# Jackal, The (1997)

### reviewed by
Cheng-Jih Chen

I recall this article in the NYT Magazine. It was about the lack of villains Hollywood can rely on. After World War Two, they could show Nazis in film: instant bad guy, especially with those spiffy Gestapo uniforms. Similarly, we had American Indians in Westerns, another group that can be readily identified by appearance or accent. Now, with the advent of political sensibilities, and with the long distances we are from World War Two, it's a bit hard to come up with readily identifiable villains. The article noted that Arabs have been used a few times, then South American drug dealers, and before the bubble economy burst, the Japanese. We no longer have a consistently reliable national villain, but must make do with a changing cast of ethnic or professional types. The Chinese may be next year's flavor, given the random political tensions, as well as Hollywood's antipathy towards the PRC. I imagine a day when we can safely and seriously show the Cold War science fiction film, Battle Beneath the Earth, in which the Red Chinese dig tunnels under America, and start sprinkling atom bombs under the US Heartland. Surely a metaphor of insidious Communists. But for now, it's only really fit for Mystery Science Theatre.

Among the flavors of recent years is the Russian Mob. In this updated version of "Day of the Jackal", the assassin's paymaster is a mobster out to revenge his brother's death at the hands of the Russian Militia and the American FBI. But the principal villain, Bruce Willis, is known more for his technocratic efficiency at assassinations, not for ideological fervor. He's a contract killer, belonging to no cause beyond his own enrichment, a member of no ethnic identity save perhaps a bland Western cosmopolitanism. In contrast, the hero, Richard Gere, is described as a fiery nationalist, a former IRA sharpshooter. He doesn't rely on technology to do the job -- he in fact gives up a laser sniper scope at one point and relies on old-fashioned optics -- but is carried through by passion and conviction. Despite the current vogue in creating folk heroes out of the IRA, I find it interesting that a positive symbol of nationalist fervor is placed in contrast to the cold blooded and rootless professional. Technocrats aren't in favor.

In any case, I saw "The Jackal" this morning. The original film featured an assassination attempt on Charles de Gaulle. But times hav changed: the music has been updated to a Nine Inch Nails-influenced soundtrack, and the target of the assassination is an American. Arguably, people here in the US wouldn't care all too much if a Frenchman is blown to bits. I haven't seen the original movie, but I suspect this new film features more spiffy electronics than the original, simultaneously violating the Iron Law of Bandwidth (think full motion video on a cell modem) and fulfilling our expectations that computers shown by Hollywood will be miraculous beasts.

Oh, in reaction to a complentary lack of good sense about Heavily Armed Bad Guys that we saw in, say, "Starship Troopers" (i.e., the bugs have claws, but we'll just run right into them), let me note that when you have a gun the size of a sofa pointed at you, the sensible thing is to get really close to it, perhaps ducking under it or walking to one side, as it can't hit you then. One of the characters failed to follow this somewhat obvious idea.

Another thing the Jackal does is the "you're about to die, so I'll tell you the plan." It's not as direct or obvious as a James Bond supervillain, but it's there. Along with a Monster that Wouldn't Die moment. As well as extraneous killing -- especially considering that he's a professional assassin who shouldn't leave too much of a track -- just to show what kind of bad ass he is. But I don't think I'll spoil anything mentioning this.

But it's not a horrible movie. It's reasonably good, though meant more for video tape than $8 in a theatre. See it at matinee.

Oh, Richard Gere's barogue is really strong at first, but then becomes barely noticeable. This is odd, since the film was most likely shot out of order.

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