The Assignment (1997)

58% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(4,259 ratings)

In this drama, a naval officer named Annibal Ramirez (Aidan Quinn) is vacationing in Israel when he's arrested and questioned by Israeli agents, led by Amos (Ben Kingsley). Unknown to Annibal, he bears a striking resemblance to Carlos Sanchez (also played by Aidan Quinn), a famous and feared… More In this drama, a naval officer named Annibal Ramirez (Aidan Quinn) is vacationing in Israel when he's arrested and questioned by Israeli agents, led by Amos (Ben Kingsley). Unknown to Annibal, he bears a striking resemblance to Carlos Sanchez (also played by Aidan Quinn), a famous and feared international terrorist wanted in several nations. Jack Shaw (Donald Sutherland) is a CIA operative who witnessed one of Sanchez's most brutal attacks in the 1970s and is obsessed with bringing him to justice. Shaw persuades Ramirez to join his team and to pose as Sanchez, convincing the nations who work with him that he's an unreliable traitor. While this would give Ramirez a chance to serve his country, it would also take him away from his wife Maura (Claudia Ferri) and his children, not to mention putting his life in grave danger. Carlos Sanchez was the name of an infamous terrorist (also known as "The Jackal") who was active in the 1970s and 1980s; while the "Carlos Sanchez" character is based on his fearsome exploits, the rest of the story is fiction. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 59 min.
Directed By: Christian Duguay
Written By: Dan Gordon, Sabi H. Shabtai
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Sep 26, 1997 Wide
On DVD: May 22, 2001
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
If there's a small saving grace to this crude thriller, it is the work of Montreal-born director Christian Duguay, who shows flashes of real flare.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Intelligent and gripping.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
If you believe that Elvis still lives or that a millennial invasion of flying saucers is imminent, you might buy the bogus premise.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
A film of real finesse, style and intelligence, an espionage thriller of the old school, with some modern technical embellishments.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Stylish spy flick with a surprisingly good cast.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
A non-formula spy thriller without the glitz and romanticism usually associated with this genre.
David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor
The plot raises the keenly important question of whether professionals who fight evil may be corrupted by the ruthless means they employ; but the movie takes too much pleasure in sensationalistic digressions to explore this issue very thoroughly.
Louis B. Hobson, Jam! Movies
Quinn is excellent in the dual roles of Jackal and Ramirez.
Shlomo Schwartzberg, Boxoffice Magazine
Melodramatic pap.
, E! Online
The assignment, should you choose to accept it, does pay off in potent thrills.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
A spy thriller with no thrills, no doubt an interesting cinematic gambit but not one we'd recommend.
Harvey S. Karten, Compuserve
An intelligent, imaginative bit a fiction about suggesting one way the killer may have been captured.
Glenn Slavin, Film Journal International
Quinn gives a commanding performance as both Ramirez and Carlos.
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Examiner
A mediocre action-thriller combination that revolves around a preposterous plan for the same reason that most pot-boilers do; it's just the nature of the beast.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
Great premise is executed with enough style and thrills to keep the piece interesting throughout its close to two-hour runtime.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

Excellent CIA thriller, even though this is from the 1997 time frame, its still got plenty of action, and at the end of the movie when the KGB raids Carlos's home, it shows some pretty cool spy devices that are still in use today, ask any Swat Team Member. Reason I rented it is… More
Excellent CIA thriller, even though this is from the 1997 time frame, its still got plenty of action, and at the end of the movie when the KGB raids Carlos's home, it shows some pretty cool spy devices that are still in use today, ask any Swat Team Member. Reason I rented it is because it was on a 1997 Toronto International Film Festival List and I am reviewing all those movies as time permits. This movie has plenty of action and I feel that Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland, and Ben Kingsley played excellent parts. The Movie shows a part that?s supposed to be a Naval Officers house in Norfolk Virginia, sorry but their are no background mountains in Norfolk Virginia unless you count Mt Trashmore. But its an excellent movie with good chase scenes and stunts, A real life adventure, based on a real story. 5 Stars nothing less.
Steven V

This film deserves 100% for cinematography for its opening sequence. The movie is worth watching for that shot alone. And the even better thing is that the opening sequence also becomes the ending leaving you totally guessing.
Deb S

This is a suspense thriller involving spies, lies, and the one and only CARLOS. The film stars Aidan Quinn in a juicy dual role, playing a United States Naval Officer named Annibal Ramirez, and the antagonist, the mysterious and notorious terrorist named Carlos. CIA man Jack Shaw… More
This is a suspense thriller involving spies, lies, and the one and only CARLOS. The film stars Aidan Quinn in a juicy dual role, playing a United States Naval Officer named Annibal Ramirez, and the antagonist, the mysterious and notorious terrorist named Carlos. CIA man Jack Shaw (Donald Sutherland) masterminds a plot to get Carlos when he stumbles upon Quinn who is a dead ringer for the Carlos. Well executed and well acted with an intriguing plot and superb performances from all the leads; a brilliant combination of Aidan Quinn, Donald Sutherland and Ben Kingsley. A really tight film that shouldn't be overlooked! Recommended for espionage or thriller fans... Rated R (for violence, language, fairly graphic sex scenes & nudity)