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:

scantily clad female | bikini | man kills a woman | man with no name | larry king character | 

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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

Details

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, Wide Release

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:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sidney Poitier is fluent in Russian.

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Goofs

(at around 1h) When the Jackal is aiming at the pack of cigarettes Lamont is holding in his hand, he actually shoots Lamont's forearm between hand and elbow, where a cloud of blood can be seen. On subsequent shots, the arm is chopped off just below the shoulder.

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Quotes

Carter Preston: I'm going back to Russia where I will stay until Terek Murad rots in prison or in the grave.
Declan Mulqueen: [referring to Valentina] I'm sure she'd appreciate that.

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Alternate Versions

The Australian Theatrical version omitted the shot where The Jackal shoots Lamont's arm off in the testing scene, and removed the line in the nightclub scene in the beginning where Terak's brother calls Valentina a "scar-faced c**t". These cuts were made so the movie would achieve an M rating (recommended 15+ years). The full version was released on video with an MA rating (restricted 15+ years).

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Connections

Referenced in Hellsing Ultimate: Hellsing Ultimate, Vol. 5 (2008)

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Soundtracks

Star
Written by Bobby Gillespie (as B. Gillespie), Robert Young (as R. Young),
Martin Duffy (as M. Duffy), Andrew Innes (as A. Innes)
Performed by Primal Scream
Courtesy of Creation Records Ltd./Sony Independent Network Europe/Reprise Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Different from the original, but still quite good

I was sure this movie was going to be a disappointment, but after seeing it I have to say I was deeply wrong. Sure, the story has numerous big holes (Gere knows the operating technique of his opponent so well and down to the last detail, you'd think they used to live together from the moment they were born - total exaggeration, another example are the lame effects when he's between two trains), and Gere's dialect is way off (for some reason it didn't bother me at all), but the rest is pure action and entertainment extravaganza. Bruce Willis was a perfect choice for the Jackal and Sidney Poitier was as always amazing and really helped the atmosphere of the movie with his role. The ending was a bit short, but in my opinion necessary, because I knew what was going to happen, so why delay it. Nicely done, and great music. 7/10