Mysteries and My Musings: Mystery Movie Review

This British spy thriller television mini-series is based on the Frederick Forsyth novel of the same name which centers on a ruthless British assassin and the intelligence officer intent on capturing him. It was reimagined from the novel into a contemporary political setting for television.

Forsyth's novel was made into a movie prior in 1973, which is considered among the greatest British films of the 20th century. Plus a 1997 adaptation with Bruce Willis and Richard Gear that I may review later if there is interest. To attempt a remake, let alone as television series, is a huge undertaking to do it right.

Introduction:

Imagine an assassin that is so accomplished that even heightened security measures and body guards etc. can't save anybody he is sent to kill. He is patient. He has contingencies. He can improvise on the fly. He is perhaps the best snipper in the world. He knows how to breach most any protective measures. He leaves no trace. His disguises are next level. He is unstoppable. After he completes a job, his anonymous client doesn't give him the final payment for the successful job. Now he is after the client who stiffed him while taking another job to eliminate the most high profile target on the planet. Season 1 (10 episodes) was in 2024 and a second season has been okayed.

TAGLINE: The Hunter, Hunted.

What it's about:

In Munich a mysterious Englishman, known as The Jackal, assassinates a German political figure with a seemingly-impossible piece of marksmanship. The Jackal is an elusive and slippery assassin who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. At MI6 headquarters in London, analyst Bianca Pullman takes special notice and believes she might know a way to identify the killer. What follows is a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe.

Cast:

Eddie Redmayne (Oscar winner) as The Jackal
Lashana Lynch as Bianca Pullman
Charles Dance as Timothy Winthorp
Úrsula Corberó as Nuria
Chukwudi Iwuji as Osita Halcrow
Khalid Abdalla as Ulle Dag Charles
Eleanor Matsuura as Zina Jansone
Lia Williams as Isabel Kirby
Directed by Brian Kirk (“Game of Thrones”)

Rotten Tomatoes: 84%

"... an exciting thrill ride." Roger Ebert

"Watching The Day of the Jackal feels like watching a film; it’s taut, fast-paced, and flashy, featuring incredible dual performances by Redmayne and Lynch." A Good Movie to Watch

"All in all, this isn't a bad series and there are far worse things that are currently being offered on streaming services." ABC Entertainment

"Without giving too much away, this is a show that should be experienced by all. It is so addicting, to the point where one sees the first episode, they would want to keep going and never want it to end. A show of this caliber is what wins Emmy awards. Prepare to be blown away." Digital Journal: Markos Papadatos

"While The Day of the Jackal remains true to its roots as a spy thriller, it ventures into psychological territories, exploring the deep-seated dilemmas the hunter and hunted face. This exploration offers viewers a sequence of thrilling escapades and a profound look at the emotional and ethical complexities involved." Overly Honest Reviews: Chris Jones

Noteworthy awards or rankings:

UPCOMING: 2 Golden Globe Award nominations: Best Television Series – Drama and Best Actor for Redmayne.

Trivia:

Author Frederick Forsyth was working as a freelance journalist covering the Biafran War. When it ended he returned to Britain, unemployed and unsure what to do next. He said: 'I came back Christmas '69, thoroughly skint. I don't have a likelihood of a job, don't have a flat, don't have a car and don't have any savings. Then I had this crazy, crazy idea to write a novel. 'Everybody said you must be joking or mad because the chances of even getting it published are hundreds to one, even thousands.' Within weeks of publication, the film rights were snapped up. Some of Hollywood's biggest stars battled to play the Jackal in the 1973 film but the role went to the then unknown Edward Fox.

Frederick Forsyth has revealed he sold the film rights to his 1971 bestseller decades ago for just £20,000 (around $25,000) - and will get next to nothing from the new $126,000,000 TV adaptation. 'The new adaptation has paid him a modest fee for the title. "It wasn't out of obligation," he said, " it was a gesture.

Ulle Dag Charles is almost an anagram of Charles De Gaulle - the target in the original novel - and is known by the initials UDC in the same way De Gaulle is often referred to as CDG.

The Jackal is seen driving a white Alfa Romeo Spider. In The Day of the Jackal (1973), The Jackal also drives a white Alfa Romeo, albeit an earlier model.

In all of the scenes depicting inside MI6, the UK coat of arms is back to front and in some scenes the computer screens are mirrored back to front.

Numerous Easter eggs throughout the series refer to the preceding 1971 Frederick Forsyth novel and the Fred Zinnemann film The Day of the Jackal (1973); otherwise the series follows the the novel and the earlier film only very loosely. Notably, in the novel and the 1973 film, very little is divulged about the Jackal's background or personal life, and the primary team hunting him is French rather than British.

The name the Jackal uses when staying in Estonia is Peter Gibbons. This is the name of the main character played by Ron Livingstone in Office Space.

The inside decor of MI6 is dark green, as is Bianca's apartment. She also wears the same shade of green throughout the series referencing her allegiance to the service.

My Thoughts:

I love spy/intrigue novels and movies, so this was right up my alley. It is in the action style of Bourne movies in many respects and maybe hints of Bond movies.

The ten episodes of the first season (yes, there will be a second season) are filmed like a movie with attention to detail and great camera angles.

Even though this was in a "mini-series" format, each episode had its thrills–from elaborately calculated kills to deadly chases and the cat-and-mouse between the Jackal and Bianca was nail biting at times.

Eddie Redmayne is scary good as a ruthless, cold blooded killer who takes lives without blinking. Lashana Lynch as Bianca, the MI6 operative, was intense and I felt gave a great performance. The personal lives of both these characters provided sub-plots that at times were just as compelling. I also appreciated the back-story to the Jackal and how he came to be a stone-cold killer. The Jackal had vulnerable personal moments while Bianca had some moral dilemma moments of how far should she cross certain lines to catch him.

If you are looking for exacting, true-to-life realism this probably isn't for you. By that I mean, some of the Jackals fantastic kills against the odds aren't probable, and Bianca seemed to have a few too many capabilities herself. But I wasn't too picky and was just along for the ride, so I enjoyed it to the point I watched two episodes back to back and had to keep from binging all the episodes at once.

The climatic resolution to season one took me completely by surprise and wasn't my favorite. It manages to nicely setup for the next season in the last few minutes.

Action, suspense, high stakes, relentless chase, some political thriller elements, and compelling characters make this a winner in my book. I am excited for the second season.

Movie Trailer: