Le Jour du Jackal

TLDR: Redmayne nails it. Lynch is miscast.

Unfortunately the leads are not on par with one another, which detracts from the otherwise spectacular and high quality production.

No shade to Lynch, it is just a high bar that Redmayne has set.

A more seasoned actor may have delivered a more credible counterpart/adversary charachter necessary to challenge The Jackal.

Overall the story is viable adaptation. The charachter development sort of works, although some things are just left open in the main charachter narratives, but that might be wanted. The locations, varied interactions, and Redmaynes delivery of languages and change of charachters really adds a special layer to the story arc. The deception barometer is on all the time in the background. I'm looking forward to seeing how Se01 ends and how the quality is maintained or improved upon in Se02. Hopefully Lynch eases up to be less forced and gives a more nuanced performance to try and meet Redmayne. If she does, Se02 could be quite promising.

I must agree with many other reviewers, this is a great production with good atmosphere and Eddie Redmayne does a great job in the lead role as the Jackal but the female lead just ruins the whole thing. It's a total miscast using an actor who, can't show any facial emotion regardless of the situation and who almost approaches overacting possibly in an effort to make up for the lack of understanding or appreciating the character. The character is obviously meant to be confident and experienced but it's portrayal is one of a cocky 'I know best' woman who for one, has no appreciation of evidence walking the suitcase through the general office. She's just so irritating and unbelievable.

The Day of the Jackal (2024) offers a gripping narrative with Eddie Redmayne delivering a standout performance, embodying the intensity of his character. The series' cinematic style is refreshingly authentic, reminiscent of a time when storytelling felt grounded and realistic. However, the casting of Lashana Lynch as Bianca Pullman detracts from the series. Her portrayal lacks the depth and expression required for the role, which feels like a misstep. Without this casting issue, the series would easily be a 10/10. Hoping future episodes maintain the high bar set and deliver a satisfying conclusions.

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.

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.