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The Assignment

The Assignment

Thriller · Action · Crime · 1997

Jack Shaw has experienced the terror first-hand. He's a top CIA agent who's tracked international killer-for-hire Carlos "The Jackal" Sanchez for over twenty years and barely survived Carlos' devastating bombing of a Parisian cafe. Now, he finally gets a break when he discovers Carlos' dead ringer: American naval officer and dedicated family man Annibal Ramirez.

Movie details

The Assignment

1997 Thriller · Action · Crime 1h 59m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.4 / 10

Community rating

Jack Shaw has experienced the terror first-hand. He's a top CIA agent who's tracked international killer-for-hire Carlos "The Jackal" Sanchez for over twenty years and barely survived Carlos' devastating bombing of a Parisian cafe. Now, he finally gets a break when he discovers Carlos' dead ringer: American naval officer and dedicated family man Annibal Ramirez.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Assignment?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Christian Duguay

Written by

Sabi H. Shabtai · Dan Gordon

Aidan Quinn

Aidan Quinn

Annibal Ramirez / Carlos

Donald Sutherland

Donald Sutherland

Jack Shaw / Henry Fields

Ben Kingsley

Ben Kingsley

Amos

Claudia Ferri

Claudia Ferri

Maura Ramirez

Céline Bonnier

Céline Bonnier

Carla

Vlasta Vrana

Vlasta Vrana

KGB Head Officer

Liliana Komorowska

Liliana Komorowska

Agnieska

Court is in session

Put The Assignment on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.