Day of the Jackal (The Day of the Jackal (DVD))

Member Name: Jadler

Product:	The Day of the Jackal (DVD)
Date:	20/11/00 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: No faults

Disadvantages: none

This is one of the very few films I couldn't pick out any flaws in! Completely riveting from start to finish. Extremely well acted by everyone, especially Michael Lonsdale (whom you might recognize as the villain Drax in "Moonraker"), and Edward Fox. Attention is paid to detail, and there is never anything that happens that struck me as contrived or unbelievable. Zinnemann took a slight risk by using little or no dialogue in some scenes, and having such a quick, abrupt ending, but these things work to the film's benefit. The entire movie is a tension filled story of how the Jackal prepares for his last, biggest, career-ending hit; the cops' ingenious methods of tracking him; and his equally ingenious ways of eluding them. Fox studied hard for this role, and it pays off for the viewer: he perfectly portrays the Jackal as an utterly uncaring, egocentric, extremely elusive and clever individual, as a person with this occupation would probably be. Lonsdale is just as fantastic; his character is always completely believable as a man who is continually stunned by the Jackal's elusiveness, yet he never gives up and doesn't show over- or underconfidence. I give this film 5 stars because it's not only flawless, but still rewards attentiveness after all these years. Magnificent performances like these never date.

Summary: