The Jackal Movie Review 1997

The plot has more holes than Swiss cheese but thanks to a pro cast this film manages to be at least a workmanlike thriller. Willis stars as a killer-for-hire known only as "The Jackal." His latest employer, a Russian gangster, wants revenge for FBI interference in his business, and the Jackal's target is apparently the FBI's Director. Few know what the Jackal looks like and the most available is Declan Mulqueen (Gere), an IRA gunman imprisoned in the U.S. He's given a deal by good FBI guy Preston (Poitier) and the hunt is on. Unfortunately, the Jackal's elaborate preparations don't raise the tension, though they do provide some gross-out moments. The end game (in the D.C. subway) between the Jackal and Mulqueen provides a satisfying conclusion and Willis does excell as the ice-cold killer. Started off as a heavily reworked version of the 1973 assassination thriller "The Day of the Jackal" but most of the associations have been cut.

Distribution

Universal Studios Home Video, 100 Universal City Plz., Universal City, CA 91608-9955, Phone: (818)777-1000, Fax: (818)866-1483, URL: http://www.universalstudios.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 124 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Assassination, It's a Conspiracy, Man!, Hit Men/Women, FBI, Russia/USSR, Subways, Moscow Mafia

Screenplay

Chuck Pfarrer

Cast

Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier, Diane Venora, Mathilda May, Stephen Spinella, John Cunningham, J.K. Simmons, Tess Harper, Richard Lineback, Jack Black, David Hayman, Steve Bassett

Cinematography

Karl Walter Lindenlaub

Director

Michael Caton-Jones

Music

Carter Burwell

Producer

James Jacks, Sean Daniel, Michael Caton-Jones, Kevin Jarre, Terence Clegg, Gary Levinsohn, Mark Gordon, Hal Lieberman, Mutual Film Corporation, Alphaville, Universal Pictures