31st Jul 2018
Continuity mistake: As the MVD and FBI are together watching the footage of the torture and interrogation of Politovsky, Witherspoon has his hand up on his face. The camera cuts to an angle from behind everybody showing the screen and now his arm is down. It then cuts to a closer shot of him sitting beside Preston and his hand is back up again on his mouth. (00:18:20)
31st Jul 2018
Factual error: When searching for a weapon to use to perform his hit, The Jackal requests a weapon that is identified as a Polish ZSU-33 14.5mm. However what's shown is actually a Browning M2HB mocked up as a KPV heavy machine gun in 14.5mm. Both of these weapons have a fire rate of about 600 rounds per minute. But the film states the Polish has a fire rate of 1400 rounds per minute. Sourse: http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Jackal, _The# .22Polish_ZSU-33_14.5mm .22_.28Browning_M2HB_mocked_up_as_KPV_heavy_machine_gun.29. (00:17:35)
31st Jul 2018
Continuity mistake: When the agents make their move on Politovsky, they fire a rubber ball at his chest to knock him down and stun him. As he hits the ground, his brown bag falls from his hand and slides a few inches away from him. You can see the straps and latches of the cover sticking up in the air from the side of the bag facing up, indicating the bag is facing upwards. When the two men go over to him to grab Politovsky and throw him into the van, you can see the bag is a little closer to him now, and lying face down. (00:14:10)
31st Jul 2018
Continuity mistake: The Jackal takes a drink from his glass and as he looks at it, it's almost completely empty with just a little bit at the bottom. He then tells Terek he wants $70 million to take this job. After Terek agrees, the camera cuts back to Jackal and his glass on the table beside him. His glass is now half full. (00:11:55)
31st Jul 2018
Continuity mistake: When the Jackal and Terek are discussing the terms of his target and payment, the Jackal begins saying how much he wants. His glass on the table next to him is about half full. He continues talking and the camera cuts to a close up, at which point he reaches for and pulls the glass up into view to take a sip. There is now noticeably less liquid in the glass. (00:11:35)
31st Jul 2018
Continuity mistake: Terek comes into the room where the Jackal is staying and pours himself a drink from a bottle. He turns to the Jackal as he is putting the cork back into the bottle and holds it up, asking if he would like a drink. The camera cuts to the Jackal, who speaks in Russian for them to just get to the point. When the camera cuts back to Terek, he's still holding the bottle out in the same position he was, but now the cork is suddenly gone from it. It jump cuts to him turning to set the bottle down, and then suddenly the cork is back in it once more. (00:10:30)
30th Jul 2018
30th Jul 2018
30th Jul 2018
30th Jul 2018
Continuity mistake: After the Major shoots Ghazzi, a wide show shows Preston bent over as he's trying to get up. He's got his right knee forward with his right hand on his knee. It then cuts to a closer shot of him, and suddenly his left knee is now forward and he's picking his hand up off the floor. Also, the soldier behind his extended left arm suddenly vanishes. (00:07:30)
30th Jul 2018
Question: I know that nowadays, the F.B.I. does have operations abroad. However when this film was made 20 years ago showing the F.B.I. operating in Moscow... did the F.B.I. conduct operations outside of the country as depicted? I was under the impression that was the CIA's job.
Answer: Since 1940 (prior to the CIA being established), the FBI have been stationed in various foreign countries. Usually agent don't have the authority to make arrests, however, they can if Congress has granted the FBI extraterritorial jurisdiction and the host country agrees. The FBI establishes attaché offices, commonly known as legats, in foreign cities. In 1993 there were 21 of these offices and the new FBI director, Louis Freeh, wanted more and by 1997 there were 32. So, yes, 20 years ago the FBI conducted operations in foreign countries. I know currently there's a legat in Moscow, although I don't know when it was established. However, given the nature of the film, it's not unreasonable to think the FBI could quickly set up operations in Moscow, if they were not already established there, with no explanations needed since it's already something the FBI does.
Answer: It is the C.I.A's job to conduct foreign investigations. You're right in that respect. Why the FBI is involved is either unexplained or not mentioned.
30th Jul 2018
Continuity mistake: When Ghazzi says "Do you think I'm afraid of the M.V.D?" in the club, you can see various plates and glasses on the table in front of him. To his left, there is a tall beer glass between him and his henchman with a smaller shot glass in front of it. Preston points his finger at him and says that's enough, at which Ghazzi then flips the table. When the camera cuts to an angle behind Ghazzi as he's flipping the table, the tall glass and the shot glass have switched places. (00:06:55)
30th Jul 2018
Question: When Major Koslova confronts Ghazzi in the club, he speaks first with a joke or line of some sort. "What, no kick back this week?" What is that supposed to mean? A google search revealed nothing to me. (00:05:55)
Answer: Kick back means bribe. He's insinuating that he can bribe anyone to look the other way whilst he continues his dealings.
Answer: A "kickback" (one word) could be considered a type of bribe, but more commonly it is an arranged pay-off for some type of business transaction. Someone does something to make money, either legally or illegally, and someone who aids or is in someway useful to them is paid a percentage of the profits.
29th Jul 2018
Continuity mistake: The guy who greeted Ghazzi at the door escorts him and a group of men inside the club and to a table. As he is showing them their seats, he places his hand on the guy's shoulder to his left and nudges him to the table. It then cuts to a closer angle and suddenly he's facing the guy to his right again before he then rubs his nose and then places his hand on the guy's shoulder to his left again to nudge him forward. (00:05:05)
29th Jul 2018
Continuity mistake: After Ghazzi is embraced and greeted at the door, Valentina is watching from a side alleyway. She glances over at the red van where the FBI agents are watching and you see Witherspoon in the passenger seat. It then cuts to a close up and suddenly Witherspoon has his arm up with his hand in front of his face in a thinking pose. (00:04:30)
29th Jul 2018
Continuity mistake: When Ghazzi's car pulls up to the steps of the club in Moscow, you can see the bald bouncer at the door with nobody directly in front of him. The the camera cuts to the door with the bald bouncer there and suddenly the guy smoking a cigarette who greets Ghazzi with a hug just appears. (00:04:05)
29th Jul 2018
Continuity mistake: In the opening scene as Ghazzi's car is about to pull up to the club, they round a corner at an intersection where the camera cuts to a different angle. There is a white van to the right of Ghazzi's car as they turn with nothing behind it, but in the next shot there is suddenly a smaller white vehicle of some sorts visible behind the van. Additionally, a third car appears on the left side, as a red vehicle next to the crowd of people at the club's steps. Thirdly, though it is very difficult to tell due to the shadows of the buildings, it might be that the three people walking past the red car suddenly appear between shots as well. (00:04:00)
Answer: It is stated that the FBI is working with their Russian equivalent, the MVD on a joint operation. The FBI primarily focuses on domestic issues but does on occasion engage in operations outside of the United States with the assistance and in the aid of foreign governments. The CIA would not be the appropriate government agency to handle the operation in the movie because that mission is a law enforcement operation. The CIA is strictly an intelligence gathering organization with no law enforcement authority.
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