Review of The Jackal (1997) by Shawna L — 12 Feb 2012

Despite good performances by Willis and Gere, this cat-n-mouse action thriller doesn't quite make the mark. It's not horrible. Certainly worth watching on a rainy day; just don't expect Hard to Kill from Bruce or An Officer and a Gentleman from Gere.

Granted, Bruce successfully portrays a heartless assassin, more so than usual, who is as tricky as he is adept at disguises, so we see his appearance change many times, which is amusing in and of itself.

Then there is Gere portraying a passionate Irishman convicted for involvement in the IRA. It's unfortunate that this film wasn't more successful, because in it Gere has the best accent he's ever had.

That, along with a prosthetic nose, makes this one of his most believable roles. As a bonus, Jack Black makes a comedic appearance. Again, not bad as long as you don't go expect too much and are willing to overlook some filmmaking lethargy and plot inconsistencies.