The Jackal - Collector's Edition (1997)

The best way to enjoy this 1997 thriller is to forget the much better film that inspired it (1973's The Day of the Jackal) and get whatever kicks you can from this heavy-metal remake. It's not bad as hokey thrillers go, but all of the original film's suspenseful finesse has been traded in (not traded up) for bigger, bolder action and nonsensical plotting. It's as if Hollywood had forgotten to create excitement without resorting to overblown action and heavy hardware, but there's ample compensation in the casting of Bruce Willis and Richard Gere. Willis is the elusive assassin known only as the Jackal, whose latest target (he uses a cannon-sized gun that's anything but inconspicuous) may be the first lady of the United States. Gere plays a former IRA terrorist who is recruited by the deputy head of the FBI (Sidney Poitier) to trace the Jackal's maneuvers, and Diane Venora offers some gutsy support as a Russian-born agent who assists Gere on his mission. The movie has fun turning Willis into a master of disguise, and Gere adds much-needed gravity to counter the plot's escalating absurdity, but this is the kind of film that falls apart if you think about it too much. Still, that doesn't stop the Collector's Edition DVD from offering an impressive array of bonus features, including a director's commentary, a "making of The Jackal" documentary, deleted scenes, an alternative ending, cast interviews, and more. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

We need to go back to that international cooperation against crime

One of the films of the mid-1990s when America had gotten out of its anti-Russian paranoia after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Russians and the Americans are working together against international terror-mongers. A real cocktail. The Russian mafia, slightly Georgian and Caucasian in those days (for the Americans, see Red Heat), the Basque separatist gone underground, the IRA getting little by little out of the closet and back on the political turf, and then the free-lance American adventurers who are doing it for the pleasure of killing in the most visible and gross way possible. But we have to note there is a traitor in the team and the traitor is a Russian of course. The Russians have never been totally redeemed. And now the Georgian mafia has gone back to Georgia and is manipulating the American-trained president, they are less redeemed than ever, though of course the means are scarce in the USA with the new financial crisis and its bailout to find money to support any kind of military adventure or caper anywhere in the world, not even Tibet, not Even Georgia, certainly not Ukraine, especially since the European president proposed in New York at the United Nations General Assembly to re-open negotiations with the Russians at a higher level than those that were frozen because of the Georgian American-trained and American-armed imbroglio. It is true that the tunnel from the Russian Federation to Georgia, dug out some 15 years ago or so became very handy indeed. So this film enabled us in 1997 to see the Irish IRA, the Basque ETA, the American FBI, the Russian SRV (or FSB) and a few others I guess save the day, cut short the plan to kill the First Lady, and finally got rid of this American Jackal. Unluckily things changed later for the worse and luckily we can hope things are going to change again and this time for the better. When the Americans discover after the financial crisis and its bailout what proportion of the banking system of the USA has been bought up directly or indirectly by the Chinese, the Russians, the Europeans, the various oil funds from the Middle East or from Northern Europe, or whatever, then they might finally realize they have to work with the rest of the world against plain criminals, or criminal terrorists if you want, and not send troops everywhere and imprecations against anyone. It is just the film we need to start understanding the world has really changed but the West in general and the USA in particular have NOT followed that change and have embarked on a revival of the old days. That started eight years ago and the "formerly"-CIA financed Ben Laden had enough know-how and connections to invest his own plans into some maneuvers that smelled like good old cold war tactics and manipulations. The actors are great, the suspense is quite well organized though of course we can know what is going to happen always a couple of second ahead of time. That's good for our egos, and we all have at least three egos according to Jacques Lacan, the Ego, the Superego and the Id. Entertaining enough for an averagely long evening.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines
September 25, 2008

I love this movie!

I think this is a really great movie. I like it because it was nice to see Bruce Willis play a "bad" guy for a change instead of the down on his luck alcoholic loser (think Die Hard - which I also love). Besides, in one of his "disguises" he has a mustache and a decent hair cut which I think makes him look really really good. Richard Gere has a believable accent and is decent. Sidney Poitier is not used as much as he could/should be but he has a strong performance as well. I think the action, plot and timing of the movie are well done. The only part that I don't like is when Bruce kisses another man. That was kind of icky to me. Overall though, I think it's a really good movie and really like the chemistry between Bruce and Richard. July 31, 2008

Oops! This Is NOT About The Real Terrorist--Carlos The Jackal--But Is An All-Star Casted Fictional Drama

I mistakingly purchased "The Jackal" because, based on the title, I thought it was going to be about the actual terrorist--yes, folks terrorism existed before 9/11--Carlos the Jackal (aka, Ilich Ramírez Sánchez) who baffled law enforcement agencies around the world from 1970 until August 14, 1994, when he was handed over to French agents of the DST by his doctors and flown to Paris. Carlos the Jackal's ability to avoid capture was allegedly due to cosmetic surgeries and elaborate costumes. So, when I saw this film, and that Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, and Sidney Poitier were in the film, I figured it had to be good. I was basically let down. Part of the problem, I suspect derives from the fact that the movie is really two stories that collide at the end of the movie. As such, Willis never really has a chance to play off of Gere or Poitier. Secondly, the first part of the movie is poorly edited, so the critical aspects for developing the character of "The Jackal" (which seems to be thinly based on the real person) seem tedious and "time consuming."

The primary strength of "The Jackal" is Richard Gere's performace; but then his character, a former Irish Republican Army sniper named Declan Joseph Mulqueen, is motivated to get the Jackal so he can obtain his freedom. While I can say that I will most likely watch "The Jackal" again--unlike some movies I've unfortunately purchased--because of the cast and somewhat decent drama, I am glad I paid only $5.00 for my copy.

Update--1 July 2008: If this review was not helpful to you, I would appreciate learning the reason(s) so I can improve my reviews. My goal is to provide help to potential buyers, not get into any arguments. So, if you only disagree with my opinion, could you please say so in the comments and not indicate that the review was not helpful. Thanks. June 23, 2008

Great Actors, Superior Plot but Falls Short in Delivery

Director Michael Caton-Jones has created a good dramatic and suspense filled film with outstanding actors and a riveting, masterful plot. Bruce Willis plays the lead role as the "Jackal" a cold and calculating assassin. Sidney Poitier is superbly cast as the FBI Deputy Director. Richard Gere plays Declan Mulqueen, an IRA. terrorist, imprisoned in the USA. Diane Venora is cast as the Russian Interpol agent, Valentina Kostova. Scenes were filmed in many locations in Europe, primarily Helsinki, Finland which also served to represent Moscow, and London, England; Montreal, Canada; Chicago, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Essentially, the FBI and Russian agents managed to kill a Chechnyan mobster. Unfortunately, his brother is out for revenge and hires the Jackal to assassinate a top US official ... Initially, they believe the target is the Director of the FBI. However, as time evolves, Declan Mulqueen discovers who the real target is.

Bruce Willis is chilling and real in his role as the Jackal. He engages in multiple disguises and identities throughout the film to achieve his goals. He manages to get a computer guided high tech weapon built and smuggled into the United States undetected. He gains entry into the US via a power boat over the Lakes from Canada to Lake Michigan and there he joins a boat race in Chicago by blending in. The FBI gets permission to spring Declan Mulqueen out of jail ... in order to get his help to identify and apprehend the Jackal. He makes a deal to win his freedom, then joins in the chase to catch the Jackal.

It turns out the Jackal has another murder in mind along with accomplishing the task for which he was hired. The Jackal has an old score to settle with Isabella, a woman from his past who can identify him. She survived his attempt to kill her. She was a Spanish terrorist of Basque origins who worked with Declan Mulqueen many years ago. They had been lovers and she was pregnant with his child when the Jackal shot her ... It seems Declan Mulqueen also has a score to settle with the Jackal. While the plot is well developed, the film drags on a bit, as much of the film involves chasing the Jackal while he deviously manages to avoid detection, When he gets closer to his target and the deadline ... the film picks up speed and the story becomes more fascinating and complex. The ending is exciting and satisfying. Some feel the film made in 1973, "Day of the Jackal" upon which this film is based, is superior. Never having seen the former, I can only judge this film. Overall, this could have been a *more* exciting film given the action, drama, and well layed out plot but too much time is wasted in the big chase which makes one feel the film is much longer than it should be. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]
May 31, 2008

A Rather Intense Thriller

Bruce Willis as a bad guy? Yuppers! Bruce drops his, "Die Hard" hero hat and becomes a totally cold-hearted hitman known as, "The Jackal". Bruce is a really creepy, cunning assassin that few people have ever seen and live to tell about it. Richard Gere, playing an former IRA terrorist who is now in prison, is one of those rare people who can recognize the Jackal. He cuts a deal with the FBI to help find the Jackal before he kills an important, unknown ( so far ) target. Jack Black also stars as a techno-geek with great weapon building skills who meets a rather grisly end at the Jackal's hands. This movie had me guessing continuously as to who was the Jackal's target, ( I was way off when I found out ) and the action and suspense had me hooked. I enjoyed it very much. April 18, 2008

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