Jack l'éventreur

Positive:

• intense and atmospheric
• played very well

Negative:

• the film provides a killer, although the real case has never been clarified beyond doubt

This version (out of many on the subject of Britain's most famous serial killer) is by far, my favourite.

I have studied Jack the Ripper for many years, read many books, seen many documentaries, and even been on the Jack the Ripper tour in Whitechapel, where I saw the actual murder sites.

The acting is first class from everyone involved (notably from Lewis Collins as Sgt. Godley, Steve Payne as Billy White and Amande Assante as Richard Mansfield), and the direction is first class.

There are only two things I didn't like about this:

1) The Killer's Identity - I just do not agree that he was Jack the Ripper.

2) Once again, the Prostitutes were portrayed as good looking showgirls, when in reality they were ugly, toothless old crones. (Only Mary Jane Kelly was attractive, and Lysette Anthony who played her in this film, bares a remarkable resembelance to the real Kelly).

It's a shame this movie is not available on video or DVD. I was fortunate enough to have taped it off the TV, and have kept it ever since.

For any budding Ripperologists out there, I would strongly recommend you see this. But I`ll leave it up to you, if you agree with who they say it was -- I certainly don't.

This one may be the best dramatization of Jack The Ripper's crimes and of the researching' that were made. Since the case was never solved, the movie relies on the several hypothesis that were considered about the identity of the world's most famous serial killer. Believe me, they made a perfect script that keeps you on alert till the very last second. Although it was conceived as a TV mini-series you can watch it in one go (I mean, you'll WANT to watch it in one go). OK, the second time you watch it (when you already know who the killer is and stuff) obviously some thing won't get you by surprise, but the movie is good enough for being watched several times.

It was a TV production, but it is as good as if it was made for cinema: the setting is just wonderful and the cast is unbeatable (headed by master Michael Caine).

PS: It is pretty similar to "From hell", but much more addictive.

*My rate: 8/10

Atmosphere. I need to start my review with that one word! Jack the Ripper was a made for TV mini series that aired 100 years after the original killing spree in Victorian London in 1888. What made this stand out when I first watched it back in the late 90s on a car-boot sale acquired VHS tape, was the atmosphere of old London portrayed in this film. The script writing was fabulous, and gave the talented actors a chance to shine, and for the drama to play out over the full 3 hours run time. We really get a sense of the era by watching this, and we feel for Caine as Detective Aberline in pursuit of the murderous ripper. The film very cleverly makes Caine's character flawed and deeply troubled by making him an alcoholic, and making us wonder at first if he is up to the job of tracking down this maniac. I adore how there are so many suspects thrown at us, and some of these are written in a way that we think that they are red herrings, or perhaps not? If you haven't already read the countless theories on who Jack the Ripper might be, then the suspect named in this film's conclusion may well surprise you. However, if you do by now know who is who in the ever growing suspect list it won't add anything new or clever to it's conclusions. I might add that the only downside to this film is London's Whitechaple looks way too clean and smog free. Having said that, the sets and locations are all well done.

Who cares if its deductions are accurate? Everyone's dead and we'll never know for certain. What matters is this story delivers you a culprit which owing to the official unsolved status, I didnt believe I would see until the last second. Very well done TV fare. If I have one criticism, it is the filming quality. On the interior and set shots, the camera work and lighting cast those pinkish hues off of phony scrubbed brickwork that betray a backlot and might confuse you into thinking you are watching an old Gunsmoke rerun. But rest assured, the story is powerful enough to make this quite insubstantial for a normal person. The performances are excellent. Michael Caine would be good doing tampon commercials, and the rest of the mostly English cast are all equally excellent. There are some truly frightening sequences. Asante's conversion into Mr. Hyde is the stuff nightmares are made of. The suspense at the climax deftly handled. Its quite long, and drags only a bit 3/4 through. But this is well worth anyone's time who has an interest in this most infamous of criminal investigations. Which puts it up just about everyone's alley doesnt it?