Here we go, another pull from the back shelves of the memory palace – the kind of sturdy, well-made thriller that populated video store 'New Release' walls in the late 90s. Sometimes, amidst the flashier titles, you'd find something like The Assignment (1997), a film that doesn't just entertain but burrows under your skin with its chilling "what if" premise. What stays with me most isn't just the espionage plot, but the unsettling notion of identity twisted and weaponized.
A Dangerous Reflection
The core concept is immediately gripping: Donald Sutherland, playing a weary but relentless CIA operative named Jack Shaw (though sometimes credited as Henry Fields, adding another layer of identity games), finally devises a plan to trap the elusive and infamous international terrorist, Carlos "The Jackal" Sánchez. The hook? He finds an uncanny double – a straight-arrow US Navy Lieutenant Commander named Annibal Ramirez (Aidan Quinn), a devoted family man completely unaware of his physical twin sowing chaos across the globe. The plan, naturally, is to train Ramirez to become Carlos, drawing the real terrorist out of hiding. It’s a premise ripe for tension, exploring not just the mechanics of spycraft but the psychological toll of assuming another, darker self.
Quinn Walks the Tightrope
Let's be frank: this film rests squarely on the shoulders of Aidan Quinn, and he delivers magnificently. Playing two diametrically opposed characters who look identical is a monumental challenge. Quinn doesn't just rely on superficial changes; he embodies the physicality, the posture, the aura of both men. Ramirez is upright, disciplined, his movements economical, his gaze direct. Carlos, inspired by the real-life figure Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, is swaggering, charismatic, reptilian – a creature of dangerous appetites and volatile energy. Quinn makes you believe these are two separate individuals, making Ramirez's gradual, agonizing transformation all the more compelling and disturbing. You see the conflict warring within him – the dutiful officer forced to mimic profound evil. It’s a performance that feels less like acting and more like inhabiting, a testament to Quinn’s underrated versatility often seen in films like Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) or Legends of the Fall (1994).
Veterans Add Weight
Surrounding Quinn are two titans who lend instant credibility and gravitas. Donald Sutherland is perfectly cast as the driven, almost obsessive CIA man Shaw. There's a lifetime of weariness in his eyes, but also a steely resolve. He sells the desperation and the high stakes involved in this incredibly risky operation. Opposite him, Ben Kingsley plays Amos, a Mossad agent who has his own long and bloody history with Carlos. Kingsley brings his signature intensity, a coiled snake ready to strike, representing the more ruthless, pragmatic side of the intelligence world. Their scenes together crackle with the tension of old rivalries and shared objectives, veterans who understand the dirty necessities of their trade. You truly believe these men have been hunting Carlos for decades. It's worth noting the script, co-written by Dan Gordon and Sabi H. Shabtai, drew heavily on Shabtai's own reported experiences and research into the real Carlos the Jackal, adding a layer of verisimilitude that grounds the more outlandish aspects of the plot.
Crafting Authenticity on a Budget
Directed by Christian Duguay, who had previously helmed sequels in the Scanners series and would later direct The Art of War (2000), The Assignment manages a sense of global scale despite its reported $20 million budget (which would be roughly $38 million today) – a respectable sum, but modest for an international espionage thriller. Filming took place across diverse locations including Israel, Montreal, and Arizona, convincingly standing in for Libya, France, Austria, and Cuba. This practical approach lends a tangible grit to the proceedings, a far cry from the sterile CGI cityscapes that would come to dominate the genre later. Duguay keeps the pacing taut, focusing on the psychological drama and bursts of well-staged action rather than overwhelming spectacle. There's a grounded feel here, reminiscent of classic Cold War thrillers, even though it arrived just as that era was definitively closing. Though it didn't make a huge splash at the box office, grossing only around $4.5 million domestically, its premise and Quinn's performance helped it find a second life on VHS and cable, becoming one of those solid rentals you'd recommend to a friend.
The Lingering Question
What The Assignment does so well is explore the fragility of identity. How much of ourselves is innate, and how much is shaped by circumstance, or even by conscious imitation? As Ramirez delves deeper into the persona of Carlos, adopting his mannerisms, his vices, even his sexual conquests, the lines begin to blur not just for him, but for the audience. Can someone truly wear evil like a coat without being stained by it? The film doesn't offer easy answers, leaving Ramirez's ultimate psychological state ambiguous. It prompts reflection on the masks we all wear, perhaps less dramatic than Ramirez's, but masks nonetheless. Doesn't this kind of identity manipulation, albeit less extreme, echo in aspects of modern life, from online personas to professional facades?
Final Verdict
The Assignment is a prime example of a well-crafted, intelligent 90s thriller that likely slipped under the radar for many. Anchored by a tour-de-force dual performance from Aidan Quinn and elevated by the weighty presence of Donald Sutherland and Ben Kingsley, it offers more than just spy-game mechanics. It poses uncomfortable questions about identity and the darkness that might lie dormant within the most ordinary of us. It feels authentic to its era, a solid piece of filmmaking that relies on character and suspense over bombast.
Rating: 8/10
This score reflects the film's compelling premise, outstanding central performance by Quinn, strong supporting cast, and intelligent handling of its themes. It successfully crafts a tense, engaging espionage story with genuine psychological depth, overcoming its modest budget with clever execution. It’s a gem from the video store era that holds up remarkably well, reminding us that sometimes the most compelling thrillers are the ones that mess with your head as much as they race your pulse. A truly solid rental, then and now.