The Jackal (1997)

Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Starring: Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier

Synopsis:
An FBI agent and a Russian cop enlist the help of an imprisoned IRA member who is the only one who can identify an assassin known as the Jackal.

Impressions:
Film buffs will decry this as an inferior remake of Day of the Jackal, but divorced from any ties to the original, this isn't a bad action thriller. Bruce Willis doesn't often play villains, but he's quite good at it here as the eponymous Jackal. I also liked Sidney Poitier as Preston and Diane Venora as Valentina. Richard Gere isn't bad as Declan, but apparently his Irish accent is. Jack Black also has a memorable role before his star began to rise. There's some good action to be had and "Red Tape" has a way of popping into my head due to its memorable use in one scene. If you're a die-hard (no pun intended) advocate of the original, spare yourself, but otherwise, you'll probably enjoy it. Give it a watch.

Rating:
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