The Jackal (1997) * * *

Directed by:  Michael Caton-Jones

Starring:  Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, Sidney Poitier, Diane Venora, Jack Black, Mathilda May

The Jackal is a thriller that gets the job done, even though it can be preposterous at times like some action films tend to be.     It's anchored, however, by a strong Richard Gere performance in a very un-Gere like role.    He plays an imprisoned IRA gunrunner/assassin who assists the FBI in tracking down The Jackal (Willis), a ruthless killer-for-hire who changes hair color as often as he changes socks.     The Jackal has been pulling off contract killings for many years, yet he remains at large and off the grid.     Gere's Declan Mulqueen has seen The Jackal and could identify him, as could his former lover Isabella (May), who lives in seclusion with a family.   

Gere has a passable Irish accent and Mulqueen is more of a salt-of-the-earth guy than a slick hustler Gere has played many times over the years.     He has personal reasons for wanting The Jackal dead, which aren't made clear until later.      Despite his past links to terrorism, Mulqueen makes for a sympathetic hero, mostly because his only wish is to return to Ireland and start his life anew.     I'm sure the families of those he killed won't be thrilled to see him, but since we don't actually see those deaths, it makes Mulqueen a little more palatable.    Plus, he seems to have served his penance in many ways.  

The Jackal has been hired by the Russian mob to kill a target which isn't made known to the audience until a crucial point, when Mulqueen figures it out.     He is paid half up front and half upon completion, which amounts to about $70 million.     Much of that probably covers The Jackal's personal expenses, which likely include an unlimited supply of hair color, weapons, and other assorted overhead.     He doesn't travel light.     Willis doesn't have a lot of dialogue as The Jackal and is a satisfactory villain, but where does he carry around all of that Just For Men hair coloring?

Looking too deeply into The Jackal is a fool's errand.     If taken on a superficial level, The Jackal is slick, polished, professional entertainment.    If you look deeper, it may not hold up to much scrutiny, so why look deeper if you're satisfied with what you get?    Also along for the ride are Sidney Poitier as Carter Preston, deputy director of the FBI, who helps in tracking down the mysterious Jackal.    Diane Venora plays a Russian KGB agent who smokes an awful lot and carries a hideous facial scar, but she's a pretty tough lady.     She could use the $70 million to pay for all of her cigarettes.  

Despite its inherent goofy plot points, I enjoyed The Jackal anyway.    If a movie works, it works.    Why look a gift horse in the mouth?