The Day of the Jackal (1973)

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  Barneyonmovies

  8 / 10

  WHAT I LIKED: Adapting Frederick Forsyth's brilliant 'Day of the Jacakal,' was never going to be an easy task, but what Fred Zinnemann does so successfully here is that he mainly focuses on the last half of the book so that he can explore the more thrilling side of the story with all the detail and care that it needs. Thanks to this approach, the film is a shining example of a slow-burn crime-thriller stripped down to its bones, with a plot that keeps you fully in the know and manages to thoroughly engage you despite you knowing the outcome. Its delivery is of course largely down to Zinnemann's expert direction that keeps tension building expertly, but credit should also be given to the great performances from Edward Fox and his supporting cast, and in the end you'll undoubtedly be on the edge of your seat throughout and thoroughly impressed by the way the film adapts one of the finest modern novels around.
  WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: It might have been nice to have developed Lebel and his side of the story a little more so that we have more of a personal investment on the side of the authorities, as well as on the side of our well-portrayed assassin mastermind.
  VERDICT: A classic adaptation of an even more classic book, 'The Day of the Jackal,' is expertly done, and it really is a lesson in how to put the audience on the edge of their seats and keep them there to the end.

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