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.
The Assignment
1997
Action / Crime / Thriller
Plot summary
1986. In his civilian clothes while on shore leave in Jerusalem, Lieutenant Commander Annibal Ramirez of the US Navy is captured and interrogated by who he eventually learns is Mossad in a case of mistaken identity. Because of the resemblance, they believed him to be Carlos the Jackal, one of if not the most wanted and dangerous terrorist in the world. Shortly following, Henry Fields, using the alias Jack Shaw, he the Paris deputy chief of CIA counter-terrorism whose primary mission for at least the past ten years has been to get rid of Carlos in any way possible, tries to recruit Ramirez to work on a covert CIA-Mossad operation to stop Carlos' terrorist activities with the ultimate goal of Carlos' capture or death. The plan is for Ramirez to impersonate Carlos, in the process discrediting Carlos in the eyes of his current KGB backers, and thus effectively ending his career as a terrorist, with nowhere he can longer hide. After an initial reluctance on Ramirez's part, Shaw is able to convince him to do the job. The rigorous training is to ensure that Ramirez not only looks like Carlos, but instinctively behaves like Carlos, even to those closest to him, which also means how he makes love as one of Ramirez's interactions is to be with one of Carlos' old girlfriends. Beyond the potential problem of getting caught by Carlos or his associates, Ramirez may have problems stomaching his work and reconciling it with his real life as a military man. If he is able to carry out the mission and survive, the bigger question becomes whether being Carlos will have transformed his inherent being permanently.
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The best spy thriller
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 .
Good! A real "sleeper" thriller
Aidan Quinn stars with Donald Sutherland and Ben Kingsley in "The Assignment," a 1997 film directed by Christian Duguay. This film did not seem to be in theaters for very long, or to make any money. I suspect after a few days in the theater it went right to video.
Quinn plays Lt. Cmdr. Annibal Ramirez, who is arrested and held by Mossad, who believe he is the assassin/terrorist Carlos the Jackal. Once his identification has been verified, he is allowed to leave. He is then visited by Jack Shaw (Donald Sutherland) who wants him to impersonate Carlos in order to convince the Russians that Carlos has come over to the CIA in exchange for money and a sweet deal, so that they will kill the real Carlos. It involves months of training, and finally, Annibal is ready. There are a few things he and his trainers hadn't counted on...one is that as time goes by, Annibal finds it harder and harder to escape Carlos' identity and reclaim himself.
Really good movie, very suspenseful and exciting, with a wonderful performance by Aidan Quinn as both Carlos and Annibal. The movie really keeps you on the edge of your seat, especially the last scenes. Some excellent effects, locations, and car chases.
Quinn I seem to remember came to fame in a film about AIDS, "An Early Frost," and I also recall that Tina Sinatra was blown away by his bone structure and wanted him to play her dad in "Sinatra" The Music Was Just the Beginning." Movie stardom never really hit him, but he has had a prolific career playing a variety of roles, and is now a regular on "Elementary." In "The Assignment," he again reminds us of his excellence and versatility as an actor. Donald Sutherland does a great job as Annibal's handler, Shaw, who wants Carlos not only for the CIA's reasons but also because in France, Carlos slipped by him at a restaurant and bombed it.
Ben Kingsley, another fantastic actor, hands in his usual well thought-out performance as a Mossad agent. The man who played Gandhi so magnificently I find is often in roles that are really beneath his abilities, which is a shame, though he certainly manages to keep busy. And there are some brilliant roles in there too.
Highly recommended, a thrilling movie.