THE JACKALL
US, 1997, 124 minutes, Colour.
Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier, Diane Venora, Mathilde May, JK Simmons, Jack Black, Tess Harper, Leslie Phillips, Stephen Spinella, SophieOkenado, David Hayman.
Directed by Michael Caton-Jones.
Based on the screenplay of the 1973 adaptation of Frederick Forsythe's very popular The Day of the Jackall. Most would remember Fred Zinneman's film and the extraordinary performance of Edward Fox as the heartless and calculating assassin, targeting de Gaulle. This time it is the 90s - and a detailed focus on weaponry as in the original, but far more techo-developed. The setting is the US, although the payers for the killing are those very frequent villains of recent American thrillers, the new Russian mafia.
The jackall is Bruce Willis who plays cold and calculating but who always looks bemused - which suits him when he is hero but looks strange when he is villain. Richard Gere, on the other hand, is genial as the Irishman who also can identify the Jackall. It is entertaining while on screen, helped by many international locations and the presence of Sidney Poitier and Diane Venora, who seemed the most interesting character. But, there are some plot-holes that defy explanation.
- The title, based on Frederick Forsyth’s Day of the Jackal, adaptation to the 1990s, American-Russian relationships? Assassination attempt? Espionage complexities?
- The range of locations, the US, Washington, Chicago, Russia, Azerbaijan…? The musical score?
- The portrait of the Jackal, a Bruce Willis role? Military background, American, for hire, the Azerbaijan connection, the revenge assassination, the head of the FBI, emerging as the First Lady? Preparations, getting equipment, storing it, the gay bar, the garage, the murder? The setup, clash with Mulqueen, disarming the gun, firing at random, deaths? Mulqueen and the gun, shooting the jackal?
- Motivations, the Russian major, Valentina? Contact with the US? The background of the assassination of the brother of Murad? Murad and his revenge? Hiring the Jackal?
- The character of Preston, role with the government, espionage, the FBI, the links with Mulqueen, the final shootout, his promises to Mulqueen, breaking the promise, the prestige of the episode and his career?
- Mulqueen, Richard Gere character, sniper, his relationship with Isabella, the Jackal and the pregnancy, Isabella knowing the identity of the Jackal? Employment by the FBI, liaison with Preston, the investigation, building up to the assassination attempt, thwarting the attempt? Preston not giving him his freedom?
- Ian Lamont, the gay bar, the Jackal chatting him up, the garage, storage of the weapons, the TV revelations, killing Lamont?
- The range of supporting characters, International, diplomacy, militants, Russians, Americans, British?
- The scope of the story, the characters, political tensions?
