James Clayton (Colin Farrell), a brilliant computer science student, is recruited by CIA officer Walter Burke (Al Pacino) to be formed and serve his country. James quickly appears as one of the best of his group and falls in love with Layla (Bridget Moynahan), another CIA recruit. Filled with doubts about his role and the relation with his mentor, Clayton is asked by Burke to accomplish a risky mission: find a mole in the CIA headquarters in Langley. James now fully realizes that no one can be trusted anymore and that nothing is what it seems.