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

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Product:	The Day of the Jackal (DVD)
Date:	19/03/01 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well acted,tense

Disadvantages: None

When I ruminate over my fate of having the Four Seasons Mall on my head,I often come to the conclusion that my grisly fate was sealed due to my lack of careful planning.

A good source of tactical data for would be hitmen can be found in this 1973 classic based on the novel by Frederick Forsyth.Set during the turbulent 1970's in France we find the local terrorists doing a poor job on the assassination front.Despite the worst of intentions they can't quite pull off the big hit that might just unseat the unpopular Government.Running low on men they decide to channel their remaining resources into hiring the best,an enigmatic Englishman code named the Jackal.His simple but difficult mission is to assassinate the well guarded president Charles de Gaulle.

The assassin,played by Edward Fox agrees to the terms and decides to honour the contract even when he learns that the terrorist cell that employed him has been smashed.We never learn his true identity as he uses several identities harvested from the tombstones of his local church.His planning is meticulous chosing presision weapons made by an underworld expert.My only gripe is that he kills the armourer after delivery to cover his tracks,denying his sevices to other hitmen.This explains why I tried to 'off' Sacha Distel the following week armed only with a spud gun and a King Edward!.

As his preperations go on we simultaniously see the progress of the Police enquiry headed by Detective Lebel (Michael 'Drax' Lonsdale) which after some luck and detective work begins to bear fruit.English counterparts including Tony 'Robin's Nest' Britton help solve the riddle providing hard found data from the passport office that may be our hero's undoing.As the Jackal closes in on his prey the net tightens and it's to close to call as the crosshairs find DeGaulle's head.

This is an excellent film that dos'nt glamouise either protaganist,but shows the
ir respective skills to the fore.The assassin is cold and ruthless,killing without conscience or regret.The detective is shown to have his own problems with beaurocricy and self serving masters.Details such as how to get a dodgy passport have proved invaluable as was the masterclass on tuning one's rifle using fruit.

Fast paced throughout the sence of urgency is palpable towards the end and it's difficult to know who to root for.Although the Jackal is the bad guy we can only respect his talents and masteries of disguise and weaponry.Far better than the Gere/Willis remake this film remains the masterclass in the assassins' guild.

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