CARLOS THE JACKAL is a French TV miniseries biopic that gets into the heart and soul of the man who was Carlos the Jackal. Carlos was a Venezuelan left-wing revolutionary who embarked on an extensive terror campaign across the world in the 1970s: a campaign designed to free Palestine through bombings, assassinations, and the taking of hostages. The miniseries follows him from his humble beginnings to his final days behind hunted down by old foes.
Be warned: this is a VERY lengthy miniseries and even watching it in three parts takes some dedication. It's very much in the feel of the likes of THE BAADER-MEINHOF COMPLEX and MESRINE, with the emphasis on realism throughout, with terrorist attacks carried out in a matter-of-fact way. The writers enjoy exploring the minutiae of the situation, from the various campaigns themselves to Carlos's mindset and way of life. It's an incredibly political film that works as an engaging historical document, putting into clarity the complexities of Western-Arab relations during the 1970s and beyond.
Inevitably the story belongs to Edgar Ramirez (THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM), who makes the film his own as the larger-than-life titular character. But the supporting cast are equally authentic, and there are lots of fine set-pieces. Be warned, though, things do slow down in the last third, where Carlos's fate is played out in almost excruciating slow motion. It takes some sitting thorough, but the experience as a whole is a rewarding one.
Be warned: this is a VERY lengthy miniseries and even watching it in three parts takes some dedication. It's very much in the feel of the likes of THE BAADER-MEINHOF COMPLEX and MESRINE, with the emphasis on realism throughout, with terrorist attacks carried out in a matter-of-fact way. The writers enjoy exploring the minutiae of the situation, from the various campaigns themselves to Carlos's mindset and way of life. It's an incredibly political film that works as an engaging historical document, putting into clarity the complexities of Western-Arab relations during the 1970s and beyond.
Inevitably the story belongs to Edgar Ramirez (THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM), who makes the film his own as the larger-than-life titular character. But the supporting cast are equally authentic, and there are lots of fine set-pieces. Be warned, though, things do slow down in the last third, where Carlos's fate is played out in almost excruciating slow motion. It takes some sitting thorough, but the experience as a whole is a rewarding one.