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One of the most invigorating period adventures to hit the big screen in decades, this lavish, brilliantly directed film drew critical and audience raves when it was released in 1995. Inspired by historical fact and larger-than-life legend, the intelligently scripted story takes place in Scotland in 1713, when Highland farmer and clan leader Rob Roy MacGregor (Liam Neeson) is forced to borrow money from the duplicitous aristocrat Marquis of Montrose (John Hurt) to help his clan survive a harsh winter.When Montrose's vile henchman (Tim Roth) schemes to dishonor MacGregor and his wife (Jessica Lange) and take the money for himself, the rugged Highlander must take courageous action to preserve his integrity. What follows--along with some of the finest sword-fighting ever filmed--is a tale of courage and valor destined to become an enduring movie classic. Tim Roth received a well-deserved Oscar nomination (for Best Supporting Actor) for his indelible performance as the foppish but deadly villain Cunningham, and both Neeson and Lange bring an earthy, sensual quality to their passionate roles. Boasting a wealth of breathtaking scenery and high-intensity action, Rob Roy is further blessed by a splendid supporting cast (including Brian Cox and Eric Stoltz), and the lush soundtrack by Carter Burwell strikes a perfect balance of romanticism and vigorous dramatic energy. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (66)

Scottish Western.
Directed by Michael Caton-Jones, written by the superb screenwriter Alan Sharp. Compared to other Hollywood productions, especially adventure pictures, the I.Q. of *Rob Roy* seems very high. And compared to Mel Gibson's *Braveheart*, to which this movie will be eternally and unfairly linked (both being treatments of legendary Scottish heroes that were each released in 1995), the dialogue in *Rob Roy* sounds like poetry: not merely intelligent, but downright metaphoric, even when vulgar (listen for Tim Roth's little speech about love being like a dunghill). But the intelligent writing and meticulous realism should come as no surprise to those conversant with 1972's *Ulzana Raid*, which was also scripted by Scotsman Alan Sharp, based on his novel. That was one of the greatest and most rigorously realistic Westerns ever made . . . and so is *Rob Roy*, despite its setting in early 1700's Scotland. All the traditional elements of the classic Western are here: good vs. evil, rich vs. poor, one man pitted heroically against the world, played against a backdrop of majestic beauty that puts it all in context. Those expecting an adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's beloved novel about Rob Roy MacGregor will be disappointed on that score. Instead, the movie is an imaginative prequel of sorts that takes place before the serious Jacobite uprisings depicted in the novel. It shows the impetus for the hero's later actions. And boy, does he get some impetus! Pitted against a triumvirate of scoundrels -- John Hurt as the Earl of Montrose, Brian Cox as Montrose's henchman Killearn, and most notably Tim Roth as the vile fop Archibald Cunningham, who's Montrose's deadly bodyguard -- Liam Neeson's Rob Roy doesn't stand a chance of remaining unscathed while treading the moral high ground. The worst of the depredations that come home to him is the perfunctory, brutal rape of his wife (Jessica Lange, sans make-up) by Cunningham. Those who are more than commonly sensitive to such scenes are well advised to look the other way -- this is one of the worst rape scenes in all of cinema. Ugly, but viscerally effecive. Other great scenes include the hero's last-second, desperate escape from Montrose's hangmen, followed by his hiding from them in the bloated carcass of a cow. The mandatory climactic sword-duel between Roth and Neeson is justly famous, and not to be missed. Perhaps the only thing lacking in *Rob Roy* is a great action sequence, a la *Braveheart* (which has at least one too many!). Somehow, the duel at the end, great as it is, doesn't seem quite hearty enough to whet the appetite for action that the movie inspires. While this is a genuine failing, it doesn't mar the movie's many virtues.

A good movie ' but it's just a story, not history
Rob Roy McGregor actually lived, an eighteenth-century Scottish clan chief who followed the traditional life of such men - leading his people, raising cattle, rustling other clans' cattle, engaging in feuds, killing his enemies, and so on. Historical novelisation has romanticised him and his activities, and this film continues the process.
It's a good movie: strong and noble-spirited leads, goodies struggling against the odds and the system, evil baddies, fights, sex, a climactic duel, and ultimate victory for the goodies, all against gorgeous Scottish scenery, what more could one want? But it's not a history lesson. And this is where so many reviewers have gone wrong. The film's makers missed the chance to show the background political context that makes sense of so much of what went on at the time.
And as a Scotsman I would add that while Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange turned in good performances, their 'Scottish' accents were only slightly less cringe-making than that of Engineer Scott from 'Star Trek'.

Nice scenery, story is lacking
Based on what we've seen in the film, Rob Roy's honor is the most important thing to him. But does that mean that cunnying, intelligence, leverage, and knowledge is to be discarded? Rob Roy does everything wrong in this film from the moment he allows one man to act has his financial agent to the fact that he doesn't use his allies against those that are trying to kill him and who end up raping his wife, he acts in typical Hollywood fashion as an idiot.

The film would have been quite short if he would have done the right thing from the very beginning. But, alas, we would have no film so hence the stupidity from which we are tortured.

The film has some great scenery and the acting is enjoyable except for the brutal rape scene of Roy's wife. Other than the scenery and acting, there's not much to see let alone giving cause to buying the DVD.

What's not to like?
A wonderful film overshadowed by "the other" kilt movie that came out that same year, Rob Roy is stuffed with action and romance and political intrigue. Brilliant performances by Liam, Jessica, and especially Tim Roth and a then unknown Brian McCardie. Brian gives a stunning debut performance as Rob's younger brother Alistair (who, though he didn't exist in real life, sure made for great cinema!). A great story that will have you weeping and pining for the highlands!

sexual violence a turnoff
I missed this movie in the theatres and was eager to see it. The acting, scenery, snd musical score were all superb. What turned me off was the ( as also stated by another reviewer) protracted rape scene. It was about as brutal as it gets and went on far too long. I think this was really unnecessary since ( when Tim Roth forced Jessica Lange accross the table) we all knew what was going on.Having been a victim of sexual violence, I was completely turned off by the prolonging of this scene. Totally unnecessary to do this. ... Read more

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The best way to enjoy this 1997 thriller is to forget the much better film that inspired it (1973's The Day of the Jackal) and get whatever kicks you can from this heavy-metal remake. It's not bad as hokey thrillers go, but all of the original film's suspenseful finesse has been traded in (not traded up) for bigger, bolder action and nonsensical plotting. It's as if Hollywood had forgotten to create excitement without resorting to overblown action and heavy hardware, but there's ample compensation in the casting of Bruce Willis and Richard Gere. Willis is the elusive assassin known only as the Jackal, whose latest target (he uses a cannon-sized gun that's anything but inconspicuous) may be the first lady of the United States. Gere plays a former IRA terrorist who is recruited by the deputy head of the FBI (Sidney Poitier) to trace the Jackal's maneuvers, and Diane Venora offers some gutsy support as a Russian-born agent who assists Gere on his mission. The movie has fun turning Willis into a master of disguise, and Gere adds much-needed gravity to counter the plot's escalating absurdity, but this is the kind of film that falls apart if you think about it too much. Still, that doesn't stop the Collector's Edition DVD from offering an impressive array of bonus features, including a director's commentary, a "making of The Jackal" documentary, deleted scenes, an alternative ending, cast interviews, and more. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (88)

This really ain't a bad movie...
Okay, here we go. Bruce Willis stars as some assassin called "The Jackal" who has to blow the first ladies' head right off. Then, the F.B.I. finds out about this whole operation from a Russian who was zapped by the K.G.B. so they have no other choice but to release an ex-I.R.A. sharp-shooter named Declan Mulqueen. What's that? You expected more?! Oh, no, no, no. That is the entire plot. And although it sounds like a crappy plot that has more or less been done about a million times, The Jackal is truly a great film. I consider it to be the 2nd greatest action film of 97 (The first being Face/Off of course). I really would have given the film 5 stars had it not been for the boring lovey-dovey scenes between Richard Gere and the two women in this flick who carry a gun. His old girlfriend (who is a great shot.) and Major Valentina Koslova (played and voiced with a pretty good Russian accent by Diane Verona). But I'd have to say that the best thing about this movie is the way-cool, too-good-to-be-true music score! Carter Burwell did the music for the movie (he also did the great score to "Fargo"). So, if you haven't seen this movie yet...go rent it! And if you're a real die-hard-action-movie-lover...go buy this movie right now!!! You won't be disappointed!!!

great performances all around make this great movie
Another remake, a great movie - Day of the Jackal with the brilliant Edward Fox - so I tended to cringe in anticipation, but surprisingly this film scores a bullseye because of solid performances from Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, Sidney Poitier, Mathilda May (Lifeforce) but most especially from Diana Devora (the 13th Warrior, FX).

Gere plays Declan Mulqueen, an IRA terrorist who is in prison. He and Mathilda May were former lovers and worked with Willis, but he betrayed them. Diana Devora is a Russian intelligence officer, Valentina Koslova. She is working with Carter Preston US intelligence officer (Sidney Poitier) in taking down Russian Mafia. Only the Mafia wants to strike back and send the Jackal - Willis - on a assassination to make a statement by killing the First Lady. Devora and Poitier get Gere out of English jail, on a temporary leave, to help track down Willis. Willis is a master of disguise, so only Gere stands a chance of tracking him down before he completes his mission.

It's fast paced, yet leisurely plots Willis preparations for the kill. Well done from start to finish. Not better than the original, but just as enjoyable. Excellent soundtrack as well.

A Movie That Should Be More Popular
I personally love this movie. This movie features Bruce Willis as the Jackal, an assassin hired to kill a high level U.S. Government official. The Jackal has many identities, costumes, and contacts to help him along the way. The FBI, obviously trying to stop the Jackal before he kills, turn to the one type of person most unlikely to help them.... a terrorist. Deklin Moqueen, played well by Richard Gere, is enlisted to stop the Jackal due to their past history together. There are some shocking twists and turns along the way before the end. The end result is a movie that is unnecessarily being torn apart by critics, but will always have a nice spot in my DVD collection.

Note: Jack Black makes an appearance in this movie. This is one of the first movies I remember seeing him in. I won't give away what happens to him, but it definitely left an imprint in my mind.

Edge of Your Seat Suspense
Bruce Willis really is believable as the legendary Assassin by the name of the Jackal. This movie takes you from Europe to the USA to Canada and back. There are so many scenes where you bristle with anxiety due to Willis' intense manner.

This may be the best Willis performance ever. The movie is violent, yet, it is to an extreme, not gorey violence but it reflects the violent nature of the legend. Richard Gere is cast well, a little less believable than Willis, yet he does a good job of being intense in tracking Carlos the Jackal. The issue here is what will Jackal do next? Can he be stoppped?

Jack Black plays a very believable role of a somewhat bystander who meets a very violent end. You may want to close your eyes for that one.

I recommend not drinking any caffiene before this movie because it creates an edge right from the beginning. What was telling to me was that every interaction that Willis has creates tension, whether or not he is violent, you feel he may be at any time.

This movie of course is not for everyone yet it is not an action thriller that is silly in nature with gratuitous violence. It seems more of a lesson of the violent nature of the worst criminals in the world.

Use Once & Destroy
Not too good, not too bad, "The Jackal" is one of those average action movies that brings nothing new but it`s a competent and mildly pleasant product nonetheless. The plot is derivative and predictable, the characters are bland, yet director Michael Caton-Jones chooses some decent actors (Bruce Willis, Richard Gere), a neat soundtrack (Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Moby) and some decent action sequences that manage to deliver a minimum level of entertainment value. As far as popcorn movies go, there`s certainly worse, so this is a fair choice to spend a couple of mind-numbing hours.
Watchable but forgettable. ... Read more

Amazon.com

At first glance, this 1991 comedy looks like another formulaic fluff-piece with a standard fish-out-of-water scenario--in this case a hotshot young doctor (Michael J. Fox) whose cross-country drive to become a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon is interrupted when he crashes in the rural hamlet of Grady, South Carolina. But as Fox's character is urged by the folksy locals to stay--an offer made tempting by his romance with a law student (Julie Warner)--this unassuming little movie just gets better and better thanks to a sharp script and a splendid supporting cast. Well, okay ... maybe Woody Harrelson and Bridget Fonda aren't used to the fullest of their abilities, but for the most part this is a charming and surprisingly intelligent comedy that's good enough to compare favorably to My Cousin Vinny, a film with which it shares much in common. Fox has all the right moves to make his character both bullish and ultimately agreeable, and Julie Warner's performance may leave you wondering why this fine actress didn't immediately rise to stardom. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Warm and funny
With its "hardened city boy recognizes what is important in life" plot, as predictable as that might be, I found this movie to be warm, funny, and poignant. It fits my general criteria defining a good movie in that the lead characters were likeable with a good chemistry, the story is sufficient to keep my attention, and it has a happy ending. I have always enjoyed the romantic comedy genre and this movie fits the mold well.

The chemistry between Michael J. Fox and Julie Warner is good and the interplay with the other characters (played by David Ogden Stiers, Barnard Hughes, etc.) is enjoyable to watch. Coupled with the small town setting in rural GA, its simple truths and more relaxed view of life are vaguely reminiscent of the old Andy of Mayberry TV show - and that's not a bad thing.

While not the type of movie that ever receives critical recognition, this movie is simply a pleasure to watch. It does something I find all too rare in the films that tend to be recognized in the "let's-give-ourselves-another-award-for-making-a-deep-dark-and-brooding-film" world of the awards shows - Doc Hollywood left me feeling good and I enjoyed the time I spent watching it. Some would call this solely a "chick flick" but I grade it as a good, light romance for all and a DVD that's a must in your collection for those days when you just feel a desire to watch something "happy".

a gem of a movie
I didn't like Doc Hollywood the first time I saw it in 1991 --- then I watched it again a few years ago and was blown away by the writing, acting and all-around sweet nature of the film.

Dr. Ben Stone is leaving DC for a job doing plastic surgery for celebs in LA when he runs into a picket fence in a small Southern town and has to do 3 days of community service at their clinic as penance. His fancy sports car is totaled anyway and he has to get it fixed. Miffed at being waylaid in such a hokey place, he tries to get through the next few days in time for his new job.

He meets a wide cast of characters -- and to their credit, not everyone in a small town is so gosh-friendly. Some are mean, some are troubled, some are nice -- like any other array of people. Ben meets Lou, a single mother who drives the ambulance, as well as Nancy Lee Nicholson, a confused beauty who wants him to take her to LA.

This movie is great because it is about many people deciding for themselves how they want to live -- whether in a big city or in a small town -- and why they value what they do. It is also about an epiphany for Ben Stone and changing of his ways internally.

Maybe the best "date flicks" I've ever seen.
I normally cannot watch movies on airplanes for some reason. I first saw "Doc Hollywood" on the grueling Boston-LA flight, and it immediately captured and held my interest for the entire flight. More than anything, that fact illustrates that this is a truly engaging flick. This is a genuinely funny movie. One thing that this movie does is lay to rest any doubts anyone might have had about Michael J. Fox's acting ability. In my opinion he turns in a stellar performance, albeit supported by fine jobs by the supporting cast. The part where he finally goes to LA is absolutely hysterical, by the way.

The story is very simple (no spoilers here). The protagonist (Michael J. Fox) is on his way to a job interview for a position as a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. He has an accident in a small Southern town ("Grady") and is sentenced to several hundred hours of community service. The town needs a doctor, and its real purpose is to recruit him as a permanent resident physician. Naturally, Doc meets a nice girl and now the choice is between money as a big-shot LA plastic surgeon and lifestyle in a nice rural setting. There's a lot more. I won't spoil it for you. Doc's slow assimilation into the town of Grady is wonderfully done. This movie manages to be both touching and funny, and I say this as one who is normally not much for comedy or date flicks.

Michael J. Fox shows in this movie that he had the potential to go far, as indeed he did.

One of michael j. fox's best!
The only movie in my belief that surpasses this one is "The secret of my success". If you like a good down home country turned city movie then this one will be a must see over and over!

Feel-Good Movie
If you live in a big city and have also lived in a small town, you'll love this movie. The cast is great. Michael J. Fox and Julie Warner make great movie chemistry. And Julie Warner is awesome, as always. I laughed out loud many times. And the pig is hilarious. ... Read more

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If you've never seen an aviation movie before in your entire life, you'll be blissfully ignorant of the fact that Memphis Belle shamelessly (and yet gloriously) incorporates just about every cliché in the flight-movie handbook. If you're a big fan of aviation movies--especially movies about World War II bomber crews--you'll be glad that the genre's clichés have been handled with such professional flair. As it follows the crew of a B-17 bomber on its final and most dangerous mission over Germany, Memphis Belle may be little more than a slick and highly authentic presentation of familiar thrills and characters, but it's a rousing piece of entertainment. Featuring an ensemble cast of fresh faces who've since enjoyed thriving careers (including Billy Zane, Sean Astin, Eric Stoltz, D.B. Sweeney, and Harry Connick Jr.), the movie exists as a fitting tribute to the men who fought and often died in the air over hostile territory. It's the Hollywood version of a 1944 wartime documentary made by legendary director William Wyler (whose daughter served as one of this film's producers), and as such it's a bit contrived and melodramatic. And yet, this exciting movie is almost certain to grab and hold your attention, offering an honorable reminder of the bravery and integrity that were crucial ingredients of any bomber's crew. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (66)

Twelve O'Clock Medium...
If you can penetrate (like a B-17 cutting through cloud cover) all the character cliches and a certain old-fashioned hokey aura, you'll find a harrowing depiction of daylight bombing, circa 1943. What you won't find is an accurate account of the real Memphis Belle's 25th mission, or anyone resembling the actual men who flew her that day.

Matthew Modine captains this fictionalized crew, with support from resentful co-pilot Tate Donovan, dishonest bombadier Billy Zane, panicked navigator D.B. Sweeney and wiseacre belly gunner Sean Astin. Tailgunner Harry Connick, Jr. gets to display his vocals and piano skills in a musical number, dedicated to waistgunner Eric Stoltz, that stalls the film in the early going.

While the real Memphis Belle experienced a somewhat less dramatic run to a different target, this film's mission is to depict the aerial terrors of that year in Europe, when American airmen suffered more losses than any other branch of our armed forces. Direct hit! Massive B-17 formations thunder across the sky, flak rips planes apart, and in one chilling moment, an enemy fighter slices one bomber in half, and our heroes hear the panicked screams of its doomed crew over the radio.

The battle scenes are horrific, and the character scenes are just horrible. It's not that the acting is of poor quality; it isn't. It's that each crewmember faces some sort of hackneyed personal crisis and comes through in true cliched fashion, which somewhat cheapens what the real crew experienced. It's literally one thing after another, a bombing run as group therapy. The film relies exclusively on stock Hollywood types, rather than human beings. Plus, Sweeney's fearful character does a disservice to the real Belle's navigator. Modine comes off best, with his youthful appearance and dedication, as he admonishes his crew not to shout their targets over the intercom. John Lithgow has the thankless task of portraying the coldblooded PR officer who's more concerned with publicity tours than the men's welfare, or their mission's stategic/tactical importance.

Despite its failings as a "true" story, this is a film worth watching. Not until "Saving Private Ryan" would a film surpass "Belle's" depiction of nerve-wracking combat.

Great Hollywood Introduction to Vital American History
A little background. First of all, there really was a plane called the Memphis Belle. It is traditionally considered the first B-17 to complete the obligatory 25 missions and survive. If you are going to learn about the real 'Memphis Belle', I highly recommend you watch the William Wyler documentary, made during World War II, that chronicles the story of the actual plane and its crew. You may also want to read the book that came out in the past year called "The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle" about the Belle's pilot, Robert Morgan, because it is a fascinating book about a man who went on to fly B29's in the Pacific after surviving in Europe. And to watch a movie that accurately chronicles the trials and tribulations of bomber crewmen in Europe in WWII, I recommend "Twelve O'Clock High" and "Pistol Packing Mama".
That having been said, I must add that most air veterans think that the 1990 "Memphis Belle" movie is unrealistic, and in many ways they are right. However, I have done enough research to appreciate that the film is a great way to get introduced to the exploits of the brave aircrews who flew over Germany in World War II. It is an entertaining film. I think the director would have been much better off NOT calling the film "The Memphis Belle", because the story is mostly fiction. So why did he/she do so? It was put out by the daughter of William Wyler, who made the original movie, in part as a tribute to her father. Thus the name.

The actual pilot of the real Memphis Belle was asked about the movie, and said that it appeared to him that the writers had taken everything that had happened to the crew over all 25 missions and compressed them into one hellish mission. Indeed, the crew deals with about every in-flight emergency imaginable on mission twenty-five. This is one exciting piece of film.
Roger Freeman, one of the great air historians, also served as an advisor on the film. The film got a lot of things right, too, in addition to the gaffes that many air vets notice.
The joy of seeing three of the surviving B-17's flying together again in this movie is worth the price, in my book.
I recommend the movie with the caveat that it is not FACT, but historical fiction, and recommend that if you like it, that you not stop until you see the real "Memphis Belle" video from the forties and also read Robert Morgan's book. You will come away with renewed and increased admiration for the brave men who flew missions in the war to save the world. These men flew knowing full well that each mission could well be their last. They flew no fewer than 25 such missions at war's beginning when the odds were terrible, and as many as 35 by war's end. This movie is a fitting tribute to their sacrifices.

Almost Realist
This is the first of a line of movies depicting shear guts in the face of a real enemy. Afterwards came the likes of Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, Thin Red Line, The Windtalkers, Blackhawk Down and We Were Soldiers.

Memphis Belle gets a bit schmaltzy in the beginning, focusing on the crew and not the reality, but the scenes of flying into the fire makes you respect the guts that generation displayed.

I really thought that using the actors (all around 21 to 25) was a great touch, and made me sit back and think about what I was doing at that age (Nam) and what my dad was doing (WWII). Whew, take a bunch of amped up young men and throw them into harms way. I wonder if older, more comfortable men would have done that?

And I thought flyboys had it easy. Everyone directly engaged was slugging it out. My Uncle used to say that the papers in WWII wouldn't focus on both fronts simultaneously, if the European campaigns were having a fight, the Pacific theator was talked about briefly or that the Marines were doing okay... he said that wasn't the case, everyone was fighting hard to stay alive, not just to win the war. From the individuals perspective it was a matter of survival, not glory. The glory came later.

Great movie!
This is a movie that I was introduced to when I was young. It really made me appreciate what men like the ones in the movie did for our country. It also turned me on to WWII aviation as well as movies that go for the heart. I would recommend this movie to anyone.

See how many familiar faces you can spot.

World War II in the air.
If all you know about World War II is Hitler and the Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima then this movie will help show another side of the war. Not everyone who died in World War II did so in a foxhole or on the beaches of Normandy. Many young men met their fate in the statosphere, some by themselves and others with their crews. Memphis Belle is a great movie on showing how men fought and died at thousands of feet above the ground in the war against Hitler and the German war machine. Although not entirely acurate on how the Memphis Belle flew its last mission, this movie shows just how special this bomber crew was. Also it shows just how lucky the crew of the Memphis Belle were in being the first B-17 in the Eighth Air Force to finish 25 missions and complete their tour of duty. This movie is a great tribute to the men who flew this bomber as well as all the men who gave their lives for both sides in the sky over Germany. ... Read more

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This complex and intriguing drama chronicles--with some probable narrative liberties--the chain of events that instigated the provocative Profumo affair, the infamous cold war scandal that toppled Britain's conservative government in the early 1960s. John Hurt stars as charming osteopath Stephen Ward, who grooms a malleable and beautiful teen showgirl, Christine Keeler (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer), to party with his swinging high-society friends. Trouble starts brewing when Christine becomes simultaneously entangled with both a Russian diplomat and a British cabinet minister. Once the media learn of her sexual escapades, the reigning Conservative Party comes under fire and begins seeking a scapegoat to distract the public from the dangerous political implications that the affairs represent. Under Michael Caton-Jones's confident direction, the film generates sympathy for its decadent lead characters, and it intelligently explores how private personal matters become vulgar public affairs when political machinations intrude. The most intriguing aspect of Scandal is the platonic love affair between Keeler and Ward amid the trials and tribulations of their stormy relationship--think of it as a twisted variation on My Fair Lady. The fine cast also includes Ian McKellan as John Profumo and Bridget Fonda as Christine's partner-in-fun Mandy Rice-Davies. The uncut DVD version features a little more skin than the R-rated release, although viewers will probably wonder why those few extra shots caused such a stir. --Bryan Reesman ... Read more

Reviews (11)

"I could do wonders with you--could shock the world."
The film, "Scandal" is based on the true story of the Profumo affair. John Profumo was the Secretary of State for War in the early 60s when he met teenaged Christine Keeler through a London osteopath, Dr Stephen Ward. Profumo and Keeler had an affair, and the ensuing scandal, which erupted a few years later, caused Profumo (after many strenous denials) to eventually resign. The Profumo affair was a notorious event in the 60s and remains a blight on the history of British politics. The film "Scandal" is the story of the affair between Profumo and Keeler, but the focus is on the relationship between Dr Ward and Christine Keeler.

Christine Keeler (played by Joanne Whalley) was only 16 years old when she met Ward (John Hurt). She was working in a burlesque show in London. Ward--who is clearly a hedonist--is immediately struck by Christine and says she "moves like a racehorse." Ward, a bachelor, seeks out Christine and begins to cultivate their relationship. While visiting a cottage on Lord Astor's Clivedon estate (pronounced 'clifton'), Christine meets Profumo--and also an man who was allegedly a Russian spy.

The film's focus on the relationship between Ward and Keeler was sheer artistic brilliance on the part of the director, Michael Caton-Jones. It would have been all too easy and sensationalistic to emphasize the Profumo-Keeler connection--with all the necessary sleazy connotations, but instead Caton-Jones chose to focus on the mystery of Ward and Keeler. A beautiful, poignant film is produced as a result. There are a few orgy scenes in the film, but they are relatively tame. These events took place in the 60s, and the story does concern individuals who were engaged in some rather unsavoury, sexually unacceptable behaviour, but the film certainly doesn't titillate or linger on the fouler aspects of the subject.

Joanne Whalley as Christine Keeler does an amazing job. She looks incredibly like Keeler, and if you don't know what Keeler looked like in the 60s, do a search on the internet, and you'll see what I mean. The photograph of Whalley on cover of the DVD box is an exact replica of a photograph of Keeler. Whalley plays Christine Keeler with just the right combination of the contrasting characteristics of toughness, fragility, confusion, and confidence. John Hurt as the intelligent and fascinating Stephen Ward remains a cipher. John Hurt is a marvellous actor, and he plays his role here with worldliness, good humour, and a certain naked hope of belonging to the upper classes--in whatever capacity is necessary. Ian McKellen--another great actor, plays Profumo with the perfect amount of ridigity and stuffiness, and he is very believable as the politician who is at first very proud of himself for bedding Christine, but then denies the evidence against himself until he can no longer do so. Bridget Fonda plays Mandy Rice-Davies, the resilient, rather naughty friend of both Keeler and Ward. Her somewhat brazen enjoyment of the court proceedings is in direct contrast to Christine's horror at the witch hunt against Ward. This film dissects several aspects of human nature and social behaviour--greed, ambition, class, lust, power, wealth, ego, and reputation. I love this film. I am fascinated by the relationship between Keeler and Ward as it defies all definitions and was based on factors that cannot easily be deciphered--displacedhuman.

A "Scandal" to miss this one.
Based on a true event of 1963, the "Profumo" affair scandal is one the classic sex scandals of British political history, of which, as you would know, there are many.

The story is one of great intrigue showing how one man's weakness and lust for the seedier side of the fairer sex, and another man's weakness, his desire to mix with the higher echelons of society, embroils them both into a downward spiral of self destruction, which in itself is indeed quite a story. But when it also compromises and in fact instigates the downfall of an entire government, and a British CONSERVATIVE Government at that; now add to it a complex web of vices including sex, drugs, alcohol, debauchery, infidelity, betrayal and treason! well you have the makings of a simply excellent movie. John Hurt's acting as "scapegoat" Dr. Stephen Ward is first class, as are the roles of Ian Mckellan as the ill-fated John Profumo and Leslie Phillips as the aloof Lord Astor. Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, Bridget Fonda, Britt Ekland give superb performances depicting precisely the trends and fashions of England's mid 60s. The theme music "Scandal", sung by the timlessly talented Dusty Springfield, was released as a single and made the charts without hesitation.

Add to the story a high ranking Russian, a snipit of the "highly respected" British Aristocracy, some excellent shots of London life and a stately mansion deep in England's green and pleasant land, and you have a highly entertaining, "no holds barred" account of a real piece of British political history, the kind that britons would rather you didn't know about!

It's been more years than I care to remember since I went to the "flicks" to see this movie, I truly can not wait to put this video into my machine, get a couple of cans, get my feet up and enjoy it all over again. Buy it! you won't be disappointed.

DVD version not as advertised
My comments are not aimed at the merits of this fine film but at the recent DVD release by Anchor Bay. The cover boasts that the version it contains is "uncut & uncensored"; however, that claim is false. Inexplicably missing is the entire "nightgown" scene with Bridget Fonda, which should appear just after the orgy. I'm pretty sure that this scene appears in every other version of the movie. I'm almost certain it was in the R-rated general release, I know it is in the "uncut" VHS tape, and part of it even appears in the broadcast televsion version. In fact, watching the censored TV cut of that segment on BBC America a month or so ago is what inspired me to order the DVD in the first place. Now I just feel ripped off. This is not the first time I've purchased DVDs that were missing key scenes, but this instance was particularly galling.

Skinemax for the Pinky's-Up Crowd
If you want to sell softcore porn to a "sophisticated" audience, including button-down critics, what do you do? Why, class up the joint by sticking a bunch of stage actors in tuxedos and evening gowns and making them talk in those nasally, affected British accents, of course. Oh, and it'll help if you base the story on a true event and tell it in an ironic, tragic sort of way. That's about what "Scandal" does, though not with particular style or grist. Purporting to delve into the so-called Profumo Affair in the 1950s that led to mayhem for the British government, it's more about skin than politics, titillation than character. Joanne Whalley stars as a cat-faced party girl and professional homewrecker, not above any kink or good time with her crowd of over-the-hill frat boys (including Sir Ian McKellan, looking rather ridiculous with a partially shaved head, and a kooky John Hurt). She cruises the fast-track to success by bedding every London politico in sight until predictably, inevitably, things go wrong. It isn't that "Scandal" doesn't at times grab the viewer's attention; it's that it uses exactly the same T & A as the cheapest of cable TV softcore to do so. The stuff in between seems just a sham to add the faintest air of respectability to it all . . . just like the cheapest of cable TV softcore. Controversial when it was made in the late 1980s--(Gasp!) this white vixen even sleeps with black men!--the film's sexuality will seem somewhat quaint today. If you want to see reasonably attractive people get naked or pretend to have a threesome, then "Scandal" is for you. If you want something more, keep looking.

underappreciated tearjerker!
I wish they would reissue this video so I could have it for my library. Last time I watched it, I was moved to tears by the suicide of Ian McKellen's character. The aftermath of the Profumo affair illustrates how foolish and sad prostitution laws really are. It was these laws, in large part, which Steven Ward was so humiliated by -- and the movie gives a human face to that fact. The girls in question were labelled call girls but they were more like party girls -- and yet, when the powers that be conspired to find their scapegoat, they were able to portray these amateurs as prostitutes, for the purposes of humiliating Steven Ward publicly. This isn't adequately explained by the movie but then, it's entertainment, not a documentary. ... Read more

Description

Drama. When a respected New York homicide detective (Robert De Niro) discovers the prime suspect in a murder case is his estranged son (James Franco), he is forced to return home to the decaying boardwalks of Long Beach, Long Island to confront the darkness of his past. During the course of the investigation, he realizes that his failures as a father - and his unresolved anguish about the painful estrangement - have deeply influenced his son's life, and he must put his own life on the line in order to do right by both his family and his profession. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Excellent Character Sketches
This is an above average cop drama. In addition to the typical murder plot and good guy vs bad guy theme, the primary focus is on the intense and tumultuous relationships between a few finely developed characters.

The guilt, regret and heartache of DeNiro's character do not allow him or the film to be be humorous however a few scenes generate an unexpected laugh. This film is virtually all drama. The relationship of Deniro's character with that of McDormand's and Franco's, richly illustrate man's ability to confront all of the grief and anguish of his past. Robert DeNiro, Frances McDormand and James Franco are all excellent in their acting.

Because the relationships are so intense and the characters so richly developed, you can't help but to empathize with every one of them. The twists and turns in the plot make you wonder how much DeNiro's emotionally closed off character can handle before something changes. This movie makes you sit with the discomfort of each of its characters.

City By The Sea was filmed in the decayed ruins of the shore town and boardwalk of Asbury Park NJ. The Atlantic Ocean and the dilapidated remains of the boardwalk and vacant buildings provide an excellent urban yet coastal set for this story which takes place in the seaside NY town of Long Beach just outside NYC. There are also a few excellent and vivid images of the Twin Towers in this film which only add to the emotional experience by reigniting more feelings of anguish and loss. The Dolby Digital background sound effect of the ocean surf in a few scenes adds a sense of tranquility to this drama.

Although the movie includes the typical shooting and violence scenes, this cop drama is more about real relationships.

A Solid Story Behind This Film Noir
From the outset of this very interesting and touching little film we view the glory days of Long Beach, New York - a grand Atlantic City-type place with Americana spread all over it and old time music as played on a tacky old Victrola. This Eden fades into the deserted and dilapidated smarmy place that today is home for druggies and derelicts. We slowly discover that a kid whose father was a 'murderer' was saved by a cop and now plays that life role, only to have deserted his own boy through a tangled divorce. Both the father and the son and the grandson need to love, to belong, to find some degree of sense to the mutations of time. The general driver of the film is a reconciliation of boys and fathers despite all the real and imagined distance that can occur. The film is beautifully atmospheric but the true glory here is the cast: Robert DeNiro, James Franco, Frances Dormand, Patti Lupone, William Forsythe, and some new faces that really light up the story - all are consummate pros and really deliver top notch performances. Predictable, yes, but then there are so many many ways to examine father/son relationships and this is certainly one of the better ones.

Good acting, Very Good storyline.
This is a movie with a good handle on reality-- warts and all. It focusses on imperfect characters who feel completely real-- incuding DeNiro, whose acting, bad haircut, extra weight, and "average joe" clothing all successfully overcome our preconceived notion of DeNiro as a top-of-his-game mafiosa.
Instead, we see DeNiro, but AS THIS CHARACTER: a warts-and-all cop & bad father, looking for a second chance.

Also, DeNiro's star power doesn't overshadow this movie's second plotline, about a junkie (DeNiro's son), also looking for a second chance....and some kind of family life.

Likewise, the physical setting and peripheral relationships all have a REAL feel. Viewers will come away with the feeling that this is the seamy, redeemable side of real life.. a place you wouldn't want to live, but a state you can recover from.

*spoilers ahead. Stop reading now, if you hate spoilers.*
We get a happy ending, but not a Hollywood unbelievable ending. Some of the relationships STAY fractured, and other elements of the resolution also have that real, imperfect, but therefore acceptably non-saccharine happy ending.

Good Role Model
City By The Sea is an excellent video for my collection of
DeNiro movies, keep up the excellent movie making.

The Sins of the Fathers . . .
"City by the Sea" begins as a typical cop drama - Vincent DeMarca (Robert DeNiro) is a good solid New Jersey cop with a history. His father was executed as a "baby-killer", and now Vincent's own son Joey (James Franco), whom he abandoned as a young boy, is a strung out junkie suspected of killing DeMarca's partner. The scenes are predictably dingy and muted, with Frances McDormand popping out of her apartment now and then as DeMarca's girlfriend. The first part of this movie honestly felt like the pilot for a new television drama - with calculated character introductions and back story. But then something marvelous happens: the quality of the acting kicks in to elevate the film beyond its script. James Franco is astonishingly convincing as a junkie who both loves and despises his father, and DeNiro fools us into believing he's just an ordinary guy until the moment when all the layers are stripped off. Frances McDormand does a competent job with what she is given (not much) while adding a needed texture to DeMarca's life.

This film is probably the quietest cop drama I've ever seen because it's not about crimes one can be arrested for. It probes the fragile relationship between fathers and sons, and the obligations each needs to face. The film never picks up the slow paces it sets up in the beginning, so those hoping for the high action of traditional cop dramas will be disappointed. Make no mistake: this is a three-star movie raised to four stars by the performances of DeNiro and Franco. Still, the pivotal scene is a powerful one. ... Read more

Description

Drama. When a respected New York homicide detective (Robert De Niro) discovers the prime suspect in a murder case is his estranged son (James Franco), he is forced to return home to the decaying boardwalks of Long Beach, Long Island to confront the darkness of his past. During the course of the investigation, he realizes that his failures as a father - and his unresolved anguish about the painful estrangement - have deeply influenced his son's life, and he must put his own life on the line in order to do right by both his family and his profession. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Excellent Character Sketches
This is an above average cop drama. In addition to the typical murder plot and good guy vs bad guy theme, the primary focus is on the intense and tumultuous relationships between a few finely developed characters.

The guilt, regret and heartache of DeNiro's character do not allow him or the film to be be humorous however a few scenes generate an unexpected laugh. This film is virtually all drama. The relationship of Deniro's character with that of McDormand's and Franco's, richly illustrate man's ability to confront all of the grief and anguish of his past. Robert DeNiro, Frances McDormand and James Franco are all excellent in their acting.

Because the relationships are so intense and the characters so richly developed, you can't help but to empathize with every one of them. The twists and turns in the plot make you wonder how much DeNiro's emotionally closed off character can handle before something changes. This movie makes you sit with the discomfort of each of its characters.

City By The Sea was filmed in the decayed ruins of the shore town and boardwalk of Asbury Park NJ. The Atlantic Ocean and the dilapidated remains of the boardwalk and vacant buildings provide an excellent urban yet coastal set for this story which takes place in the seaside NY town of Long Beach just outside NYC. There are also a few excellent and vivid images of the Twin Towers in this film which only add to the emotional experience by reigniting more feelings of anguish and loss. The Dolby Digital background sound effect of the ocean surf in a few scenes adds a sense of tranquility to this drama.

Although the movie includes the typical shooting and violence scenes, this cop drama is more about real relationships.

A Solid Story Behind This Film Noir
From the outset of this very interesting and touching little film we view the glory days of Long Beach, New York - a grand Atlantic City-type place with Americana spread all over it and old time music as played on a tacky old Victrola. This Eden fades into the deserted and dilapidated smarmy place that today is home for druggies and derelicts. We slowly discover that a kid whose father was a 'murderer' was saved by a cop and now plays that life role, only to have deserted his own boy through a tangled divorce. Both the father and the son and the grandson need to love, to belong, to find some degree of sense to the mutations of time. The general driver of the film is a reconciliation of boys and fathers despite all the real and imagined distance that can occur. The film is beautifully atmospheric but the true glory here is the cast: Robert DeNiro, James Franco, Frances Dormand, Patti Lupone, William Forsythe, and some new faces that really light up the story - all are consummate pros and really deliver top notch performances. Predictable, yes, but then there are so many many ways to examine father/son relationships and this is certainly one of the better ones.

Good acting, Very Good storyline.
This is a movie with a good handle on reality-- warts and all. It focusses on imperfect characters who feel completely real-- incuding DeNiro, whose acting, bad haircut, extra weight, and "average joe" clothing all successfully overcome our preconceived notion of DeNiro as a top-of-his-game mafiosa.
Instead, we see DeNiro, but AS THIS CHARACTER: a warts-and-all cop & bad father, looking for a second chance.

Also, DeNiro's star power doesn't overshadow this movie's second plotline, about a junkie (DeNiro's son), also looking for a second chance....and some kind of family life.

Likewise, the physical setting and peripheral relationships all have a REAL feel. Viewers will come away with the feeling that this is the seamy, redeemable side of real life.. a place you wouldn't want to live, but a state you can recover from.

*spoilers ahead. Stop reading now, if you hate spoilers.*
We get a happy ending, but not a Hollywood unbelievable ending. Some of the relationships STAY fractured, and other elements of the resolution also have that real, imperfect, but therefore acceptably non-saccharine happy ending.

Good Role Model
City By The Sea is an excellent video for my collection of
DeNiro movies, keep up the excellent movie making.

The Sins of the Fathers . . .
"City by the Sea" begins as a typical cop drama - Vincent DeMarca (Robert DeNiro) is a good solid New Jersey cop with a history. His father was executed as a "baby-killer", and now Vincent's own son Joey (James Franco), whom he abandoned as a young boy, is a strung out junkie suspected of killing DeMarca's partner. The scenes are predictably dingy and muted, with Frances McDormand popping out of her apartment now and then as DeMarca's girlfriend. The first part of this movie honestly felt like the pilot for a new television drama - with calculated character introductions and back story. But then something marvelous happens: the quality of the acting kicks in to elevate the film beyond its script. James Franco is astonishingly convincing as a junkie who both loves and despises his father, and DeNiro fools us into believing he's just an ordinary guy until the moment when all the layers are stripped off. Frances McDormand does a competent job with what she is given (not much) while adding a needed texture to DeMarca's life.

This film is probably the quietest cop drama I've ever seen because it's not about crimes one can be arrested for. It probes the fragile relationship between fathers and sons, and the obligations each needs to face. The film never picks up the slow paces it sets up in the beginning, so those hoping for the high action of traditional cop dramas will be disappointed. Make no mistake: this is a three-star movie raised to four stars by the performances of DeNiro and Franco. Still, the pivotal scene is a powerful one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Robert De Niro gets top billing, but young Leonardo DiCaprio is the revelation of This Boy's Life, an astute, often painful drama of growing up in the 1950s Pacific Northwest, based on the autobiographical novel by Tobias Woolf. DiCaprio plays Tobias, a good kid with a bad boy streak but an unwavering love for his divorced mother (Ellen Barkin). "I want to be a better boy," he promises from under a greasy pompadour, and tries to prove it when she marries single father Dwight (DeNiro), a bully who parents through intimidation and humiliation. DiCaprio is magnetic in his first starring role, full of anger, hope, and confusion as he drifts back to juvenile delinquency, and his intensity gives the true story of survival and triumph its charge. DeNiro is frightening and pathetic as Dwight, and Dwight's youngest daughter is played by future star and vampire slayer Eliza Dushku. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Not Just Another Leo Movie
Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Barkin, and Robert De Niro star in the drama "This Boy's Life" about the true life of Tobias Woolf. This highly dramatic movie contains many shocking scenes that may become eye openers to some. Such intensity keeps the audience closely watching every second. The extreme of it forces the audience to feel what every character feels. More than just the excellent screenplay writing acts out this task. The cast and crew brilliantly perform their roles.

Every actor assists with the audience impacts with their wonderful performances. No one holds back a drop of emotion from their characters. Robert De Niro wonderfully plays a child abuser. Though few will like the character, he'll be remembered by many. Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Barkin brilliantly play the victims. This is more noticable in DiCaprio because the cruelty hits him the hardest. His closely-breaking-down parts are performed realisticly.

"This Boy's Life" is the movie for those who are looking for a power drama. Its impact will never be forgotten by anyone. Anyone who watches this movie will be entertained.

THIS BOY'S CHARMING MOVIE.
"This Boy's Life" is based on the autobiographical novel by Tobias Wolff. The movie follows the story of the young boy Toby "Jack" Wolff (Leonardo DiCaprio), a rebel boy who seems to dislike every school and every town that he is in. His mother Caroline (Ellen Barkin), an attractive single woman, keeps searching for a decent man that would take care of her and her son. She finally seems to know the One, when she meets Dwight Hansen (Robert De Niro), a respectful guy. But after a few months living with him, Caroline and Jack realize that Dwight is a bully with a strong need to dominate every one around him. So now things get difficult to both of them.

"This Boy's Life" is a charming drama with strong performances by the great Robert De Niro and the attractive Ellen Barkin, but Leonardo DiCaprio steals the show from them; I actually think that he was a better actor when he was younger, he is good now, but in this movie and in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" he was brilliant.

Anyway, "This Boy's Life" is an enjoyable film. If you like De Niro's work, DiCaprio's work or Ellen Barkin's work, then you should see this one.

Great Movie and one of DiCaprio's best works !!!
I am not sure what exactly T.Wolff and Michael Caton Jones wanted to say by the movie. Perhaps my understanding would be somewhat different, but my vision is that reducing it to a simple family violence story does not reveal the real drama. The movie is a desperate attempt to get out of this town, this social environment, it's a challenge to predestination. The whole town itself, Tobbias friends, abusive father in law are nothing more than decorations, cover images. They simply personify and represent what would have happened to Tobbias and his life had he decided to stay.

Great Movie and one of DiCaprio's best works !!!

Do Yourself A Favor: Read the Book.
This is one of those cases where the book is WAY better than the movie. The graphic gratuitous sex scenes are not in the book, and as Tobias Wolff himself has wondered, since signing over the rights, and I'm paraphrasing, "This is a story which is seen through a kid's eyes; How would the kid have known what was going on inside his Mother's bedroom?" It looks like the movie makers just wanted to throw in some gratuitous T & A garbage.
Another thing: in the book, Dwight, the father, is abusive, yes; however, he is also so pitiful and bumpkinesque that he evokes as much laughter as he does villification. In the movie, Dwight is a 2-dimension stereotypical alcoholic abuser and that's all.
Read the book.

True Dramatized Story
I was quite sad after finishing the book "This Boy's Life" because it was such a well written book about times past and innocence lost. I rushed to rent the movie from Blockbusters and was quite disappointed. Many details were missing and some were overly dramatized, such as the scene of the wedding night between Dwight and Toby's mother. Call me old timer, if you want, but I thought it was unnecessary to be so graphic since the book certainly didn't give the details of sodomy, although I should have expected it in Hollywood productions.

The book was far better. I don't suppose movies can quite capture the details of a book, perhaps only its essence. I must say the movie captures the essense well.

Also, it was listed as a True Story in the beginning of the movie. It should have been called True Dramatized Story instead. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The best way to enjoy this 1997 thriller is to forget the much better film that inspired it (1973's The Day of the Jackal) and get whatever kicks you can from this heavy-metal remake. It's not bad as hokey thrillers go, but all of the original film's suspenseful finesse has been traded in (not traded up) for bigger, bolder action and nonsensical plotting. It's as if Hollywood had forgotten to create excitement without resorting to overblown action and heavy hardware, but there's ample compensation in the casting of Bruce Willis and Richard Gere. Willis is the elusive assassin known only as the Jackal, whose latest target (he uses a cannon-sized gun that's anything but inconspicuous) may be the first lady of the United States. Gere plays a former IRA terrorist who is recruited by the deputy head of the FBI (Sidney Poitier) to trace the Jackal's maneuvers, and Diane Venora offers some gutsy support as a Russian-born agent who assists Gere on his mission. The movie has fun turning Willis into a master of disguise, and Gere adds much-needed gravity to counter the plot's escalating absurdity, but this is the kind of film that falls apart if you think about it too much. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (88)

This really ain't a bad movie...
Okay, here we go. Bruce Willis stars as some assassin called "The Jackal" who has to blow the first ladies' head right off. Then, the F.B.I. finds out about this whole operation from a Russian who was zapped by the K.G.B. so they have no other choice but to release an ex-I.R.A. sharp-shooter named Declan Mulqueen. What's that? You expected more?! Oh, no, no, no. That is the entire plot. And although it sounds like a crappy plot that has more or less been done about a million times, The Jackal is truly a great film. I consider it to be the 2nd greatest action film of 97 (The first being Face/Off of course). I really would have given the film 5 stars had it not been for the boring lovey-dovey scenes between Richard Gere and the two women in this flick who carry a gun. His old girlfriend (who is a great shot.) and Major Valentina Koslova (played and voiced with a pretty good Russian accent by Diane Verona). But I'd have to say that the best thing about this movie is the way-cool, too-good-to-be-true music score! Carter Burwell did the music for the movie (he also did the great score to "Fargo"). So, if you haven't seen this movie yet...go rent it! And if you're a real die-hard-action-movie-lover...go buy this movie right now!!! You won't be disappointed!!!

great performances all around make this great movie
Another remake, a great movie - Day of the Jackal with the brilliant Edward Fox - so I tended to cringe in anticipation, but surprisingly this film scores a bullseye because of solid performances from Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, Sidney Poitier, Mathilda May (Lifeforce) but most especially from Diana Devora (the 13th Warrior, FX).

Gere plays Declan Mulqueen, an IRA terrorist who is in prison. He and Mathilda May were former lovers and worked with Willis, but he betrayed them. Diana Devora is a Russian intelligence officer, Valentina Koslova. She is working with Carter Preston US intelligence officer (Sidney Poitier) in taking down Russian Mafia. Only the Mafia wants to strike back and send the Jackal - Willis - on a assassination to make a statement by killing the First Lady. Devora and Poitier get Gere out of English jail, on a temporary leave, to help track down Willis. Willis is a master of disguise, so only Gere stands a chance of tracking him down before he completes his mission.

It's fast paced, yet leisurely plots Willis preparations for the kill. Well done from start to finish. Not better than the original, but just as enjoyable. Excellent soundtrack as well.

A Movie That Should Be More Popular
I personally love this movie. This movie features Bruce Willis as the Jackal, an assassin hired to kill a high level U.S. Government official. The Jackal has many identities, costumes, and contacts to help him along the way. The FBI, obviously trying to stop the Jackal before he kills, turn to the one type of person most unlikely to help them.... a terrorist. Deklin Moqueen, played well by Richard Gere, is enlisted to stop the Jackal due to their past history together. There are some shocking twists and turns along the way before the end. The end result is a movie that is unnecessarily being torn apart by critics, but will always have a nice spot in my DVD collection.

Note: Jack Black makes an appearance in this movie. This is one of the first movies I remember seeing him in. I won't give away what happens to him, but it definitely left an imprint in my mind.

Edge of Your Seat Suspense
Bruce Willis really is believable as the legendary Assassin by the name of the Jackal. This movie takes you from Europe to the USA to Canada and back. There are so many scenes where you bristle with anxiety due to Willis' intense manner.

This may be the best Willis performance ever. The movie is violent, yet, it is to an extreme, not gorey violence but it reflects the violent nature of the legend. Richard Gere is cast well, a little less believable than Willis, yet he does a good job of being intense in tracking Carlos the Jackal. The issue here is what will Jackal do next? Can he be stoppped?

Jack Black plays a very believable role of a somewhat bystander who meets a very violent end. You may want to close your eyes for that one.

I recommend not drinking any caffiene before this movie because it creates an edge right from the beginning. What was telling to me was that every interaction that Willis has creates tension, whether or not he is violent, you feel he may be at any time.

This movie of course is not for everyone yet it is not an action thriller that is silly in nature with gratuitous violence. It seems more of a lesson of the violent nature of the worst criminals in the world.

Use Once & Destroy
Not too good, not too bad, "The Jackal" is one of those average action movies that brings nothing new but it`s a competent and mildly pleasant product nonetheless. The plot is derivative and predictable, the characters are bland, yet director Michael Caton-Jones chooses some decent actors (Bruce Willis, Richard Gere), a neat soundtrack (Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Moby) and some decent action sequences that manage to deliver a minimum level of entertainment value. As far as popcorn movies go, there`s certainly worse, so this is a fair choice to spend a couple of mind-numbing hours.
Watchable but forgettable. ... Read more