24/34
The Jackal is an elusive assassin who makes his living by carrying out murders for top pay. He soon meets his match: a dogged British intelligence officer who tracks him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe. Check out our list of renewals and cancellations to see if your favorite show made the cut. Forsyth worked as a freelance journalist covering the Biafran War. When it ended, he returned to Britain, jobless and unsure of what to do next. He said, “I came back at Christmas,” completely emaciated. I’ve got no job prospects, no home, no car and no savings. Then I had this crazy, crazy idea to write a novel. “Everyone said you must be kidding or crazy, because the chances of it even getting published are hundreds to one, thousands even.” Within weeks of release, the film rights were secured. Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars vied to play the Jackal in the 1973 film, but the role went to then-unknown Edward Fox because director Fred Zinnemann believed he could remain invisible in a crowd. (Airmail). Mentioned on The Graham Norton Show: Denzel Washington/Paul Mescal/Saoirse Ronan/Eddie Redmayne/Blossoms (2024). Eddie Redmayne delivers a riveting performance, embodying the titular assassin with a chilling precision that makes him both terrifying and magnetic. Redmayne’s meticulous approach to the role ratchets up the tension, making his every move seem calculated and inevitable. His ability to combine charm with menace ensures that audiences are both repelled and intrigued, capturing the essence of the character’s duality. Unfortunately, Lashana Lynch’s performance pales in comparison, coming across as wooden and uninspired. Her portrayal of a determined intelligence agent lacked depth, often coming across as one-dimensional and reliant on cliches. In a series that thrives on nuance and detail, her character’s lack of complexity is a negative. Overall, the film is a compelling adaptation, but it does struggle with uneven performances at times. Redmayne’s brilliance alone makes it worth watching, but Lynch’s shortcomings detract somewhat from the experience.