, how often do you feel like everything in your life is a test?  Think about the wager in the book of Job… it was a test.  And, Job passed.  In James’s case, his tests are more concrete, but somehow the test truly infiltrates every part of his life.  Our lives are a test.  Do we jump in to bash someone we don’t like when an opportunity presents itself, or do we try to find the positive?  Do we take the time to help those in need?  Do we listen when we should and only dispense advice that is moral an ethical?  We are always being tested.  We have to work on making ourselves the best we can be to pass the ultimate test.  Can you identify some ways to do that? I suggest prayer, reading scripture and spending some time with Church teachings.  Remember that Job continually praised God, despite everything.

Love is used against you:  Whether or not you agree that James & Layla were in love, the feelings they display for one another are used to exploit each other, and used against them.  Also, Burke uses James’s love for his deceased father is used to manipulate him into CIA training. Abusing the gift of love is one of the most hurtful things we can do, and sadly, we see it every day. That guy who says “I love you” to get the girl to have sex with him, or that woman who says “if you love me you’ll take me out” or …”buy me that piece o jewelry.”  We can’t use love against those we love and expect to get what we want.  Not only does it hurt them, but drives a wedge between that leads to fear and distrust for that relationship and all future relationships.  Real love does those things without the guilt trip, without expectation.  Love is patient, love is kind…  1 Colossians 13:4-8.  We know it because it’s read at just about every Christian wedding but do we really think about what it means.  So, how can we stop using love to manipulate?  How can we encourage love and encourage those we love without manipulating them?

You were born to do this:  We all have gifts we are born with…  It’s our responsibility to discover them and hone them as we make our way through life.  James is told more than once that he was born to be a spy.  So, what gifts do you think you were born with?  Have you been working on them?  Did others have to tell you they saw the gift in you for you to start considering it or did you discover it on your own?  If you discovered it on your own, how?  What have you done to try to work on it?  How are you using it to help your fellow man?  How are you at recruiting others?  Many times we have to be able to spot talent in others for teamwork both in work and play, how do we recognize it?  How do we draw it out?  How can we help others realize their talents?

You can’t live in the past:  James is living with uncertainty about his father’s death, and the possibility that he isn’t dead.  Burke continuously uses this against him.  Unsuccessful people blame their parents or lack thereof, society, bosses, anybody and everybody but themselves for their issues.  Successful people, however do just the opposite.  You can’t live in the past.  We do have to keep looking forward, looking for that day when we meet God, and working toward that goal.  That doesn’t mean we can’t still be connected to the past or that we have to abandon those from our past, we just can’t let it dictate the present!  What are some things you may need to let go of?  Is there someone around you that needs help breaking free of something from their past?  How can we help them?

It’s a wrap!  The Recruit is rated PG-13.  There’s definitely language issues and sex scenes, in addition to the portrayal of using sex to exploit a potential mark.  So this is definitely one I would reserve for a more adult crowd…  however, since use and abuse of love is so prevalent amongst those in high school, it could be used with them, too, but as a group unto themselves.  It may seem extreme, but it does show, very well, the effects of exploitation of our talents and love for one another.

Despicable Me

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Posted by in Cinema Catechesis, Comedy, Family, Kid Friendly, movie, Movie Ministry

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Despicable MeEdith: When we got adopted by a bald guy, I thought this’d be more like Annie.

Gru: [reading the book he wrote] One big unicorn, strong and free, thought he was happy as he could be. Then three little kittens came around and turned his whole life upside down. They made him laugh, they made him cry. He never should have said goodbye. And now he knows he can never part from those three little kittens that changed his heart.

For more info, check out http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323594/

So Gru is the bad guy that we find ourselves identifying with many times…  I think that’s why we love him.  Gru is the sort of guy who moves cars when the parking spot he wants isn’t available.  He gets tired of waiting in line for coffee, so he freezes all those in between, grabs the coffee from the barista and goes on about his day.  Admit it, some part of you says “Yeah, there’s days I wish I could do that!”  Okay…  but Gru does go farther.  He’s a thief – and not petty crime…  major landmarks (well, sort of!).  So, in his bid for title of ultimate evil villain, he sets his sights on stealing THE MOON!  And, what does a vilian who needs a little bank roll to get him started on a plot to steal the moon, he goes to the Bank of Evil.  Make sure you pay attention to all the banking scandal references here, and the caryatids!  And, it is here that Gru meets his new nemesis – Vector.  But, he needs Vector, but you don’t just ask your nemesis for the tool he has that you need.  Nope, a good vilian- and one who has to prove himself – has to find a way to steal it.  That’s where three little orphan girls come in.   Gru sees the girls selling cookies door to door and notices how easily they are granted access to people’s homes as they sell & deliver the cookies…  what a great distraction!  So Gru lies to the woman running the orphanage (who isn’t very nice to the girls either) and goes home with three sweet, energetic and slightly precocious little girls; Margo, Edith & Agnes.  In essence the girls save Gru and he finds his true calling.

This is a very cute, funny and absolutely precious movie.  So, if you haven’t seen it yet, check it out.  I believe it’s on Netflix and it runs on TV intermittently.  It seems to appeal to both men and women as well as boys and girls.

So, what does Despicable Me teach us?  There’s a few things here…

1.  Crime doesn’t pay.  Despite what you’d be led to believe at the Bank of Evil, crime doesn’t pay for either of our villains.  Don’t get me wrong, they have nice houses and have profited from their past endeavors, but neither villain profits from the current escapade.  In fact, monetarily, both lose out.

2.  New isn’t always better, just different.  Vector is the new guy.  He thinks he’s better and smarter than Gru, but there are times that Gru’s ways just work better.  Let’s just say, experience.  Gru’s methods are a little slower and maybe even a little more clumsy, but he gets results.  Vector relies so much on technology that even though he thinks he’s ready for everything, he misses a few things.

3.  Teamwork!  Gru is a team player.  He relies on Dr. Nefario, for inventions, his minions for base operations support as well as using their various talents on his missions, and he relies on the girls.  Vector uses technology as his “team,” but since they’re all his inventions, they share his short-sightedness.  Gru discusses and works out plans with his team.  All the players are working toward a goal, and also watch out for each other.

4.  The right decisions aren’t always easy.  Gru is faced with a very tough decision.  Be with the girls, whom he has grown to love, or continue with his master plan of stealing the Moon.  Dr. Nefario helps with this decision by having the girls sent back without Gru’s permission…  So Gru trudges on.  However, he has second thoughts and tries to right his wrong.

5.  You can overcome your childhood.  Gru’s mom was not one to give love easily.  In fact, she’s pretty mean.  Not the sort of “slap you around” type mean, but probably the worse one, psychological.  She’s always taking cheap shots at Gru, undermining his dreams and intelligence, and may even be the reason he decided to become a villan in the first place.  I mean, if you are raised thinking you can’t do any good, why not jut plan on being bad?  Now, PLEASE don’t take this to mean that a traumatic childhood can’t affect you.  But sometimes, those struggles, as awful as they may be, can lead us to help others in a way we might not have thought of otherwise.  Like I’ve said before, sometimes – just doing the opposite of the example we’re given can be a huge service to others!

6.  Love triumphs.  So, like I said, Gru tries to right his wrong and get the girls back.  As much as he tried not to, those girls melted his iron maiden heart and he began doing things for them, not just making deals with them to get what he wants.  And, on top of that, he finally gets kinds words from his mother.

7.  It’s okay for our only talent, to be loving others.  So, Gru isn’t the smoothest villan.  He hasn’t had the best luck in being a vilian…but we see that once he opens his heart to love, that his is wonderful at it.  Have you ever noticed that a loving individual lights up a room, gets other people to feel safe and all in all is just a joy to be around.  Those dear angels give us a glimpse of God’s unfathomable love.  I just hope we follow that example and bring that love to others!

So, you know in the beginning when I said we all have this part of us that identifies with Gru?  Well, I hope that you find that to be true – but in his love!

God Bless!