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The Assignment

  • 1997
  • R
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
10K
YOUR RATING
The Assignment (1997)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer2:29
1 Video
47 Photos
ActionCrimeThriller

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
    • Christian Duguay
  • Writers
    • Dan Gordon
    • Sabi H. Shabtai
  • Stars
    • Aidan Quinn
    • Donald Sutherland
    • Ben Kingsley
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    10K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Christian Duguay
    • Writers
      • Dan Gordon
      • Sabi H. Shabtai
    • Stars
      • Aidan Quinn
      • Donald Sutherland
      • Ben Kingsley
    • 75User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Assignment
    Trailer 2:29
    The Assignment

    Photos47

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    Top cast40

    Edit
    Aidan Quinn
    Aidan Quinn
    • Annibal Ramirez…
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Jack Shaw (Henry Fields)
    Ben Kingsley
    Ben Kingsley
    • Amos
    Claudia Ferri
    Claudia Ferri
    • Maura Ramirez
    Céline Bonnier
    Céline Bonnier
    • Carla
    Vlasta Vrana
    Vlasta Vrana
    • KGB Head Officer
    Liliana Komorowska
    Liliana Komorowska
    • Agnieska
    Von Flores
    Von Flores
    • Koj
    Al Waxman
    Al Waxman
    • Carl Mickens - CIA
    Mitchell David Rothpan
    • Joey Ramirez
    Gregory Hlady
    Gregory Hlady
    • KGB Aide
    Gabriel Marian Oseciuc
    • KGB Agent
    Frédéric Desager
    Frédéric Desager
    • KGB Agent
    Kliment Denchev
    • KGB Technician
    Yonathan Gordon
    • Yoni
    Ndiouga Sarr
    • Nigerian Oil Minister
    Manuel Aranguiz
    Manuel Aranguiz
    • Venezuelan Oil Minister
    Leni Parker
    Leni Parker
    • OPEC Receptionist
    • Director
      • Christian Duguay
    • Writers
      • Dan Gordon
      • Sabi H. Shabtai
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews75

    6.810.4K
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    Featured reviews

    the bee

    kept my butt up

    Very late one night, I happened to click to some cable station that had a movie starting called "The Assignment". I had heard that it was a well made movie from my mother, but who listens to their mother's opinion about movies? Especially about some espionage thriller. Well --- who likes to admit when their mother is right...about anything? Well --- my mother was right. I was up all night, until 4 in the morning, alone, watching this movie, getting paranoid and sucked into its classically told story. The acting was superlative, the direction was on target - which could also be said for the aim of the actors (a lot of gun play), and best of all, it didn't telegraph where the plot was heading. It's a perfect set-up for a franchise, (sorry to sound like an executive at some lumbering movie studio) because I'd be completely interested to see the next adventures of these well rounded characters - and the actors that play them. To the film makers: Do more of these! To the movie watching audience: watch it! watch it with someone you love, as the old saying goes...not because it's romantic, but rather, it's a movie that you need to grab hold of someone during those extra exciting parts. No joke. (the sex scenes teach you a thing or too, as well. A movie that's entertaining, as well as informative! Hey! Now that's a novelty.)
    7sid33

    A sleeper of a spy thriller!

    I found this movie to be quite enjoyable and fairly entertaining. Good characters,good actors and enough suspense to keep your interest throughout. The plot twists might have been a bit much but overall a decent thriller. If you liked this film I would recommend The Spanish Prisoner, The House of Games and No Way Out.
    9mhasheider

    Slick, tidy, and well-made old school version of a great international thriller.

    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.
    7ma-cortes

    Pretty good thriller dealing with a case of deadly impersonation , known terrorist Carlos the Jackal.

    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 .
    8Luigi Di Pilla

    The best spy thriller

    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.

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    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based upon a true story.
    • Goofs
      At 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!

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Peacemaker/Soul Food/The Edge/The Ice Storm/The Assignment (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      The 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.

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    FAQ17

    • How long is The Assignment?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 26, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Jackal
    • Filming locations
      • Dead Sea, Israel
    • Production companies
      • Triumph Films
      • Allegro Films
      • Allegro Film Productions V
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $332,597
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $117,608
      • Sep 28, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $332,597
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 55m(115 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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