The Jackal is an elusive assassin who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. He soon meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who tracks him down in a thr... Read allThe Jackal is an elusive assassin who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. He soon meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who tracks him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe.The Jackal is an elusive assassin who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. He soon meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who tracks him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe.
- Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
- 19 nominations total
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Summary
Reviewers say 'The Day of the Jackal' is a compelling spy thriller with standout performances, especially Eddie Redmayne's intense portrayal. Lashana Lynch's role as the MI6 agent is criticized for being unconvincing. The series is praised for its high production values and engaging storyline but faces criticism for plot inconsistencies and pacing issues. Despite these flaws, the overall reception remains positive, with hopes for future improvements.
Featured reviews
Lynch is completely miscast. Her acting is poor. Why she was cast in this role when there are plenty of actresses to be better at it. It baffles me. Her character is not interesting just another role of an obsessive agent.
Eddie Redmayne can do anything, his range as an actor is impressive from theater drama, musicals, films. He never disappoints. In this role, he is solid in anything he performs.
The plot is interesting and catching.....funny how we cheer for the Jackal.... Not for the MÍ 6 agent. The series location is impressive and the plot is high octane thrill. It is not comparable to the original, this is a worthy adaptation to our current times.
Eddie Redmayne can do anything, his range as an actor is impressive from theater drama, musicals, films. He never disappoints. In this role, he is solid in anything he performs.
The plot is interesting and catching.....funny how we cheer for the Jackal.... Not for the MÍ 6 agent. The series location is impressive and the plot is high octane thrill. It is not comparable to the original, this is a worthy adaptation to our current times.
The Day of the Jackal had everything to be the series of the year, because the story is incredible, full of action, improbable setbacks and a lot of violence like the typical "coldness" of a professional killer masterfully well played by the award-winning Eddie Redmayne. Unfortunately, the series' biggest flaw is precisely the main actress, who plays the role of the police officer Bianca who pursues the Jackal, the British Lashana Lynch. Her interpretation is pathetic. She can't "get into the role" and is not convincing as an elite police officer of the British intelligence service. Her facial and body expressions range from the inexpressiveness of a door to the drowsiness of a "sloth". A disappointing choice of an actress who is very inexperienced for this type of challenge.
Something about Lashana just didn't work for me-I can't quite put my finger on it. I'm not sure why they chose her for that role. She wasn't terrible, but it bugged me the entire time. :(
Eddie Redmayne absolutely nails it as the assassin, bringing a chilling, magnetic energy to the role. He's terrifying but somehow impossible to look away from, and every move he makes feels super calculated. Redmayne's mix of charm and menace is spot-on, making the character both fascinating and unsettling. Lashana Lynch as I said doesn't quite measure up. Her performance as the no-nonsense intelligence agent feels flat and a bit cliché, lacking the depth you'd expect from a story like this. In a movie that thrives on detail and complexity, her character comes off as one-note and underwhelming.
Overall, the film is intense and gripping, but the uneven performances hold it back a bit. Redmayne's incredible performance makes it worth checking out, even if Lynch's misses take away some of the impact.
Eddie Redmayne absolutely nails it as the assassin, bringing a chilling, magnetic energy to the role. He's terrifying but somehow impossible to look away from, and every move he makes feels super calculated. Redmayne's mix of charm and menace is spot-on, making the character both fascinating and unsettling. Lashana Lynch as I said doesn't quite measure up. Her performance as the no-nonsense intelligence agent feels flat and a bit cliché, lacking the depth you'd expect from a story like this. In a movie that thrives on detail and complexity, her character comes off as one-note and underwhelming.
Overall, the film is intense and gripping, but the uneven performances hold it back a bit. Redmayne's incredible performance makes it worth checking out, even if Lynch's misses take away some of the impact.
As has been mentioned by many other reviewers, Eddie Redmayne is fantastic in the role of "The Jackal."
Cold, calm, calculated, ruthless. Everything you'd imagine an assassin to be, but contradicted by his family-man act. Something Eddie portrays brilliantly.
Unfortunately, the MI6 agent, played by Lashana Lynch, falls WAAAAYYY short of competing in this acting game.
Her character feels disjointed - the contradiction between MI6 agent, and family "homebody," so expertly portrayed by Eddie - doesn't work. Her character is just "unlikable" at best; downright annoying, most of the time.
Thankfully, there's enough screen time for Eddie to offset this.
Tense, gripping and genuinely really watchable. Most of the other characters are well acted and thought out. The set-pieces are impressive and unlike a lot of films/shows, not so dark you struggle to see anything.
Don't let the female lead prevent you from watching this fantastic adaptation - just accept you'll probably dislike her after the 1st episode, and you'll be fine!
Unfortunately, the MI6 agent, played by Lashana Lynch, falls WAAAAYYY short of competing in this acting game.
Her character feels disjointed - the contradiction between MI6 agent, and family "homebody," so expertly portrayed by Eddie - doesn't work. Her character is just "unlikable" at best; downright annoying, most of the time.
Thankfully, there's enough screen time for Eddie to offset this.
Tense, gripping and genuinely really watchable. Most of the other characters are well acted and thought out. The set-pieces are impressive and unlike a lot of films/shows, not so dark you struggle to see anything.
Don't let the female lead prevent you from watching this fantastic adaptation - just accept you'll probably dislike her after the 1st episode, and you'll be fine!
I came to check reviews to see if anyone else noticed how off the female lead's performance was, and I was surprised to find many others felt the same way. Lashana's portrayal is unfortunately a glaring weak point in this otherwise brilliant adaptation of The Day of the Jackal. Her expressions feel stiff, her delivery lacks authenticity, and her performance breaks the immersive tension of an otherwise exceptional crime thriller. While I haven't seen her other work and she may shine in different roles, here her acting feels amateurish and out of place.
That being said, the series itself is a masterpiece of suspense. The narrative is gripping, the pacing keeps you hooked, and the rest of the cast delivers top-notch performances. If you're a fan of crime thrillers, this is still absolutely worth your time. Lashana's shortcomings aside, the overall production and thrilling storyline make it an unforgettable experience.
That being said, the series itself is a masterpiece of suspense. The narrative is gripping, the pacing keeps you hooked, and the rest of the cast delivers top-notch performances. If you're a fan of crime thrillers, this is still absolutely worth your time. Lashana's shortcomings aside, the overall production and thrilling storyline make it an unforgettable experience.
Did you know
- TriviaThe Day of The Jackal author Frederick Forsyth 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."
- GoofsBesides one aerial drone shot of Tallinn (Estonia), other locations were clearly not filmed in Tallinn.
Details
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- Countries of origin
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- Also known as
- День шакала
- Filming locations
- Villas Rosa dei Venti, Gornji Rabac 14b, 52221, Rabac, Croatia(Jackal & Nuria's house in Cadiz, Spain.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Color
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