The Assignment (1997)

The only photo that exists of Carlos the Jackals is a grainy one taken a half mile away. Lt. Cmdr. Annibal Ramirez (Aidan Quinn) looks like the man in the photo. and Jack Shaw, C.I.A (Donald Sutherland) wants him to set a trap.Ramirez becomes Carlos with the help of Shaw and Mossad agent Amos (Ben Kingsley). He goes about screwing Carlos' women (Céline Bonnier & Liliana Komorowska), and he doesn't attract Carlos, but a whole lot of people who want to kill him thinking he is Carlos. What a job! This film is one of the better action thrillers as it is not a "star vehicle," but a great group of actors who create a believable story.And, I may add, gives us pause at the end.

Throughout the world the unmistakable imprint of the American C.I.A. can be found in many a muddled mess they have left behind. In the beginning, their objectives were simple: spy, remove enemy agents, steal classified information and destabilize unfavorable governments. Years have elapse and although their mission remains similar, their clandestine black operations now include domestic spying, discrediting U.S. citizens and infiltrating American organizations who criticize the U.S. government. This movie however, centers on the C.I.A.'s world manhunt for the infamous 'Carlos, the Jackel.' The film is called " The Assignment " and tells the story Lt. Cmdr. Annibal Ramirez, (Aidan Quinn) a U.S. naval officer who bears a striking resemblance to the mastermind of so many terrorist bombings. Recruited by Jack Shaw (Donald Sutherland) of the C.I.A. and Amos (Ben Kingsley), a special agent from the Israeli Mosad, Ramirez is secretly trained to look, pose, infiltrate the elusive organization and to thereafter discredit the real Jackel working for the Russians. This film is Explosively exciting, and packed with wild chases, killings and inter-country mayhem. Quinn is wonderful and surprisingly artistic playing both sides of the war. Easily one of his best efforts. ****

A naval officer is recruited to impersonate an infamous terrorist for whom he is a dead ringer. The film is well-paced and has plenty of action, but the plot is clichéd (as are the characters) and somewhat convoluted (including an ambiguous ending) - not to mention far-fetched. It is well acted by Quinn in the dual role of hero and terrorist, Sutherland as a CIA agent, and Kingsley as an Israeli terrorism expert. It is hard to take any of it seriously, particularly the central premise of two unrelated men looking and sounding exactly alike (they even have the same haircut!). It plays like a TV movie, perhaps not surprising, given director Duguay's background.

I really liked this film. It was on one of the obscure digital channels and we happened to notice it in the schedules. The film is full of action and yet it is totally believable as it is based, I understand, on actual events. I have always much preferred films which are understated (notwithstanding the action this one is!) as opposed to those in the bang bang shoot shoot the hero never gets shot despite 50 men firing Kalashnikovs at him at point blank range variety, if you know what I mean. I would put this film in the same category as the Harry Palmer series; Spy Who Came in from the Cold variety etc. The performance were excellent from all the leads. Brilliant combination of Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland (always like his films)and Ben Kingsley. They always give such believable performances. I have always thought that Aidan Quinn has not received the recognition he deserves. He can play any part and never overacts: a total natural. In Stakeout for example (not my favourite film by any means), which was essentially a black comedy, he exuded menace to the point of psychotic - brilliant. In the next film he is able to play a character for whom the audience has total sympathy.