6.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.9 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.4 |
The FBI's Deputy Director must stop the Jackal, a ruthless professional killer, before he makes his next assassination. He teams up with a female Russian officer and an imprisoned IRA terrorist in a global race against the clock to stop the Jackal before he strikes.
Starring: Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Diane Venora, Sidney Poitier, Mathilda MayThriller | 100% |
Crime | 81% |
Action | 78% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD/DVD)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Henry Fonda in Once Upon a Time in the West. Denzel Washington in Training Day. Edward Norton in Primal Fear. Kathy Bates in Misery. Robin Williams in Insomnia. Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs. Tom Hanks in The Road to Perdition. Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Tom Cruise in Collateral. Brad Pitt in The Assassination of Jesse James. And, most recently, Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. I don't know what it is that inspires great actors to dance with the devil in the pale moonlight, but it has produced some of cinema's most deliciously devilish baddies. Bruce Willis' first major stab at big-screen villainy -- director Michael Caton-Jones' The Jackal -- isn't nearly as meaty or, for that matter, memorable, nor has it withstood the test of time, but fans of '90s action thrillers shouldn't be so eager to pass it by. Cheesy? At times. Dated? Most definitely. Flawed? Now more than ever. But is it entertaining? In a word, absolutely.
"A man like this doesn't make mistakes."
The Jackal makes its high definition debut with a stocky 1080p/VC-1 transfer; a somewhat dated presentation reminiscent of those that graced many a Blu-ray and HD DVD catalog release in 2007. First, the good. Overall color and clarity are stronger than they've been before (a visit with the DVD version of the film reveals just how much), black levels are deeper, and textures are sharper and more refined. Grain, though slightly soupy, is intact as well, and the image doesn't show signs of over-processing. Detail isn't beyond reproach, mind you -- softness rears its head, several establishing shots show signs of wear, and some slight, intermittent smearing raises a few red flags -- but edges are generally crisp and clean. Moreover, serious aliasing, artifacting, banding, and unintentional source noise are nowhere to be found. Which leads us to the... let's just say not-so-good. Crush sometimes thwarts Mulqueen's efforts (especially in the first half of the film), delineation is inconsistent, skintones are occasionally flushed, nighttime sequences are a wee bit murky, ringing appears here and there, and sporadic print damage is apparent in several shots. Whether the majority of these issues trace back to the original print or a hit-or-miss master is unclear (although I suspect the chief culprit to be the former rather than the latter). My advice? Wait a few weeks, pick it up on sale, and try to focus on the transfer's more noteworthy traits. This is the best treatment anyone is likely to see for a long time.
Thankfully, Universal's faithful DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is more reliable, handily trumps its lossy Dolby Digital counterpart, and adds some much-needed value to the release. The Jackal has always offered a rather front-heavy experience by design, but it's far from flat. The soundfield opens up when called upon -- a crowded Russian nightclub, a prison yard, an empty parking garage, an open field, a sailing event, a political rally, and a climactic subway-tunnel chase all stand out -- allowing the mix to make a favorable impression. Acoustics are decidedly decent (particularly for a catalog actioner), ambience is involving (albeit somewhat contrived), and the rear speakers' most aggressive outbursts should earn some respect. LFE output is steady and stalwart as well, lending the film's late-90s action beats suitable presence and punch. Though a tad listless whenever the FBI's guns are holstered and Willis' personal cannon is nestled in its bed, dynamics are more than adequate on the whole, Carter Burwell's score packs notable heat, and the hearty tut-tut-tut of machine gun fire is given ample opportunity to leave its mark. Issues? As crisp and clean it often is, dialogue is occasionally overwhelmed by the soundscape, a handful of lines are buried in the ensuing chaos, and prioritization is hit-or-miss. Still, the majority of the track's shortcomings either trace back to the film's original elements or are so minor that they don't become a significant distraction. All in all, The Jackal sounds better than it ever has and as good as it probably ever will.
The Blu-ray edition of The Jackal doesn't include any special features... at least not on Side A of Universal's BD-59 Flipper Disc. For whatever reason, director Michael Caton-Jones' commentary can only be found alongside the DVD version of the film, meaning fans will have to endure a standard definition marathon to get the skinny on the production. Considering how easily the audio track could have been ported to the BD layer as well, its absence is quite a disappointment. Also available on the flipside of the disc is a decent "Making Of" EPK that offers a glimpse behind the scenes and all the remaining content from the Collector's Edition DVD. (A theatrical trailer is accessible from the main menu, and a series of deleted scenes and an alternate ending can be found in the documentary's chapter menu.) A special thanks to forum member "Filmmaker" for letting us know these additional features are at least somewhere on the disc!
The Jackal is an entertaining little late-90s diversion that, guilty pleasure or no, deserves to survive the harsh terrain of the 21st century. Is its action as tight and thrilling as the decade's best? Not quite. Are its performances the stuff of legend? Hardly. Is its script inventive and unpredictable? Erm... maybe I should be asking different questions. How often do you get to see Bruce Willis don six disguises in a minute? How often do you get to see Jack Black scream bloody murder at the sight of a mangled stump? How often do you get to watch Richard Gere struggle with an Irish accent while Sidney Poitier, J.K. Simmons, a cossack-throated Diane Venora, and a bleach-haired Willis stare on? Simply put, The Jackal is a tasty slice of nostalgia sure to slap a grin on your face. Its Blu-ray release? Not so much. While a relatively satisfying DTS-HD Master Audio track will prove to be a boon for fans, the release is hindered by an average video transfer and an arguably non-existent supplemental package (the only special features to be found are on the standard DVD side of Universal's BD-59 Flipper disc). Ah well, if you absolutely must own a copy of The Jackal, this is definitely the version to own.
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