The Jackal (1997)

An imprisoned I.R.A. fighter is freed to help stop a brutal, seemingly "faceless" assassin from completing his next job.

Director:

Michael Caton-Jones

Writers:

Kenneth Ross (earlier screenplay Day of the Jackal), Chuck Pfarrer (screen story)

Stars:

Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Willis	...	The Jackal
Richard Gere	...	Declan Mulqueen
Sidney Poitier	...	Preston
Diane Venora	...	Valentina Koslova
Mathilda May	...	Isabella
J.K. Simmons	...	Witherspoon
Richard Lineback	...	McMurphy
John Cunningham	...	Donald Brown
Jack Black	...	Lamont
Tess Harper	...	The First Lady
Leslie Phillips	...	Woolburton
Stephen Spinella	...	Douglas
Sophie Okonedo	...	Jamaican Girl
David Hayman	...	Terek Murad
Steve Bassett	...	George Decker

Storyline

In Moscow, the FBI and their Russian counterpart, the MVD, are working on a joint mission to apprehend Russian mobster Ghazzi Murad specifically for the murder of Mayor Nikolai Semankho. During the arrest, they are forced to kill Ghazzi. Ghazzi's brother, Terek Murad, also a mobster, begins his own form of deadly retribution against the MVD for Ghazzi's death. But the FBI and MVD also get wind that Terek has hired an assassin by the code name Jackal to carry out a hit on a high profile but unknown American target for the Americans sticking their nose in Russian affairs. Intelligence points to that target being Donald Brown, the Director of the FBI. The Jackal is known only by name and reputation but no one in authority knows who he is, what he looks like or if he even really exists. They learn of only one person alive who they know has had ties to the Jackal: former Basque separatist Isabella Zanconia, whose whereabouts are unknown. As such, the FBI and MVD decide to turn to the one ...

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Plot Keywords:

mariachi band | scantily clad female | bikini | man with no name | gun for hire | 

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Taglines:

How do you stop an assassin who has no identity?

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

After the filming of this movie, Bruce Willis and Richard Gere reportedly vowed to never work with each other again.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 45 mins) When the Jackal has just jumped in front of the train the carriages seem to have conventional metal wheels, yet in the next shot as he stands the "train" appears to have tires.

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Quotes

[to FBI Director Brown, about the Jackal]
Declan Mulqueen: I'm sorry, Mr. Brown, but this man is no clown. He knows all your moves, back to front. Right now, you've got a name; that's all you've got. So, the Jackal's got a target, you. He's got a timetable. And as to making mistakes, he's spent twenty years in a trade that doesn't forgive error. And he's prevailed. You think he's the one who's up against it?
[shakes his head]
Declan Mulqueen: It's the other way around.

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Alternate Versions

DVD special edition features additional scenes deleted from the theatrical release and an alternative ending, where the Jackal is killed by Isabella.

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Connections

References The Untouchables (1987)

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Soundtracks

Jackalmouse
Written by Goldie, Rob Playford (as R. Playford), S. O'Keefe, S. Colbrook
Performed by 2 Bad Mice featuring Goldie
Goldie appears courtesy of London Records
2 Bad Mice appear courtesy of Moving Shadow Record Company Limited

User Reviews

Underrated

Solid thriller, with a good effort from Bruce Willis as the icy assasin. Has some good suspense & a terrific effort from Sydney Portier in support (I prolly just misspelled his name) Richard Gere as the hero leaves something to be desired though. Watch for a small role from Jack Black as well. All in all, worth a look.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA UK France Germany Japan

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

14 November 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Day of the Jackal

Filming Locations:

Carolco Studios, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,164,595, 16 November 1997

Gross USA:

$54,930,280

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$159,330,280

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Mutual Film Company, Alphaville Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

DTS DTS-Stereo Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1