IMDb RATING
6.8/10
10K
YOUR RATING
An American naval officer is recruited for an operation to eliminate his lookalike, the infamous terrorist Carlos The Jackal.An American naval officer is recruited for an operation to eliminate his lookalike, the infamous terrorist Carlos The Jackal.An American naval officer is recruited for an operation to eliminate his lookalike, the infamous terrorist Carlos The Jackal.
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
It worked! Director Christian Duguay created a very clever action/spy thriller. The actors Donald Sutherland and especially Aidan Quinn gave a top performance. What a pity that we couldn´t see Aidan Quinn in others movies like this one till now. He was simply the best in the role as Ramirez/Carlos for what he should have earned the Oscar. The picture was very nice. The scenes are fast paced from beginning to the end and the story doesn´t let you a chance to get bored. The movie is too underrated and I recommend it to anyone otherwise you will miss something great. Believe me you will not be disappointed. That´s why i give it 9/10.
This is certainly a quality movie with a classy cast. As far as movies about Carlos the Jackal go, this one beats Bruce Willis' feeble efforts in 'The Jackal' to a bloody pulp, then spits on them. I am a bit surprised that this movie hasn't attracted more votes, something of a 'sleeper' obviously. A pity because this film is definitely worth a watch. It is clever and never dull. See it, 7/10
Slick, tidy, and well-made old school version of how a great international thriller should be made. Determined to nail a feared global terrorist who is known as "Carlos the Jackal", Jack Shaw (Donald Sutherland, "Without Limits", "Space Cowboys"), a CIA operative and his Israeli counterpart, Amos (Ben Kingsley, "Gandhi", "Sexy Beast") get a noble Naval officer, Annibal Ramirez (Aidan Quinn, "Music of the Heart"), to become Carlos and use him in a daring plot to get the KGB to kill the real Carlos, because he took an offer from the CIA. Sutherland and Kingsley are both good here, but the movie really belongs to Quinn here, who embodies himself here (in a dual role). Director Christian Duguay and cinematographer David Franco provide another great asset of the film here with Hitchcockian-like suspense and great sights of the world.
This movie really proves that the world is all too often an unfair place, especially the world of motion pictures. "The Assignment" received barely any attention upon it's release and not surprisingly flopped at the box-office, but when history will be written this movie will most surely receive some long lost praise.
Thank God I'm surrounded by friends who knows what's good for me. Being a movie buff like myself a pal highly recommended "The Assignment", a movie I hadn't even heard about. I decided to check out what Leonard Maltin gave it, and not surprisingly he gave it **1/2. Knowing that this is the same grade he gave classics like "Alien", "The Usual Suspects" and "The Matrix" (I kid you not) I knew his meaning didn't mean diddly squat jack s***. So without hesitating I went out and bought it on DVD. This was about 3 years ago and the movie is still one of my proudest belongings in my DVD collection, despite a cover design that echoes a low budget stinker with Casper Van Dien.
"The Assignment" is expertly directed, delivering some really intense moments that will hold you on the edge of your seat throughout the movie, on top of that it boasts an at times brilliant story that you know will be riddled with unexpected twists and turns. It stars Aidan Quinn in one of his best performances, and serves him with great support by Donald Sutherland and Ben Kingsley who are both in great form.
Something like 40 out of 42 user comments like this movie, most of them can't seem to praise it enough. So what are you waiting for? If you call yourself a fan of action-thrillers you should have bought it, rented it, seen it YESTERDAY!
Thank God I'm surrounded by friends who knows what's good for me. Being a movie buff like myself a pal highly recommended "The Assignment", a movie I hadn't even heard about. I decided to check out what Leonard Maltin gave it, and not surprisingly he gave it **1/2. Knowing that this is the same grade he gave classics like "Alien", "The Usual Suspects" and "The Matrix" (I kid you not) I knew his meaning didn't mean diddly squat jack s***. So without hesitating I went out and bought it on DVD. This was about 3 years ago and the movie is still one of my proudest belongings in my DVD collection, despite a cover design that echoes a low budget stinker with Casper Van Dien.
"The Assignment" is expertly directed, delivering some really intense moments that will hold you on the edge of your seat throughout the movie, on top of that it boasts an at times brilliant story that you know will be riddled with unexpected twists and turns. It stars Aidan Quinn in one of his best performances, and serves him with great support by Donald Sutherland and Ben Kingsley who are both in great form.
Something like 40 out of 42 user comments like this movie, most of them can't seem to praise it enough. So what are you waiting for? If you call yourself a fan of action-thrillers you should have bought it, rented it, seen it YESTERDAY!
Intriguing and tense movie full of suspense from the beginning to the end , being based upon a true story , about an ordinary man recruited to impersonate an ominous murderer . Good and attractive film plenty of tension , action and entertainment . This well-paced picture is packed with historic events , tension , hectic intrigue and the suspense is maintained throughout . The deeds of this exciting movie start in Vienna , there takes a place a notorious kidnap executed by a nasty terrorist . This is a historical event of attacking the OPEC meeting by the Jackal and his fellows in 1975 . Later on , in Jerusalem , Lieutenant Commander Annibal Ramírez (Aidan Quinn) of the US Navy is detained and interrogated by who he eventually learns is Mossad in a case of mistaken identity. As the Mossad agent Amos (Ben Kingsley) captures the man whom he thinks is Carlos , only he's a double , US officer Annibal . Then , he is recruited for an operation to eliminate his lookalike , infamous terrorist Carlos the Jackal who is largely shown plying his trade . So a CIA counterterrorism expert named Shaw (Donald Sutherland) and Amos decide to turn the officer into the terrorist in order to catch him . As they scheme an elaborate plot to have Carlos' Russian handlers (KGB) , as they think the terrorist has betrayed them .
Decent and workmanlike film based on a thrilling script written by Dan Gordon and Sabi Shabtai . This stirring picture is full of suspense , tension , thrills and is very entertaining , though overlong . There are some perfectly mounted set-ups for a somewhat efficient payoff . The film's intrigue snowballs toward a surprising final . We see this sensational film not only by its action and intrigue but also by the historical deeds that are well depicted and related to criminal terrorist Carlos the Jackal . Extraordinary casting , all of whom give admirable acting , such as starring Aidan Quinn who plays perfectly a double role ; both , a dynamic seaman and the most cold-blooded and vicious killer ; brilliant Ben Kingsley as the intelligent Mossad agent , and , of course , Donald Sutherland's interpretation who steals the show as the haughty counterterrorism expert Jack Show . Support cast is frankly good , such as : Claudia Ferri , Celine Bonner , Liliana Komorwska , Von Flores , Al Waxman , Daniel Pilon and Vlasta Vrana.
It contains a moving and adequate musical score by Normand Corbeil . As well as an evocative and appropriate cinematography by David Franco and Christian Duguay himself . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Christian Duguay . Chistian's smoothly persuasive direction attracted reception by the public and was a success at the box office . Christian Duguay was born in 1957 in Outremont, Québec, Canada . Frequently casts Donald Sutherland and he is former husband of Liliana Komorowska . He is a director and assistant director, known for Scanners II and III , Human trafficking (2005), Art of war (2000) , Extreme Ops , Boot Camp , Rouge Brésil (2012) . Furthermore , he has directed various historical TV series , such as : The Medici , Joan of Arc , Pío XII , San Agustín , Anna Karenina , Coco Chanel , Guillermo Tell and Hitler: The Rise of Evil , among others . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average . Well worth seeing .
Decent and workmanlike film based on a thrilling script written by Dan Gordon and Sabi Shabtai . This stirring picture is full of suspense , tension , thrills and is very entertaining , though overlong . There are some perfectly mounted set-ups for a somewhat efficient payoff . The film's intrigue snowballs toward a surprising final . We see this sensational film not only by its action and intrigue but also by the historical deeds that are well depicted and related to criminal terrorist Carlos the Jackal . Extraordinary casting , all of whom give admirable acting , such as starring Aidan Quinn who plays perfectly a double role ; both , a dynamic seaman and the most cold-blooded and vicious killer ; brilliant Ben Kingsley as the intelligent Mossad agent , and , of course , Donald Sutherland's interpretation who steals the show as the haughty counterterrorism expert Jack Show . Support cast is frankly good , such as : Claudia Ferri , Celine Bonner , Liliana Komorwska , Von Flores , Al Waxman , Daniel Pilon and Vlasta Vrana.
It contains a moving and adequate musical score by Normand Corbeil . As well as an evocative and appropriate cinematography by David Franco and Christian Duguay himself . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Christian Duguay . Chistian's smoothly persuasive direction attracted reception by the public and was a success at the box office . Christian Duguay was born in 1957 in Outremont, Québec, Canada . Frequently casts Donald Sutherland and he is former husband of Liliana Komorowska . He is a director and assistant director, known for Scanners II and III , Human trafficking (2005), Art of war (2000) , Extreme Ops , Boot Camp , Rouge Brésil (2012) . Furthermore , he has directed various historical TV series , such as : The Medici , Joan of Arc , Pío XII , San Agustín , Anna Karenina , Coco Chanel , Guillermo Tell and Hitler: The Rise of Evil , among others . Rating : 7/10 . Better than average . Well worth seeing .
Did you know
- TriviaBased upon a true story.
- GoofsAt the naval reception, the American flag hanging above the band is backwards. The field (the stars) should be on the left, not on the right.
- Quotes
Annibal Ramirez: I nearly killed some little kid's father today. I don't know about anything anymore.
Jack Shaw: He was a baseball dad! He deserved it!
- SoundtracksThe Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Performed by Andy Williams
Written by George Wyle and Eddie Pola
Courtesy of Barnaby Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Celebrity Licensing Inc.
- How long is The Assignment?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $332,597
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $117,608
- Sep 28, 1997
- Gross worldwide
- $332,597
- Runtime1 hour 59 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
Top Gap
By what name was Contrat sur un terroriste (1997) officially released in India in English?
Answer