JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
The Assignment (1997)
The Assignment
DVD Cover
Director:Christopher Duguay
Writer:Dan Gordon and Sabi H Shabtai
Starring:Donald Sutherland, Ben Kingsley and Aidan Quinn
Picture: Widscreen-Audio: 5.1
Length: 119 mins
“What do you think is out there, Maura? A safe little world with your shopping malls, your little league and ballet lessons? Hey! People are killing, Maura. And I'm one of them. Not neat and surgical like firing a missile from some sub but close enough so his brains splattered on me. And they weren't even the enemy Maura. It was to keep from blowing a cover. I've killed men, I let a friend die, I betrayed everything I've ever believed in. And yes, I've fucked other women. And you know what's worse? I've made you and the children a target because someone out there is going to kill you unless I kill him first. That's my job, Mona. And if you don't mind, I'm late for work.”
Annibal Ramirez
Released around the same time as the flimsy, big budget remake of Day of The Jackal starring Bruce Willis, The Assignment deals with the real life terrorist Carlos The Jackal.
An enigma, this notorious, ruthless and calculating murderer was eventually captured and now resides in a French prison.
The film is a fictional account of his capture, based loosely around some facts.
Loving father and husband, and Naval officer “Annibal Ramirez” (Aidan Quinn) is recruited by the CIA’s Jack Shaw (Donald Sutherland) and manipulated into a world of sex, violence and double dealings. Bearing an identical twin resemblance to the most dangerous man in the world, Carlos himself, Annabol is forced to become something he is not and trained as a real life super spy
“You’re not looking for me. Um, you’re looking for, um James Bond, yeah that his name, you will find him over in England. Drives around in an Aston Martin. Cant miss him.”
Learning from the man who has hunted The jackal for years, Middle Eastern operative Amos (Ben Kingsley). Slowly he is educated in how to think, shoot, eat, kill and screw like a ninja.
John Doe says: (8/10)
For me this ranks right alongside the best action films of the last 20 years. Standing up to repeat screenings, and always delivering escapist entertainment with a classic style.
The Assignment is an intelligent, immersive espionage thriller that opens with cold blooded destruction and lets you know this is not a game. There is a sly wit and understanding of this murky world and all involved throw themselves in with much gusto.
The main draw for me is the way it shows the massive toll on the mind and body that this profession takes. Most of the time the film feels true and has that insider information feel to it, which ups the tension.
It's not a perfect film, the story itself and many of the settings have been seen many times before, it’s the fresh ideas and sophisticated execution that makes this film stand out for me. (eg: The training motage for instance just has that little bit more substance than most)
The Inventive cinematography enhances an action-laden script that balances brains with brawn and is always believable and immensely watchable.
The DVD:
No real extras but the transfer is crisp and the subwoofer gets a solid workout from the 5.1 dolby digital sound.
Other Recommendations:
John Frankenheimer's Ronin plus The Manchurian Candidate
Micheal Winner's The Mechanic plus Scorpio
John Huston's The Kremlin Letters
Sydney Pollack's 3 Days Of The Condor
Franklin J Zimmerman's Day Of the Jackal]
Picture: Widscreen-Audio: 5.1
Length: 119 mins
“What do you think is out there, Maura? A safe little world with your shopping malls, your little league and ballet lessons? Hey! People are killing, Maura. And I'm one of them. Not neat and surgical like firing a missile from some sub but close enough so his brains splattered on me. And they weren't even the enemy Maura. It was to keep from blowing a cover. I've killed men, I let a friend die, I betrayed everything I've ever believed in. And yes, I've fucked other women. And you know what's worse? I've made you and the children a target because someone out there is going to kill you unless I kill him first. That's my job, Mona. And if you don't mind, I'm late for work.”
Annibal Ramirez
Released around the same time as the flimsy, big budget remake of Day of The Jackal starring Bruce Willis, The Assignment deals with the real life terrorist Carlos The Jackal.
An enigma, this notorious, ruthless and calculating murderer was eventually captured and now resides in a French prison.
Loving father and husband, and Naval officer “Annibal Ramirez” (Aidan Quinn) is recruited by the CIA’s Jack Shaw (Donald Sutherland) and manipulated into a world of sex, violence and double dealings. Bearing an identical twin resemblance to the most dangerous man in the world, Carlos himself, Annabol is forced to become something he is not and trained as a real life super spy
“You’re not looking for me. Um, you’re looking for, um James Bond, yeah that his name, you will find him over in England. Drives around in an Aston Martin. Cant miss him.”
Learning from the man who has hunted The jackal for years, Middle Eastern operative Amos (Ben Kingsley). Slowly he is educated in how to think, shoot, eat, kill and screw like a ninja.
John Doe says: (8/10)
For me this ranks right alongside the best action films of the last 20 years. Standing up to repeat screenings, and always delivering escapist entertainment with a classic style.
The Assignment is an intelligent, immersive espionage thriller that opens with cold blooded destruction and lets you know this is not a game. There is a sly wit and understanding of this murky world and all involved throw themselves in with much gusto.
The main draw for me is the way it shows the massive toll on the mind and body that this profession takes. Most of the time the film feels true and has that insider information feel to it, which ups the tension.
It's not a perfect film, the story itself and many of the settings have been seen many times before, it’s the fresh ideas and sophisticated execution that makes this film stand out for me. (eg: The training motage for instance just has that little bit more substance than most)
The Inventive cinematography enhances an action-laden script that balances brains with brawn and is always believable and immensely watchable.
The DVD:
No real extras but the transfer is crisp and the subwoofer gets a solid workout from the 5.1 dolby digital sound.
Other Recommendations:
John Frankenheimer's Ronin plus The Manchurian Candidate
Micheal Winner's The Mechanic plus Scorpio
John Huston's The Kremlin Letters
Sydney Pollack's 3 Days Of The Condor
Franklin J Zimmerman's Day Of the Jackal]
"Where is Sir Connery when you really need him?"
