Chris Pine delivers a strong performance, clearly giving it his all. Keira Knightley, though, is frequently overlooked; she consistently seems to perform at her highest level even in films that aren’t very good…and this time was no different. Kevin Costner isn't always on target, but he appeared determined to elevate the quality of this film. That’s why it’s possible to sit through it. Pine, Knightley, and Costner all put forth their maximum effort and attempted to make *Shadow Recruit* worthwhile. It’s a shame, because the screenplay is truly awful and the direction is largely ineffective. Kenneth Branagh has always been a more capable performer than he ever has been as a director, and for a movie that requires suspense and intensity, someone else would have been preferable. However, they also needed a script with the ability to create tension and a director who could handle it, rather than repeating what didn’t work well with *Frankenstein*. Essentially, you're watching three actors trying to rescue a film. Sadly, even when those performers are doing everything they can, it isn't enough to overcome a flawed script and inadequate direction.

Source on TMDB