Action

Thriller

Adventure

Crime

The Jackal

Universal Pictures

Mutual Film Company

Alphaville Films

United States of America

English

Pусский

Bruce Willis

Richard Gere

Sidney Poitier

Diane Venora

J.K. Simmons

Mathilda May

John Cunningham

Jack Black

Stephen Spinella

Tess Harper

David Hayman

Ravil Isyanov

Maggie Castle

Richard Lineback

Karen Kirschenbauer

Daniel Dae Kim

Serge Houde

Leslie Phillips

Steve Bassett

Jonathan Aris

Richard Cubison

Bob Kingdom

Peter Sullivan

John Harrington Bland

Terry Loughlin

Walt MacPherson

Jim Grimshaw

Terrence Currier

Sophie Okonedo

Michael Caton-Jones

Laura Viederman

Gregory Porter Miller

Murphy Guyer

Philip LeMaistre

James McCauley

Victor Sobchak

Serge Christianssens

Boris Boscovic

Ewan Bailey

Danette Alberico

Debra Gano

Pamela Poitier

Eddie Bo Smith Jr.

Dan Ziskie

Gayle Jessup

Bill Collins

David Gene Gibbs

James M. Helkey

Larry King

Yuri Stepanov

Chuck Pfarrer

Sean Daniel

James Jacks

Kevin Jarre

Karl Walter Lindenlaub

Jim Clark

Ellen Chenoweth

Michael White

Gary Archer

Terence A. Clegg

Mark Gordon

Gary Levinsohn

Hal Lieberman

Sean T. Stratton

Carter Burwell

Jodi Michelle Pynn

Alan Hook

Raymond Dupuis

Ricky Eyres

John Fenner

Bruton Jones

Kate J. Sullivan

Albert Wolsky

Stephanie Wertlake

Dennis Bosher

Ray Barrett

Mark David Kersey

Michael D. Harrell

Tom Trigo

Michael R. Clark

Charles Cottrell

Martin Hume

Arwell Roberts

Simon Hume

Kelly R. Borisy

Michael Adams

Larry Blanford

Alf Tramontin

Eli Reed

Lorraine Z. Calvert

William A. Campbell

Eithné Fennel

Kathe Swanson

Felicity Bowring

Scheris Shephard

Pamela M. Rogers

Stephen McGregor

Ole Dieter Sturm

Vito G. Balenzano

Tom Moore

Barclay Crenshaw

Debbie Nolan

Philip McDonald

Heidi Gilbert

Debbie Lane

Joe Dunne

Howard 'Stick' Baines

Bob Foster

Dick Moore

Leila Kirkpatrick

Sandy O'Neill

Lester Dunton

Bill Westley

Libbie Barr

Phil Hetos

Eric O. Schusterman

Bernard Arseneau

Matthew Brookman

Eddie Knight

Keith Hatcher

Dorothy Precious

Pat McCarthy

François Sylvestre

Mark Auguste

Paul Cridlin

Catherine Calleson

Todd Kasow

Paul Gillon

Sonny Kompanek

Noah Blough

Richard King

Richard Malzahn

David S. Williams Jr.

Yves De Bono

Tricia Owen

Michel Chauvin

Lisa Banes

David John

Linda Perlin

Mark 'Rocky' Evans

Michael Haight

James Matheny

William Jacobs

Erik Stabenau

Brian Robertson

Tom Barrett

Minni Härkönen

Globetrotting pursuit of a master-of-disguise assassin

RELEASED IN 1997 and directed by Michael Caton-Jones, "The Jackal” is an international crime thriller about a joint FBI/MVD mission (led by Sidney Poitier and Diane Venora) that enlists the aid of an imprisoned IRA combatant (Richard Gere) to stop a brutal master-of-disguise assassin known as The Jackal (Bruce Willis) from completing a big hit in Washington DC. This was a loose remake of the film “The Day of the Jackal” (1973), which was based on the 1971 novel by Frederick Forsyth.

The first act is too convoluted for my tastes as the story globetrots from Moscow to Helsinki to Canada to the USA. But the movie finds its footing and settles into an entertaining political action flick not far removed from the tone of “The Saint” with Val Kilmer, released the same year. Both films are from the same genre, have the same tone, were made for the same amount ($60 million), feature an antagonist who’s a master-of-disguise and are named after that person. While both movies made roughly the same in North America ($55-60 million), “The Jackal” proved more popular worldwide, making almost $160 million, which was $50 million more than “The Saint.” IMHO “The Jackal” is the more all-around entertaining picture.

Critics love to lambaste this movie because (1.) it deviates too much from the original film and (2.) because of the mounting nonsensical elements. But (1.) “The Jackal” was made to stand on its own in late 90’s cinema and (2.) why do other action thrillers like James Bond get a pass when it comes to ridiculous plot holes? Besides, many of the supposed nonsensical moments can easily be cleared up if you pay attention to the details; not all of them, of course, but many of them.

What I don’t like is the disingenuousness of many of the criticisms. For instance, Roger Ebert’s opening criticism of the film was to mock the way The Jackal sneaks into the USA from Canada by purchasing a sailboat and entering a race from Mackinaw to Chicago. Ebert reasoned that there are easier ways to enter the US inconspicuously along the 3000-mile border, but he left out an important detail: The Jackal was smuggling a huge computerized machine gun and its formidable mount. THAT is why he bought the yacht and used the race as a means to enter the country unnoticeably amidst a crowd of other crafts. Aduh.

One of the best aspects of this flick is the great cast and seeing them work together. Poitier was 69 during filming and looks very distinguished; this was incidentally his last theatrical release (although he appeared in four TV movies in the ensuing four years). Jack Black is effective in a peripheral role tailor-made for him.

But it’s Gere and Willis who steal the show, naturally. The latter is particularly entertaining in an almost shocking departure from his typical easy-going, friendly persona. As The Jackal, Willis is relaxed, carefree, cold, malicious, cunning, calculating, smart, icy and ruthless; a charming psychopath.

I shouldn't close without mentioning the excellent score by Carter Burwell mixed with an edgy alternative rock soundtrack, featuring cuts by Massive Attack ("Superpredators" and "Dissolved Girl") and the like.

THE MOVIE RUNS 2 hour, 4 minutes and was shot in Moscow, Finland, Montreal, London, the Carolinas, Virginia and Chicago. SCREENPLAY: Chuck Pfarrer.

GRADE: B-/C+

This is one I've seen several times over the years and while certainly not great and it is funny hearing Richard Gere with an Irish accent and the numerous hair changes with Bruce Willis, I still find it watchable and somewhat entertaining.

That said, how the Jackal was written was a problem because while for most of the movie he's a cold-blooded and calculating character, his actions of going after Isabella was strange to do in the midst of planning an assassination versus going for revenge (which itself didn't make sense) after he completed his mission and got paid, and that's not to mention giving away his true target with a line about Declan unable to protect his women, though even then not sure how Declan came to that (albeit correct) conclusion. Probably just lazy script writing.

However, there are some cool shots (in the days when they used helicopters for aerial shots compared to using drones) and the direction from Michael Caton-Jones was solid. **3.0/5**

Niko

The Jackal is the kind of Thriller that does everything by the book. Most of the movie is comprised out of well-known and established tropes, it's got a packed cast and decent action scenes. It may not reinvent the wheel or keep you on your toes, but it does offer some solid 90's entertainment for about two hours.

Assassination Attempt on the First Lady

Bruce Willis Tests Out a High-Tech Weapon... on Jack Black

The Jackal ≣ 1997 ≣ Trailer

The Jackal Official Trailer #1 - Bruce Willis Movie (1997) HD

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The Jackal

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Cast

Bruce Willis

Richard Gere

Sidney Poitier

Diane Venora

J.K. Simmons

Mathilda May

John Cunningham

Jack Black

Stephen Spinella

Tess Harper

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