45/15
The Jackal is a tough assassin who makes a living by making high-paying hits. He soon meets his match in a tough British intelligence officer who tracks him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe. Check out our renewal and cancellation list to see if your favorite show is back on. The Jackal has been seen driving a white Alfa Romeo Spider. In The Day of the Jackal (1973), the Jackal also drives a white Alfa Romeo, albeit an earlier model. Referenced on The Graham Norton Show: Denzel Washington/Paul Mescal/Saoirse Ronan/Eddie Redmayne/Blossoms (2024). TLDR: Redmayne gets it right. Lynch is wrong. Unfortunately, the leads are not on par with each other, which detracts from an otherwise spectacular and high-quality production. There’s no shade for Lynch, it’s just the high bar that Redmayne has set. A more experienced actor might have provided a more believable counterpart/opponent character needed to challenge the Jackal. Overall, the story is a viable adaptation. The character development kind of works, although some things are left open in the main character’s narrative, but that’s to be hoped for. The locations, the varied interactions, and Redmaynes delivery of language and character shifts really add a special layer to the story arc. The betrayal barometer is constantly on in the background. I’m looking forward to seeing how Se01 ends and how the quality is maintained or improved in Se02. Hopefully Lynch eases into being less forced and gives a more nuanced performance in an attempt to meet Redmayne. If he does, Se02 could be quite promising.