The Day of the Jackal

The survivors of the French Foreign Legion have been trying to assassinate French president Charles DeGaulle reapeatedly, making the president one of the most closely guarded man in the world. After yet another failed attempt, as a last resort, they hire an English hit man to do the job, going by the code name "The Jackal".

The film details on the one hand the minutiae preparations of the Jackal for what he considers to be his last kill, because his profile as a hired killer would be raised so profoundly that he cannot work again. The hit requires him to change names, passports and appearances several times.

On the other hand, we follow the - at first secret - investigation of the French police into the group of Forein Legion members and eventually the Jackal. They edge their way closer to finding and stopping the assassination. Obviously there are a few setbacks, most importantly leaked information.

After the Jackal finds out that his identity has been compromised and the mission is to be aborted, the pushes on nonetheless, possibly as a matter of pride.

This is one of Fred Zinneman's last films. Very dense and intriguing.

7/10

Anonymous

So, according to this film by Roland Emmerich (and from what I understand it reflects Emmerich's beliefs) William Shakespeare's plays where actually written by Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, played by Rhys Ifans (in a surprisingly good performance, I only remember ever seeing him play idiots and druggies).

When the Earl solicits a lesser known playwright to stage plays that he actually wrote himself, the man agrees to do so. The play bill fails to mention any author name. When the performance is a great success and the audience cries for the playwright to come out on stage to be celebrated, the rather dimwitted William Shakespeare, an actor himself and always slightly drunk, hogs the spotlight and takes his bows.

Shakespeare is portrayed by Rafe Spall. This may actually be my favorite performance of the film, which is heavily populated by many a brilliant actor. One other wonderful portrayal is that of the (old) Queen Elizabeth I, by the great Vanessa Redgrave. Her younger self is played by her daughter Joely Richardson.

The film jumps back and forth in time, showing the story of the plays and the (alleged) rouse as well as Edward de Vere's younger years, during which he had an affair and a child with Queen Elizabeth I.

Do I believe that the story as told here has any merit? Not really. Do I care that Emmerich's (and the film's screen writer's) beliefs are probably wrong? Nope. The film is entertaining enough the way it is. You get war and intrigues, illicit affairs spawning bastards and the literary society in uproar.

7/10