was the movie the assignment based on a true story

• Show Spoilers
• Night Vision
• Sticky Header
• Highlight Links

Follow TV Tropes

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/TheAssignment1997

Film / The Assignment (1997)

Edit locked.

A 1997 spy thriller film directed by Christian Duguay , starring Aidan Quinn , Donald Sutherland , and Ben Kingsley .

While on holiday in Jerusalem in 1986, Cuban-American naval officer Annibal Ramirez (Quinn) is detained and roughed up by Israeli intelligence officer Amos (Kingsley). Turns out Annibal is the spitting image of 'Carlos the Jackal' Sanchez, the infamous Venezuelan terrorist who has evaded every attempt to kill or capture him. The mistake is eventually sorted out but, gives Amos an idea. Together with Jack Shaw aka Henry Fields (Sutherland), a CIA operative with his own axe to grind with Carlos, they plan to use Annibal to frame Carlos as a CIA informant, so he will be murdered by his own side.

Not to be confused with the 2016 action movie by Walter Hill .

This movie has the following tropes:

• A former prison is used for Annibal's one-man Spy School . As a child Annibal had to visit his father in a Cuban prison, so this is a deliberate Mind Screw from his trainers.
• Annibal meets Carla in a derelict building in the Dead Sea, where the only furniture is a bed — all that's needed for the training he receives there.
• All Girls Want Bad Boys : In her very first words, Carla spells out what Carlos' appeal to women is. Carlos: The thing about Carlos is... he doesn't lose himself with a woman. A lover is not different to him. He might have a use for them , so he has to seduce them properly, make sure they're so crazy about him that they'll do anything for him. It's not... not pleasure, it's a sick kind of conquest. He'll do anything... he is the perfect lover. He'll do it all, not to please you, but to excite you, to make it dangerous for you. (starts to stroke herself between her thighs) It's very sexy too, to a woman that danger, like he could kill you in a second but instead he makes you come. And it's like he's killed you and there isn't anything left of you and... he makes you be reborn again the way he wants you to be, so there isn't a thought in your brain that he hasn't put there. Not a feeling in your body that he hasn't put there.
• And Your Little Dog, Too! : When Annibal talks of leaving the operation, Shaw says he has no problem using Annibal and his family as The Bait to lure out Carlos. Having already attracted the attention of a terrorist he bumped into by coincidence, Annibal can't afford to ignore the threat.
• Asshole Victim : Annibal sees a father slapping his son for underperforming at baseball. When Annibal tells him to chill out, he gets in Annibal's face and receives a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown . Shaw has to bail him out of jail to continue the mission. Shaw: He was a Baseball Dad — he deserved it!
• Bait-and-Switch : After seeing Carlos in action in Paris 1974 and Vienna 1975, we cut to 1986 with Carlos apparently planning a terror attack in Jerusalem. This turns out to be our protagonist, Annibal Ramirez, playing tourist while his ship is docked in Haifa.
• Annibal and Shaw wear beards and wigs when meeting in an East Berlin café. The KGB use Facial Recognition Software to remove the beards and match their faces with photos of Carlos and known CIA counterterrorism agent Henry Fields. Of course this was the plan all along , and the fake beards only increase the chance that the computer will give a false positive result for Annibal.
• Carlos wears a fake mustache and wig for the Paris bombing.
• Be Careful What You Wish For : After the Libyan disaster Annibal wants to go home and see his family. Then Amos is killed and Annibal is sent home just when he's motivated to go ahead to make Amos's death mean something.
• Becoming the Mask : Annibal is trained to think and act like Carlos, so much so that it starts to affect his normal behaviour.
• Big Fancy House : The East Berlin safehouse used by Carlos and his fellow terrorists. The large grounds make it easy for Annibal to pretend to be leaving or entering as 'Carlos', when he's actually hiding in the surrounding woods.
• Black-and-Gray Morality : Carlos is a thrill-seeking sociopathic terrorist, but Amos has Annibal snatched off the street and held for days without charge, and Shaw is a cynical manipulator so obsessed with catching Carlos he's prepared to destroy Annibal's life and let hostages die in Vienna just for revenge.
• Blofeld Ploy : Carlos wonders out loud who revealed his safehouse in Libya, then cheerfully assures an underling that it couldn't be him, because: "We go way back." (shoots him through back of chair)
• At the start of the movie, Carlos puts out a cigarette on a spider. At the end of the movie Annibal goes to do the same...but stops.
• When told that Carlos has 70 hostages in Vienna, Shaw snaps, "Fuck the hostages!" When a wounded Annibal tells Shaw to leave him and go after Carlos, he snaps, "Fuck Carlos!" and carries Annibal to safety.
• Boom, Headshot! : The first DST agent shot by Annibal; the other is a Cruel and Unusual Death , and another blows up with his car , making it obvious that Annibal has definitely killed them .
• Brief Accent Imitation : Annibal eventually confesses everything to his wife, including his infidelity, then walks out on her to finish the mission, saying in his Carlos voice: "I'm late for work."
• As the Libyan police examine the charred remains of the DST car and the taxi abandoned by Annibal, a van passes by and a KGB agent leans out to take a photo .
• The KGB snap several shots of 'Carlos' meeting a bearded man in an East Berlin pub , and subject them to Facial Recognition Software .
• Camping a Crapper : A terrorist takes Annibal into a Heathrow airport restroom to be interrogated by having his head shoved in a toilet bowl . Fortunately Amos sees him being led off and follows, leading to a Mutual Kill .
• Character Tics : Carlos likes to lower his sunglasses to look at people, a habit that Annibal copies.
• Carlos sends a Japanese terrorist to kill Agnieska, ordering him to exfiltrate via London. While at Heathrow airport, he runs into Annibal who, posing as Carlos, asks the terrorist what he's doing there. As Carlos should already know this, the terrorist does an Impostor-Exposing Test that Annibal fails.
• When Annibal is blaming himself for not having bluffed the Trust Password , Shaw tells him there's no way he could have guessed it, and relates an incident where he killed a man who didn't know the correct countersign: "But not as sticky as two summers ago." When Shaw finds himself confronted by two Carlos's, he uses this phrase to establish which one is Annibal .
• Chekhov's Gunman : Agnieska is introduced bringing Carlos the hand grenade he uses to blow up the café.
• Chekhov's Skill : As part of his spy training, Annibal must enter a mock-up apartment and work out from clues if the woman living there has been cheating on her husband. Later Annibal uses the same technique to establish that Agnieska met someone in the Libyan safehouse before he got there.
• City of Spies : The climax takes place in East Berlin.
• Code Name : On starting Spy School Annibal is given the codename 'Miguel', so he asks if 'Jack Shaw' is also a codename. Shaw claims it's his real name, but he is referred to as 'Henry Fields' by his colleagues and the KGB.
• Confronting Your Imposter : Annibal is still on the grounds of Carlos' safehouse when the KGB launch their assault, so he lays low. But seeing that Carlos is about to escape, he pursues and ends up fighting Carlos hand-to-hand. Carlos: (staring) Who Are You? Annibal: I'm you, motherfucker. (headbutts Carlos)
• Contrived Coincidence : Annibal just happens to be identical with one of the most notorious terrorists in the world, arrested after being mistaken for him then recruited by the CIA. On top of that, he's also Latin American and even has the same last name, Ramirez. Since he's a US citizen and Navy officer, this makes his recruitment far easier.
• Cruel and Unusual Death : Annibal shoots a DST agent who falls screaming off a roof onto several power lines and goes up in a blaze of sparks.
• Darkest Hour : Annibal is feeling guilty because he killed four agents from his own side. Then Amos gets killed after a terrorist spots Annibal at Heathrow so the operation is suspended by the CIA Director pending review, making it look like it's been All for Nothing .
• Dark and Troubled Past : Annibal's father was imprisoned in Cuba.
• A Darker Me : The secondary purpose of his training is to bring this out of Annibal, replacing the rules-bound naval officer with someone more like Carlos.
• Dark Side : Shaw even quotes from The Empire Strikes Back . "How do you stand this shit Annibal? I mean they're all so fuckin' constipated. [snip] You don't belong to them. You belong to me. Remember what Darth Vader said to Luke, "Come over to the Dark Side"? Come over, Annibal. You have no idea of the power we have."
• Disappeared Dad : Carlos' father abandoned his family for a playboy lifestyle, and Amos advises Annibal to use his feelings about his own father (see Dark and Troubled Past ) to empathise with Carlos and become him.
• Dissonant Serenity : When told there might be another two months training (though this might be another psychological ploy), Annibal blows his stack and insists he can take any test they can think up. So that night Amos and Shaw spike his food with LSD . Amos worries they might have gone too far, but they find Annibal the next morning with his feet up on the table , dressed and groomed and ready to go to the next stage.
• Dodge by Braking : Annibal is in a stolen taxi that's falling apart under the abuse, being pursued by DST gunmen. He drives down a stairway halfway then pulls on the handbrake and ducks — the car behind hits the back of his own, flips over and bursts into flame .
• Don't Call Me "Sir" : At the start of his training, Shaw tells Annibal to stop calling him sir because it gives away the fact that he's military.
• Double Entendre Annibal: I have everything I want to eat, right in front of me. (goes down on Agnieska)
• Eiffel Tower Effect : The movie opens with two kids urinating on the cobblestones, then a crane shot pulls up to show a view of 1970's Paris including the Eiffel Tower. Apart from this however the trope is avoided, using Scene Shift Caption instead.
• Empathic Environment : Annibal goes home to his family on a bright sunny day. That night it's raining and he gets into a shouting match with his wife.
• External Combustion : We hear a car start before it explodes in a ball of fire.
• Faking the Dead : The Ramirez family get into their car which explodes into a ball of fire and an Empathy Doll Shot . Carlos gets a newspaper clipping announcing their deaths. After a funeral that Shaw attends, we see Annibal watching his family playing on the beach.
• Fire-Forged Friends : Annibal with both Amos and Shaw.
• Foil : Carlos is described as a superman compared to rules-bound, Happily Married family man Annibal. Amos: Carlos is the opposite, that's what makes him so seductive, you know? He can kill whoever he chooses, ravish whoever he chooses, take whatever he chooses, do whatever he chooses.
• Foregone Conclusion : Carlos will obviously survive as he was caught in 1994 and is currently serving multiple life sentences in a French prison.
• Fresh Clue : In the Sherlock Scan exercise, the milk in the fridge is only slightly off, indicating that it's been replaced recently and hasn't been sitting there a week.
• Annibal kills four French agents escaping the DST trap in Libya.
• In the climax, Shaw mistakes Annibal for Carlos and gleefully puts several shots into him.
• Annibal deliberately knocks over various objects while fleeing through a Jeruselum marketplace to slow his pursuers down.
• The DST do a drive-by shooting of the contents of a Libyan market stall.
• Gallows Humor : As Amos is dying, Annibal jokes that he can't die yet as he never got around to suing him.
• Gambit Pileup : Annibal gets caught in a trap set by the French DST to catch the real Carlos. Shaw: How could we know? It was their operation and they didn't tell us about it. I mean, we sure as shit didn't tell them about you.
• Gender-Blender Name : Annibal has this problem as his name sounds like "Annabelle". When the Baseball Dad makes a snide comment about it, Annibal has him Talk to the Fist .
• Going by the Matchbook : During the Sherlock Scan exercise, a matchbook in the rubbish bin tips off Annibal that his fictional wife met someone in a bar.
• Good Smoking, Evil Smoking : Carlos smokes, so Annibal has to as well. His wife is not happy. Maura: You started smoking again? Annibal: Yeah, I'll be doing heroin soon.
• Grenade Hot Potato : In the Paris bombing, Carlos can be heard counting down after pulling the pin on his grenade before throwing it into the café. After taking hostages in Vienna, he trolls one of them by fiddling with a hand grenade as if he doesn't know how to use it, pulling the pin, then tossing the grenade to the terrorist guarding the door, who throws it outside at the police who've just shown up.
• Hallucinations : For his final test, Amos and Shaw spike Annibal's food with LSD. The subsequent trip includes Talking to Themself (as naval officer, resentful spy trainee, and Annibal-Carlos), Dark and Troubled Past (visiting his father in a Cuban prison as a child) and parental fears (Carlos playing baseball with Annibal's son...using a grenade).
• The Handler : Shaw for Annibal.
• Annibal is introduced to their Mossad liaison, who turns out to be Amos. Annibal refuses to shake his hand because he's still pissed about what happened in Israel.
• Played for drama during the Vienna airport scene (see Nothing Up My Sleeve ).
• Heartbeat Soundtrack : When Annibal is being questioned by a Libyan customs officer on his first mission.
• Hero Stole My Bike : While escaping from the DST, Annibal carjacks a taxi, throwing the driver out onto the street where he barely avoids getting hit by another vehicle.
• High-Dive Escape : Carlos dives from a balcony into the Spree River to escape the KGB. Annibal dives right after him.
• Hyper-Awareness : Carlos has this ability, picking up even the smallest out of place details in a location, which Annibal is taught to double him.
• Identical Stranger : Annibal and Carlos aren't related at all; they're from completely different countries.
• Impostor-Exposing Test : While buying duty free cigarettes at Heathrow Airport, Annibal is approached by a Japanese terrorist that Carlos sent to kill Agnieska. Terrorist: (quietly) What are you doing here? Annibal: (in Carlos voice) Buying cigarettes. What are you doing here? Terrorist: (politely) Excuse me, sir, I only wanted to know where I can get a newspaper? Annibal: Libya, quite a tragedy. (leaning close) I told you never to address me in public! Over by the phone booth and wait; I'll come to you. (goes to leave) Terrorist: Excuse me, sir. (jams carry bag concealing a gun into Annibal's ribs) I asked... if you knew... where I can get a newspaper. ( Oh, Crap! look on Annibal's face) You make the slightest move, and I shoot. And I don't miss.
• Indy Ploy : Subverted; Annibal is able to fool an ex-girlfriend of Carlos because he's had months to prepare. When he tries to wing it at Heathrow Airport, it doesn't work.
• Insane Troll Logic : Annibal points out the idiocy of training in snowy Canada to catch someone who's in the Middle East.
• Institutional Allegiance Concealment : Annibal is travelling in mufti while on leave in Israel, and ditches his dogtags and ID while being chased by men he assumes are Arab terrorists. Amos doesn't believe that he's a US Navy officer until one of his men finds Annibal's bag, and even then the Israelis hold him for three days until they're absolutely sure he's not Carlos.
• It's Not You, It's My Enemies : Even though he wants to sort out the mess he's made of his home life, Annibal must leave to continue the mission because his family will never be safe as long as Carlos is alive.
• It's Personal : In 1974 while Shaw was sitting outside a Paris café, he was recognised by Carlos who borrowed a light off him , then proceeded to the balcony above and threw a hand grenade into the crowd. Shaw survived the attack, but was humiliated by having missed one of Europe's most wanted men when he was literally right under his nose .
• Just a Stupid Accent : When he's snatched off the street by the Israelis, Annibal thinks he's been kidnapped by terrorists so exaggerates his Cuban accent so they won't realise he's an American officer.
• Karma Houdini : Averted in the long run; Carlos escapes both the CIA and KGB, but is now persona non grata in both East and West. Without a sanctuary, he's eventually captured in 1994.
• Lady Drunk : Carla is introduced swigging directly from the bottle, which she then rolls across the floor to Annibal so he can take a drink too. Given that she was betrayed by the man she idolized, is now working for her former enemies, and is about to have sex with a man who is the spitting image of her ex-lover so he can kill Carlos , one imagines she has a lot to drink about .
• Latex Perfection : Annibal skillfully uses this for the risky first meeting with an ex-lover of Carlos. She enters the safehouse in Libya only to be grabbed by a bald-headed man in a mustache who threatens to kill her (and other things ) if she doesn't reveal where Carlos is. Agnieska denies knowing anyone of that name, whereupon the man peels off a latex headpiece and removes his fake moustache to reveal a smiling 'Carlos'. As such mind games are entirely in character for him, she's entirely willing to believe it's done to test her loyalty , instead of a trick to make her less able to see one impersonation behind the other .
• Latin Lover : Carlos is always shown either in bed with a woman, or with an attractive female terrorist among his entourage.
• Leave No Man Behind : When Amos is shot, he tells Annibal to leave him to die alone because it will be All for Nothing if Annibal's cover is blown. After being shot Annibal urges Shaw to leave him and chase after Carlos, but Shaw finally puts aside his vendetta and carries him to safety.
• Lie Back and Think of England : Being Happily Married , Annibal isn't as glad as he should be that the next stage of his training involves having sex with a beautiful French ex-lover of Carlos. Shaw: Don't think of it as cheating on your wife, think of it as... fucking for your flag. Amos: [mock gravitas] When in doubt, close your eyes. Think of England.
• Manipulative Bastard : Shaw turns up at a US Navy ball and proceeds to push Annibal's buttons, looking for a weakness. Does he resent the Gilded Cage of a career Navy officer? Is he attracted by the freedom and power of a spy? His country needed him and he Refused the Call ; wouldn't that look bad on his personnel file? None of it works, until Shaw has Annibal brought to the bedside of a boy the same age as his son injured by a bomb that Carlos planted. Annibal later realises the whole thing was just a performance for his benefit.
• Married to the Job : Shaw: I don't have any family, I don't have any friends, and I think the only people who mattered to me are the ones that I killed. And you.
• Mistaken Nationality : An admiral goes on about how good it is that Mexican-American officers are coming up through the ranks, until Maura politely informs him that they are, in fact, Cuban-American.
• Modesty Bedsheet : Gender-inverted; the women are shown fully naked while Carlos or Annibal is the one whose groin is always hidden by the sheet. The Fanservice Extra with Carlos does however cover herself with the sheet in a hurry when one of his goons walks into the bedroom .
• Mutual Kill : Amos and the Japanese terrorist shoot each other at the same time.
• Annibal after shooting a French agent in the face. It quickly goes From Bad to Worse as the DST keep attacking and he has to kill several more to survive.
• Annibal sees a man slapping his own son during baseball practice. When the man gets in his face Annibal beats him up, then realizes his own son has witnessed this.
• Shaw misses Carlos when he's right in front of him in Paris.
• The protagonists trigger a trap to catch the real Carlos, causing the death of several agents of an allied country.
• Annibal tries to pose as Carlos when he encounters a terrorist at Heathrow airport. He's quickly exposed and Amos gets killed saving him.
• Annibal is drowning Carlos in the river when Shaw turns up and shoots Annibal, mistaking him for Carlos despite knowing that Annibal is in the area.
• Carlos throws a grenade into a Paris café. The explosion breaks a gas line which blows up the entire building.
• Annibal shoots a French agent who then falls off the roof onto powerlines which go up in a blaze of sparks, making it really clear to Annibal that he killed the guy .
• Carlos sends the Japanese terrorist to kill his ex-girlfriend for turning informer. Agnieska is shot in the head as she's leaving a building with her DST guards, then a nearby car bomb blows everyone up.
• No One Gets Left Behind : Annibal has to abandon Amos to die in an airport restroom, rather than compromise the operation. When Annibal is shot in the climax he urges Shaw to leave him and go after Carlos, but Shaw carries him to safety instead, saying Carlos is as good as dead anyway.
• Nothing Up My Sleeve : Shaw plans to kill Carlos during the hostage exchange at Vienna airport, using a mechanical device that launches a derringer into his hand. But as Shaw reaches out to Carlos, the CIA station chief shouts for him to stop—Carlos instinctively levels his submachine gun at Shaw, so he doesn't dare move. The station chief, unaware of Shaw's intentions, says, "You don't want to have your picture taken shaking his hand."
• Not Right in the Bed : Since Annibal will have to interact and likely sleep with Agnieska, the CIA has to actually work to avert this trope. So Carla, an ex-girlfriend of Carlos who is now under Israeli protection, instructs Annibal in Carlos' domineering sexual technique. However Annibal's wife Maura becomes suspicious when he starts using what he's learnt in their lovemaking.
• "Not So Different" Remark : Annibal: (to Shaw) YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO CARLOS IS? YOU TAKE A GOOD LOOK IN THE FUCKING MIRROR!
• Not What It Looks Like : Annibal gets snatched off the street in Jerusalem — turns out the Arab men who grabbed him are working for Mossad, and they've mistaken him for Carlos planning his next terrorist act.
• Amos when he's handed Annibal's dogtags and US Navy ID card.
• Annibal when told he's going to Libya. This is just a few years after the first Gulf of Sidra incident, so for a US naval officer in The '80s it would be like walking into Mordor .
• "WHO DID YOU MEET WITH?" "The French Secret Service. The DST."
• Annibal in Heathrow when he's asked for a countersign that he doesn't know.
• Annibal pretends to leave the Big Fancy House that Carlos has, meets with Shaw where he'll be photographed by the KGB, then returns to the house and hides in the woods outside. Unfortunately, the KGB turn up in force before he has a chance to slip away.
• Shaw empties his gun into the man he thinks is Carlos…and then a second Carlos appears and he realises he might have made a terrible mistake.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business : Annibal shouts down his wife when she accuses him of infidelity, and beats up another father at baseball practise.
• The Only One : Justified as a Doppelgänger to a famous terrorist, who also happens to be an officer of your own country, is not exactly common. Shaw: The governments of most of the countries of the Free World have been trying to get Carlos for the past ten years. And they have come up with absolutely nothing. Because there's really only one way to get him. Which is to say there is exactly one person in the whole world, who can get him.
• Overt Operative : Shaw is recognised by Carlos in Paris; unfortunately Carlos is disguised so Shaw doesn't recognise him until it's too late. Shaw: We are both very well known in this business.
• Papa Bear : When Shaw threatens to let Carlos know where his family is, Annibal threatens to kill him , and slaps aside the pistol that Shaw draws regardless of the danger.
• Pull the Thread : While in the safehouse in Libya, Annibal notices an unfiltered cigarette in the rubbish bin — Agnieska only smokes filtered cigarettes. On being confronted Agnieska says that she went to the café to buy food and bummed a cigarette off someone there. To her relief 'Carlos' appears to buy this...but he then realises that the nearest café is two blocks away and she would have finished and thrown away the cigarette before then.
• Refused the Call : When Shaw first approaches Annibal, he's more interested in suing the Israeli government than going on some looney James Bond mission. Shaw proceeds to push every button he can find on Annibal until he finds the one that works.
• Revenge Before Reason : Shaw is obsessed with catching Carlos after his humiliation in Paris. However after accidentally shooting Annibal he comes to his senses and helps him to safety instead of pursuing Carlos when urged to.
• Rogue Agent : Shaw is reminded that the CIA is not in the assassination business any more, but is willing to kill Carlos in Vienna regardless.
• Roofhopping : Annibal escapes from the Libyan safehouse by leaping to a balcony on the opposite side of the street and fleeing across the rooftops. When he gets down to the ground however, he finds the DST haven't given up the chase.
• Shaw tries to goad the straight-laced Annibal into this trope.
• There's a Record Needle Scratch on a gramophone player just as the KGB are about to kick down Carlos' door. Everyone freezes until they hear Carlos continue talking inside.
• Sex God : Played With . Carla comments that Carlos was very skilled in bed, but he's an egomaniac who only pleasures women for his own ego. He was also physically and emotionally manipulative even during sex, and she basically describes his " appeal " as a Fetishized Abuser . She clearly resents having enjoyed sex with him as much as she did.
• Sexual Karma : Since Annibal will have to sleep with Carlos's girlfriend while pretending to be him , he has to learn to have sex like Carlos did in order not to make the girlfriend suspicious . So he has Carla, an ex-girlfriend of Carlos, instruct him on it, and she makes it clear Carlos is a skilled lover , but also a domineering and aggressive one who's into Erotic Asphyxiation . By contrast, Annibal is Happily Married and has a healthy and vanilla relationship with his wife Maura (and loathes to have to cheat on her for the mission). When he has sex with her using the aggressive sexual technique Carla taught him, she doesn't enjoy it and tells him to stop as he's hurting her, with the implication only "bad" girls enjoys "bad" sex .
• Sexy Discretion Shot : Annibal's and Carla's "sex training" cuts away just as he starts going down on her.
• Sherlock Scan : Carlos is able to find anything that doesn't belong simply by looking around a room, and Annibal learns how too (e.g. the leftover ash from another man's cigarette in the garbage).
• Shooting Gallery : Annibal takes part in an exercise that tests both his memory and shooting skills. He walks through a graveyard and when his trainer calls out a name, he turns towards the gravestone engraved with that name, behind which is hiding another man armed with a paintball gun shooting back at him.
• Shoulders-Up Nudity : When Annibal strips down at Carla's request, the camera stays just above his waistline.
• Slap-Slap-Kiss : An Invoked Trope . Carla tells Annibal to take off his clothes so she can teach him how Carlos makes love. Carla: [looking down] You're smaller than him . Annibal: [awkward laugh] Really... Carla: [slap] That's what he would have done if I had said something like that. Without a moment's hesitation. What's wrong with you? No eres ni hombre! [She goes to slap him again — Annibal hits first knocking Carla across the room.] Annibal: Look I--I'm sorry, I-- Carla: Shut up! Come to me, come on...kiss where you hit. [Annibal tries to kiss her lips — she turns her face away] Kiss where the blood is. Spread it on my lips so I taste it...
• Slasher Smile : Carlos grins at Shaw from the café balcony before throwing a grenade into the crowd below.
• Something Only They Would Say : Annibal proves his identity to Shaw when he says "awfully warm for this time of year", to which Annibal replies "but not as sticky as two summers ago". These are the two halves of a code phrase that was part of an assignment from long ago that his handler mentioned in conversation.
• Spies In a Van : DST and KGB surveillance teams are shown operating from vans, though the KGB men outside the East Berlin safehouse are crammed into a Lada.
• Spot the Imposter : While passing through Heathrow Airport, Annibal is approached by a Japanese terrorist who knows Carlos. Annibal makes the mistake of posing as Carlos instead of himself, but realizes too late he's been given a codephrase to which he doesn't know the countersign. Afterwards Shaw mentions a similar incident where he killed a contact who didn't have the countersign, and later uses this story to tell the difference between Annibal and Carlos in the climax.
• Spy's Suspicious Spouse : Justified; her husband really is cheating on her. She assumes his altered behavior is due to stress from working on a submarine (Annibal's cover story for being out of contact for so long).
• Suddenly Shouting Carlos: You want to go? Let's go. (tying shoes) I want to be interrogated. (throws bra in mook's face) I demand— (picks up SMG hidden under clothes and opens fire) TO BE INTERROGATEEEED!
• Superpowered Evil Side : Before he goes into Libya, Amos gives Annibal some advice. "When you look in the mirror, I don't want you to find Annibal Ramirez: find Carlos. Cause if you find Carlos that's what everyone else will find too. And if you find Carlos and anything goes wrong, he's the only one who can get you out of it, because he's the best at what he does."
• Throw Down the Bomblet : While being chased on foot by DST agents driving a car, Annibal drops a live grenade onto the pavement and lets them drive over it.
• Training from Hell : The training is designed to push Annibal to his limit both physically and psychologically — not only to teach Annibal how to survive when he doesn't have the massive support structure of the US Navy behind him, but to force him out of his comfort zone and into the mindset of a wanted terrorist.
• Training Montage : Though the improvement takes a while.
• Trust Password : "But not as sticky as two summers ago."
• Tuxedo and Martini : When turning down the assignment, Annibal suggests to Shaw that James Bond would be a more appropriate recruit. In the next scene, Annibal and his wife go to a Navy ball and run into Shaw wearing a tux.
• Uriah Gambit : The Plan is to frame Carlos as a paid informant for the CIA, so he will be killed by the KGB.
• Wax On, Wax Off : Played with; Annibal is given exercises to improve his memory, driving, situational analysis and shooting skills, but the plan itself is only explained to him once he's reached a certain level of proficiency. Meanwhile he's fed porridge (and nothing else) until he's sick of it and losing weight. He has Amos blowing cigar smoke in his face , and Shaw trying to run him over with remote-controlled snowmobiles. Turns out the purpose is to Teach Him Anger ; not only his own but that of his target — Carlos grew up eating the same porridge and tells everyone he meets how much he hated it and the smell of his father's cigars. He was also underfed as a child and clumsy at sports, feelings that Annibal can now empathise with .
• As the commandos are climbing the walls, their boss turns up at the gate as if for a routine visit. As he leaves his car and goes over to the gatehouse, a commando shoots the guard with a silenced pistol and the KGB boss continues inside without breaking stride .
• A KGB commando raps on the window. As the terrorists inside grab their guns and turn to the window to fire, other commandos hiding by the door shoot them In the Back .
• On being confronted by the KGB who order him to get dressed and come with them for interrogation, Carlos does so while contemptuously throwing ladies underwear in their faces...then grabbing a submachine gun hidden under the clothes.
• Annibal spends most of the Chase Scene in a blood-splattered white shirt after he Boom Headshots a man at point-blank range.
• Carlos later shoots a minion he believes is an informer, with the exit wound appearing on a white undershirt.
• Woman Scorned : Carla is helping the Israelis kill Carlos because her former lover set her up to be killed by carrying a bomb onto an airplane .
• You Can Never Leave : Having put so much work into Annibal, Shaw is not going to let him walk away from the mission. He's even willing to use Annibal's family as The Bait to lure Carlos if that's what it takes.
• Your Approval Fills Me with Shame : Shaw: The French made it perfect for us. The KGB now think you're Carlos. They took the bait! Annibal: You fucking maniac . Jack, I-killed-four-men! (as Jack looks away) HEY, I DON'T LIKE KILLING OUR FUCKING ALLIES, ALL RIGHT? Amos: Policemen wind up killing other policemen. It happens. I'd rather have you here feeling guilty about them than to know that there's some meeting in Paris with them all sitting around feeling guilty about you. Shaw: You did what you had to do, and it worked. Carlos himself couldn't have done any better.
• Sony Pictures Classics
• Creator/Sony Pictures
• As Good as It Gets
• Films of 1995–1999
• Babes in Toyland
• Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
• AmericanFilms/A to C
• The Assignment (2016)
• Spy Fiction
• Atomic Blonde
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
• MediaNotes/Restricted Rating
• The Art of War
• Canadian Movies
• Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner

Important Links

• Action Adventure
• Commercials
• Crime & Punishment
• Professional Wrestling
• Speculative Fiction
• Sports Story
• Animation (Western)
• Music And Sound Effects
• Print Media
• Sequential Art
• Tabletop Games
• Applied Phlebotinum
• Characterization
• Characters As Device
• Narrative Devices
• British Telly
• The Contributors
• Creator Speak
• Derivative Works
• Laws And Formulas
• Show Business
• Split Personality
• Truth And Lies
• Truth In Television
• Fate And Prophecy
• Edit Reasons
• Isolated Pages
• Images List
• Recent Videos
• Crowner Activity
• Un-typed Pages
• Recent Page Type Changes
• Trope Entry
• Character Sheet
• Playing With
• Creating New Redirects
• Cross Wicking
• Tips for Editing
• Text Formatting Rules
• Handling Spoilers
• Administrivia
• Trope Repair Shop
• Image Pickin'

Advertisement:

The Assignment

With action set in the U.S., Canada, France, Libya and Israel, "The Assignment" has the makings of a vintage international spy thriller, but the story of American and Israeli agents trying to entrap notorious real-life terrorist Carlos (The Jackal) Sanchez comes off disappointingly flat. As usual, Montreal helmer Christian Duguay delivers all kinds of eye-catching visuals and crackerjack suspense sequences.

By Brendan Kelly

Brendan Kelly

• Bell Canada Buys Astral Media, Becoming TV’s Top Dog North of the Border 11 years ago
• Canada Pubcaster: Identity Crisis in Two Languages 11 years ago
• Tax Incentive Helps Montreal Become Videogame Central 11 years ago

With action set in the U.S., Canada, France, Libya and Israel, “The Assignment” has the makings of a vintage international spy thriller, but the story of American and Israeli agents trying to entrap notorious real-life terrorist Carlos (The Jackal) Sanchez comes off disappointingly flat. As usual, Montreal helmer Christian Duguay delivers all kinds of eye-catching visuals and crackerjack suspense sequences. But the less-than-inspired script takes way too long to get into high gear and simply doesn’t dispense the requisite amount of thrilling moments. The film remains a reasonably entertaining suspenser, but it will be a challenge for Triumph to attract a substantial audience given pic’s lack of marquee star power and the crowded action marketplace. B.O. will likely be better overseas and in the video market.

Popular on Variety

The evil Jackal is first introduced in a flashback to early 1970s Paris, where the longhaired killer Carlos (Aidan Quinn) is shown tossing a grenade into a crowded cafe. CIA operative Jack Shaw (Donald Sutherland) just happens to be sitting outside the exploding coffee shop and, after seeing the effects of Carlos’ nasty handiwork, Shaw vows to hunt down and destroy the terrorist any way he can.

Globetrotting tale then jumps forward 15 years to mid-’80s Jerusalem, where squeaky-clean U.S. naval officer Annibal Ramirez (also Quinn) is on vacation. He is picked up and interrogated by Israeli intelligence agents after Mossad commander Amos (Ben Kingsley) becomes convinced that Ramirez is, in fact, the dreaded Carlos. It appears that the upstanding naval veteran and the murdering terrorist look remarkably similar.

The mix-up is eventually ironed out, and Ramirez heads back home to Norfolk, Va. In the meantime, Shaw has somehow heard about this guy who is practically the identical twin of his arch-nemesis, and he heads to Ramirez’s home to convince the naval officer to impersonate Carlos in an elaborate scheme to reel in the Jackal. Thanks to some heavy-duty strong-arming from Shaw, the initially reluctant Ramirez gives in and accepts the risky assignment.

Then it’s off to Montreal for some rigorous, downright strange training overseen by Shaw and Amos, with Ramirez learning to dodge oncoming snowmobiles, shooting blanks at people, eating dozens of bowls of porridge each day and ingesting hallucinatory drugs. The far-fetched plan is to make the KGB, which is sheltering Carlos in Libya, believe that Carlos is about to switch sides and go over to the CIA. Once they discover this, the Russians will presumably bump off Carlos themselves.

Ramirez meets an old g.f. of Carlos’, Carla (Celine Bonnier), and Shaw and Amos force him to have sex with the sultry woman just so he’ll pick up a few tips about Carlos’ macho style in the sack. After that, he is ready to hook up with another old Carlos g.f., Agnieska (Liliana Komorowska), in a crucial part of the sting.

A key problem here is the length of time it takes for story to reach optimum cruising speed. After nearly an hour, Ramirez is still in training at a dilapidated penitentiary and has not even hit the road to try to draw Carlos from his lair. Duguay, who showcased a sure hand with energetic thrills ‘n’ spills in his previous feature, “Screamers,” once again shows he is a fine action helmer, with various high-adrenaline chase and shootout sequences. But the tale is simply not strong enough to perk up interest, and scripters Dan Gordon and Sabi H. Shabtai have not provided enough character development to compensate for the lackluster pacing.

Quinn is the best of the leads, giving some much-needed depth to his portrayal of the goody-two-shoes career naval officer who discovers his own dark demons while impersonating Carlos. Sutherland hardly breathes any life into his role, and Kingsley is equally uninspired.

Duguay, a former cinematographer, and lenser David Franco give the pic a great look and know exactly how to shoot the fast-paced action scenes. All other tech credits are first-rate.

• Production: A Triumph Films release of an Allegro Films production, with the participation of the Quebec and the Canadian governments. (International sales: Columbia TriStar, Culver City.) Produced by Tom Berry, Franco Battista. Executive producers, David Saunders, Joseph Newton Cohen. Co-producer, Stefan Wodoslawsky. Directed by Christian Duguay. Screenplay, Dan Gordon, Sabi H. Shabtai.
• Crew: Camera (color), David Franco; editor, Yves Langlois; music, Normand Corbeil; production design, Michael Joy; art direction, James Fox; costumes, Ada Levin; digital effects, Richard Ostiguy; sound, Thierry Morlaas-Lurbe; assistant director, David McLeod; casting, Mary Margiotta, Karen Margiotta, Lucie Robitaille. Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival (Gala), Sept. 9, 1997. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 115 MIN.
• With: Annibal Ramirez/Carlos - Aidan Quinn Jack Shaw/Henry Fields - Donald Sutherland Amos - Ben Kingsley Maura Ramirez - Claudia Ferri Carla - Celine Bonnier KGB Head Officer - Vlasta Vrana Agnieska - Liliana Komorowska With: Von Flores, Al Waxman, Mitchell David Rothpan, Gregory Hlady, Gabriel Marian Oseciuc, Frederic Desager, Kliment Denchev, Yonathan Gordon, Ndiouga Sarr, Manuel Aranguiz, Leni Parker.

More From Our Brands

Alito refuses to recuse: ‘my wife is fond of flying flags’, rare bottles of american whiskey from pappy to weller are heading to auction, dick’s sporting goods stock surges amid positive outlook, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, loot’s maya rudolph, nat faxon talk molly and arthur’s [spoiler] and that major season 2 finale cliffhanger, verify it's you, please log in.

The Assignment

Film details, brief synopsis, cast & crew, christian duguay, aidan quinn, donald sutherland, ben kingsley, claudia ferri, celine bonnier, technical specs.

Cuban-American navel officer Annibal Ramirez is a dead ringer for Carlos "The Jackal" Sanchez. His features are so close to those of Sanchez that he is brutally interrogated as a terrorist while on vacation in Israel. American counter-intellegence agent Jack Shaw and his Israeli counterpart Amos realize they can use Ramirez as bait for "The Jackal." Wanting to serve his country, Ramirez is unsure he can survive the physical and psychological trials he must endure to become like Sanchez. By the end of the training, however, Ramirez knows Sanchez better than anyone alive and enters the world as "The Jackal."

Vlasta Vrana

Liliana komorowska, mitchell david rothpan, gregory hlady, gabriel marian oseciuc, frederic desager, kliment denchev, yonathan gordon, ndiouga sarr, manuel aranguiz, leni parker, jacques lavallée, david francis, daniel pilon, richard jutras, hisham zayed, ted whittall, francis del vecchio, lisa wegner, lucie laurier, neil kroetsch, matthew dupuis, paul stewart, claude genest, michael caloz, david franco, heinz becker, louis bouchard, mark knoeffel, andres lange, martin morf, marcello adatto, benoit alarie, francois allard, pierre allard, alec anderson, michael annett, georges archambault, itzik ben aroya, henri aubertin, jean-paul auclair, nancy auclair, cheryl bainum, mihaly balasko, sandor balo, gyula balogh, itzhak bareli, krisztina barkoczky, franco battista, marc h beaulieu, louise bedard, benoit begin, marc bélanger, novek belanger, richard belanger, caroline beliveau, jocelyne bellemare, christian bergeron, sylvain bergevin, josee bernard, jacques f bernier, michel bernier, mickey binyamini, brian black, andras bogdan, jean boivin, michel bolduc, michel b bordeleau, philippe bosse, diane boucher, virginie boudreau, claude boulet, mary bradley, anderson chet bradshaw, cecile braemer, karoly braunner, michel brohez, michel brouillette, joseph lang browns, joseanne brunelle, frances calder, andrew d campbell, jean-francois campeau, helene canse, alain caporicci, johanne caporicci, annie carignan, claudine carpentier, tim j carroll, denis caspar, yves castonguay, jason cavalier, michel cerro, guylaine chagnon, stephane charron, jean chasse, jozsef cirko, steve clark, steven clark, alain clouatre, guy cloutier, gary coates, joseph n cohen, didier communaux, stephane connolly, sam coppola, normand corbeil, ryal cosgrove, francis covan, mike cozons, donna croce, gabor csakovics, zsolt csutak, denise d'amours, francois daignault, louis dandonneau, gary daprato, james darling, luc deguise, jean-yves denis, louise deschenes, marc desourdy, melina dicristo, robert ditchburn, kristen dolenko, jacques dorion, marion doucet, pascal dufaux, gina duhamel, paul dupont, yanick dusseault, john dykstra, bram eisenthal, shimon elimelech, zsolt feher, attila feherhegyi, bruno ferland, deak ferrand, natalie fleurant, raoul fortin, martin fournier, charlene francique, sassi franco, monika frankl, mario fraser, rene frechette, michel frenette, zoltan fulop, yiftach gabai, daniel gagnon, francine gagnon, sylvie gagnon, paul-emile gallant, gilbert garcia, jean-francois garcia, patrick garcia, benoit gauthier, francois gauthier, michel gauvin, sebastien gervais, nimi getter, michel ghorayeb, michel ghoyareb, stephen gilbert, natalie ginat, suzanne gingras, manon girard, moshe gissis, johnny goar, shai goldenberg, francois gosselin, melany goudreau, anne grandbois, jennifer-lys grenier, naama halperin, johnny harkala, avidan hatuka, terry hawkins, claude hazanavicius, simon hebert, r j henning, roger hewett, mark hoffman, julie houle, monika hufnagel, daniel huysman, france hyman, silvi imbeault, yehuda sar israel, pierric jouvante, michael joy, daniel juneau, boaz katzenelson, nick kerridge, shabtai kimhi, yaacov kimmelfeld, bobe kiraly, attila kiss, pini klavir, michael konydes, daria korolus, agota kovacs, balazs kovacs, gabor kovacs, tamas krausz, yohannan kredo, maurice krouche, brigitte labelle, helene lafrance, eric lafrance st-pierre, stephen laidlaw, miscellaneous notes.

Released in United States Fall September 26, 1997

Limited Release in United States September 26, 1997

Released in United States on Video March 17, 1998

Based upon a true story.

Completed shooting June 27, 1996.

Began shooting February 11, 1996.

Sign Up now to stay up to date with all of the latest news from TCM.

Your Browser is Not Supported

To view this content, please use one of the following compatible browsers:

Safari v11+

Firefox Quantum

Microsoft Edge

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Real-Life Heroes on YouTube for Tweens and Teens

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

The assignment, common sense media reviewers.

Violent thriller irresponsibly tackles transgender themes.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Gender reassignment surgery is portrayed as an exp

Main character Frank is a hired killer who commits

Gender reassignment surgery, which can be life-aff

Brutal shootings/killings. Blood sprays/spurts. De

Full-frontal male and female nudity. Sex scene wit

Frequent strong language includes "f--k," "f--king

Brands of hormone tablets Premarin and Prevara are

Secondary character snorts cocaine on-screen. Scen

Parents need to know that The Assignment is an action/thriller with an irresponsibly handled topic at its core: The main character, an assassin, is given gender reassignment surgery against his will, changing his body from male to female. The content is extremely mature, including graphic nudity (male and…

Positive Messages

Gender reassignment surgery is portrayed as an experiment and punishment performed against someone's will. The film suggests that revenge can be warranted, offering satisfaction after trauma. However, glimpses of empathy can be found in the darkest of moments.

Positive Role Models

Main character Frank is a hired killer who commits violent acts and seeks revenge after being the victim of non-consensual gender-reassignment surgery. Frank generally shows little regard for others' lives but does have a strong determination to survive and extends empathy toward a dog and a character he has grown to care for, despite her double-crossing behavior. Dr. Rachel Jane puts scientific discovery before others' suffering, cruelly experimenting on unhoused people. She's arrogant and vengeful and shows no remorse for her actions.

Diverse Representations

Gender reassignment surgery, which can be life-affirming (if not life-saving) for individuals, is portrayed here as non-consensual and experimental, used as a punishment. Frank tries to get his surgery reversed, saying he thought it's what he wanted, which plays into damaging narratives about people changing their minds about surgery. Pre-surgery Frank is played by cisgender female actor Michelle Rodriguez in a mustache, beard, and chest plate, and she puts on a deep voice. Post-surgery Frank has a relationship with a woman; during sex, he says "I'll do what I can," implying that intimacy between two female bodies is somehow lesser than heterosexual sex. Offensive moments include a male doctor asking a female doctor whether she commits crimes because she didn't have a good sex life. Female bodies are sexualized, including Frank using his naked breasts to distract other men. A psychiatric hospital is referred to as the "nut house." Racist language is used toward a Chinese character, including "chinky" and "Chinaman." There's some ethnic diversity within the cast -- Rodriguez is Dominican-Puerto Rican and there are actors of Chinese and Middle Eastern descent in supporting roles.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Brutal shootings/killings. Blood sprays/spurts. Dead bodies. Kicking, beating. Streaming blood. Bloody wounds. Brief images of surgery relating to non-consensual gender reassignment, with gory, bloody cotton/bandages. Hypo needle held to neck. Attempted sexual assault, followed by perpetrator being beaten to death with a baseball bat. Passing mention of death of father and brother. Reference to dog fighting and killing dogs.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Full-frontal male and female nudity. Sex scene with thrusting (includes tearing open condom wrapper). Woman in sexy underwear; there's mention of paying for sex, implying that she's a sex worker. References to "pimps" and "hookers."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Frequent strong language includes "f--k," "f--king," "motherf--king," "bulls--t," "s--t," "s--thead," "t-ts," "ass," "a--hole," "bastard," "douchebag," "piss," "hell," "goddamn," and "idiot," as well as racial slurs ("chinky" and "Chinaman").

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Brands of hormone tablets Premarin and Prevara are mentioned and taken by a character.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Secondary character snorts cocaine on-screen. Scenes of heavy drinking straight from liquor bottles. Social drinking. Drugs shown, including hormone tablets taken by lead character.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Assignment is an action/thriller with an irresponsibly handled topic at its core: The main character, an assassin, is given gender reassignment surgery against his will, changing his body from male to female. The content is extremely mature, including graphic nudity (male and female full frontal), bloody shootings, beatings, and killings, and brief but semi-graphic sex scenes. Language includes "f--k," "s--t," and "a--hole," plus racist terms like "chinky" and "Chinaman." Characters use drugs, including cocaine, and the main character occasionally drinks alcohol (sometimes too much). Due to the mature (and badly handled) themes and violent and sexual content, the movie is appropriate only for older teens and adults. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In THE ASSIGNMENT, a prickly, Shakespeare-and-Poe-quoting surgeon, Dr. Rachel Kay ( Sigourney Weaver ), lives in a psychiatric hospital and is interviewed by Dr. Ralph Galen ( Tony Shalhoub ). She tells her story in flashback. Her brother, in trouble with gangsters, becomes the target of an assassin named Frank Kitchen ( Michelle Rodriguez ). Dr. Kay subsequently kidnaps Frank and performs non-consensual gender reassignment surgery on him as revenge. And so Kitchen awakens in a female body, and, after searching for a way to reverse the procedure (and failing), decides to get his revenge on everyone connected to Dr. Kay -- all the way up to dangerous, well-protected gangster "Honest John" ( Anthony LaPaglia ).

Is It Any Good?

This thriller starts out with a ludicrous and irresponsibly handled idea. Even directed in a pulpy, creative way by Walter Hill (who worked with Weaver on Alien as producer and is best-known for directing action classics like The Warriors and 48 Hrs. ), The Assignment struggles to escape its misguided premise. Certainly the film is inauthentic, casting cisgender female actor Rodriguez to play both pre- and post-surgery versions of a male character. And though The Assignment tries to praise trans people for their courage, its portrayal of gender reassignment surgery as a punishment plays into damaging narratives. When real-life discrimination against trans people is a huge problem in society, it makes it difficult to concentrate on the movie's redeeming features.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about The Assignment 's violence . Does it feel gratuitous or necessary? What impact does the pulpy nature of the filmmaking have? Does associating it with comic book violence change how you view it?

The film centers on a character who has non-consensual gender reassignment surgery as a punishment. What message do you think this sends about surgery for transgender people? Why is it important to be conscious and careful about portrayals like this on-screen?

How does the movie portray drinking and drug use ? Does it make substance use seem enjoyable? Glamorous? Or does it seem sad/desperate? Are there consequences ?

Movie Details

• In theaters : April 7, 2017
• On DVD or streaming : June 6, 2017
• Cast : Michelle Rodriguez , Sigourney Weaver , Tony Shalhoub
• Director : Walter Hill
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Latino actors, Middle Eastern/North African actors
• Studio : Saban Films
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Run time : 95 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : graphic nudity, violence, sexuality, language and drug use
• Last updated : November 6, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Thriller Movies

Spy movies for kids.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

• Entertainment
• Review: In <i>The Assignment</i>, Michelle Rodriguez Is a Hitman Caught Between Worlds

Review: In The Assignment , Michelle Rodriguez Is a Hitman Caught Between Worlds

W riter-producer-director and pulp maestro Walter Hill has been rattling cages and delivering quality thrills since the early 1970s. He made his directorial debut with Hard Times (1975), a scrappy, bruising drama starring Charles Bronson as a Depression-era bare-knuckles boxer. He’s also the guy behind the New York City street-gang extravaganza The Warriors (1979), the stolen-gold nail biter Trespass (1992) and The Driver (1978), with Ryan O’Neal, the ruminative getaway drama that helped inspire Edgar Wright’s upcoming car-chase musical Baby Driver .

Hill has influenced plenty of filmmakers—not just Wright, but also Michael Mann and Quentin Tarantino, to name just a few—though he hasn’t been particularly prolific as a director in recent years. His new film, The Assignment, isn’t likely to win him any new friends: Michelle Rodriguez stars as killer-for-hire Frank Kitchen, whose life is upended when he’s captured and knocked out by a gang of baddies, only to wake up wrapped in bandages—and a woman. The surgeon genius behind this transformation is steely-cool Dr. Rachel Kay ( Sigourney Weaver ), a straitjacketed jailbird who tells her own story to an earnest prison shrink played by Tony Shalhoub. Between Dr. Kay’s calculating testimony and and Frank’s sometimes anguished first-person account, delivered in voice-over, we piece together exactly what happened to Frank and how he/she went about wreaking revenge.

Not all of Hill’s movies are great, and The Assignment certainly isn’t. Maybe, in the strictest terms, it isn’t even any good. But even a mediocre Walter Hill film has more style and energy—and a finer sense of the sweet spot between joy and despair—than ninety percent of the action thrillers that get made today. Considering its over-the-top plot mechanics, The Assignment isn’t quite as nutso and passionate as it ought to be. Even the violence, gritty at times, feels a little impersonal and detached. But the film’s tawdry precision is compelling by itself.

In the opening sequence, we see a face in profile, almost entirely obscured by gauze, as a throaty voice launches into a preamble: “I killed a lot of guys…” Before we meet the teller of the tale—as a she, she doesn’t even have a name—we meet the man she used to be. Frank is a Casanova with piercing eyes and soot-black facial hair that could have been lifted from a 1960s dime-store toy, the one where you use a magnetic stylus to arrange piles of metal shavings, encased in a blister-pack bubble, into outlandish beards and sideburns for a cartoon man’s face.

In other words, it looks fake. But even the exaggerated macho-ness of that hair may be a kind of intentional overstatement. Frank goes out and picks up a young woman, Johnnie (Caitlin Gerard). They have hot, rowdy sex, and Johnnie suggests she might like to see Frank again. He’s positioned, perfectly, to be the quintessential clueless, oafish guy who never calls again.

But Frank does call Johnnie again—only he does so after he’s no longer Frank, after his previous identity, with all its he-man hallmarks, has been quite literally cut away. Rodriguez gives a smart, sharp performance here. She’s playing a character that is, almost literally, a cartoon. Every once in a while, Hill freezes a frame and transforms the image into a literal comic-book panel, a way of reminding that we’re watching something beyond reality (and a device he used in his own cut of The Warriors years ago, before it became commonplace). But as Rodriguez plays them, her character’s anguish and confusion are hardly cartoony.

She’s lost in her new identity, but the problem is less that she’s adjusting to being a woman than that she’s learning new things about being human. She adopts a pit-bull named Poncho. He’s as tender-tough as she is, as unsure exactly how he should act or what he should be. Rodriguez has the face of someone who’s just feeling her way along. Everything is a new puzzle, but there are pleasant surprises too. When her face registers relief or pleasure, it’s like the sun elbowing a thundercloud out of the way.

When The Assignment played at the Toronto Film Festival last fall—at that time, it was called (re)Assignment, a much better title, though its earlier working title, Tomboy, was perhaps best of all—it drew criticism for being insensitive toward, or at least cavalier about, transgender issues. But even if you discount the fact that films aren’t required to be public service announcements—in fact, they’re usually pretty bad when they are—the ideas behind The Assignment are more complex than they might seem on the surface. Many of them are also pure Walter Hill: The script was written by journalist, novelist and screenwriter Denis Hamill more than 30 years ago, and it borrows pulp elements of previous Hill films like Johnny Handsome (1989), in which Mickey Rourke plays a deformed gangster whose face is transformed by plastic surgery.

In Hill’s movies, men make mistakes right and left, and suffer for them. In The Assignment, Frank doesn’t choose to become a woman, and he desperately wants not to be one. But what if his enforced rebirth represents a second chance, a chance to be better? That’s one of the ideas The Assignment, in its sometimes awkward way, flirts with. It also crawls through the dust toward another cruel reality: Maybe it takes a woman who used to be a man to understand just how much of a man’s world this really is.

More Must-Reads from TIME

• Javier Milei’s Radical Plan to Transform Argentina
• The New Face of Doctor Who
• How Private Donors Shape Birth-Control Choices
• What Happens if Trump Is Convicted ? Your Questions, Answered
• The Deadly Digital Frontiers at the Border
• Scientists Are Finding Out Just How Toxic Your Stuff Is
• The 31 Most Anticipated Movies of Summer 2024
• Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Contact us at [email protected]

A style expert shares fresh Target finds to help you kick off summer — from $10

• TODAY Plaza
• Share this —

• Watch Full Episodes
• Read With Jenna
• Inspirational
• Relationships
• TODAY Table
• Newsletters
• Start TODAY
• Shop TODAY Awards
• Citi Concert Series
• Listen All Day

Follow today

More Brands

• On The Show

20 of the best movies based on a true story

Life may imitate art, but sometimes art imitates life right back.

True stories have served as fodder for media for decades across television, films, and even podcasts. Major moments in history have been translated to the silver screen, as well as heartwarming — and sometimes, heartbreaking — stories about day-to-day lives.

Whether you're looking to relive history or for a dose of human experience, here's a list of some of the best movies based on a true story.

‘Moneyball’ (2011)

“Moneyball” brought Michael Lewis' 2003 book “Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game” to the silver screen in 2011. The movie starred Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, a manager taxed with a small budget and an unconventional approach to beating the wealthier teams. Beane teams up with Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a fictional character loosely based on Paul DePodesta from the book. Rather than choosing players the old-school way, he selects players who have potential statistically but have been written off by scouts.

“Moneyball” is available to stream for free with ads on YouTube .

‘The Social Network’ (2010)

“The Social Network” is based on the 2009 book “The Accidental Billionaires” about the founding of Facebook. Jesse Eisenberg takes on the role of Mark Zuckerberg, who in 2003 worked on a concept that ultimately became Facebook. In the years that followed, he becomes the youngest billionaire ever, but is faced with both legal and personal complications when he is served two lawsuits, including one that involves Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), his former friend and Facebook co-founder.

“The Social Network” is available to stream on Netflix .

‘Hidden Figures’ (2016)

“Hidden Figures” tells the true stories of three Black mathematicians at NASA. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Jackson (Janelle Monáe) were responsible for their work behind-the-scenes on the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.

“Hidden Figures” is available to stream on Disney+.

‘Spotlight’ (2015)

Back in 2001, the editor of The Boston Globe assigned a team of journalists to investigate allegations made against a priest who was accused of molesting more than 80 boys. The team interviewed victims and made attempts to unseal sensitive documents that would aid in their investigation in order to find proof of a cover-up of the sexual abuse within the church.

“Spotlight” is available to stream on Max .

‘I, Tonya’ (2017)

Margot Robbie portrays former figure skater Tonya Harding in 2017’s “I, Tonya.” The movie follows the life and career of Harding, including her tumultuous childhood, rise in the figure skating world, and her infamous connection to the assault on her rival, Nancy Kerrigan, in 1994.

“I, Tonya” is available to stream on Max .

‘The Bling Ring’ (2013)

“The Bling Ring” was inspired by a 2010 article in Vanity Fair called “The Suspects Wore Louboutins,” which detailed the burglaries committed by a group of teenagers on a wide range of celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Orlando Bloom, as well as Rachel Bilson . By leveraging the internet to learn the whereabouts of celebrities, the teens used technology to their advantage to rob celebrity homes across Los Angeles.

“The Bling Ring” is available to stream on Netflix .

‘King Richard’ (2021)

“King Richard” tells the origin story of Serena and Venus Williams as the iconic tennis stars they are today, starring Will Smith as their father, Richard Williams. As a father, Richard Williams is on a mission to ensure his daughters make history, training them on the public tennis courts in Compton, California, with unwavering commitment. 

“King Richard” is available to stream on Max .

‘Elvis’ (2022)

The life of Elvis Presley was turned into a biographical drama in 2022’s “Elvis,” with Austin Butler starring in the titular role. The film follows the life of the late musician under the management of Colonel Tom Parker, portrayed by Tom Hanks, over the course of 20 years. The movie chronicles Presley’s life during his rise to fame and superstardom, while capturing the intricacies of his relationships, including his romance with his wife, Priscilla Presley, and tumultuous relationship with Parker.

“Elvis” is available to stream on Max .

‘Goodfellas’ (1990)

“Goodfellas” is based on the book “Wiseguy” by Nicholas Pileggi which tells the story of the Mafia associate, Henry Hill, who ultimately became an informant. Over the course of several decades, the Martin Scorsese directed film follows the rise and fall of Hill as he rises through the ranks of the Mafia and all of the consequences that follow.

“Goodfellas” is available to stream on Tubi .

‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ (2006)

“The Pursuit of Happyness” brought to life the story of Chris Gardner, portrayed by Will Smith, a single father who was faced with numerous struggles. Gardner was evicted from his apartment and was left without a place to live with his young son, Christopher Gardner Jr., portrayed by Smith’s son Jaden Smith. Though Gardner becomes an intern at a brokerage firm, the position is unpaid, leaving him and his son to continue to face financial hardships. Despite this, Gardner perseveres as he strives to make a better life for his family.

“The Pursuit of Happyness” is available to buy or rent on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video .

‘Julie & Julia’ (2009)

Julie Powell, portrayed by Amy Adams, is a New Yorker working at a call center at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. When she becomes frustrated by her job, she turns to cooking and pledges to make all of the recipes featured in Julia Childs’ cookbook “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” All the while, the movie splices in moments of Julia Child, portrayed by Meryl Streep, as she mastered the art of French cuisine.

“Julie & Julia” is available to buy or rent on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video .

‘Wild’ (2014)

Based on Cheryl Strayed’s book by the same name, “Wild” follows Strayed, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon , in the aftermath of her mother’s death and ending of her marriage. As she goes down a self-destructive path, Strayed makes the decision to create change and put her life back together. To do so, despite having no experience with the outdoors, she decides to hike the Pacific Crest Trail solo.

“Wild” is available to buy or rent on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video .

‘Catch Me If You Can’ (2002)

Frank Abagnale Jr. excels in deception and forgery. Portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, Abagnale has had a host of jobs before he even turned 18 including a co-pilot, doctor, and lawyer. When he was just 17 years old, he became the most successful bank robber in the history of the United States. It becomes the mission of FBI agent Carl Hanratty, portrayed by Tom Hanks, to catch Abagnale who always seems to be one step ahead of him.

“Catch Me if You Can” is available to stream on Netflix .

‘Just Mercy’ (2019)

In his 2014 memoir “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption,” defense attorney recalls his time representing disadvantaged clients. The movie follows Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) as he moves to Alabama after his graduation from Harvard in order to represent individuals who were wrongfully convicted or could not afford representation. Among his clients is Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), a man who is sentenced to die for the murder of an 18-year-old girl despite there being evidence that he is innocent.

“Just Mercy” is available to buy or rent on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video .

‘Walk the Line’ (2005)

Joaquin Phoenix portrays Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line,” which follows the singer’s life from childhood to his tumultuous rise to fame as a country music star. After he was raised on a farm and moved to Memphis with his first wife, Vivian, Cash makes his break into the music scene and ends up on tour where he meets June Carter (Reese Witherspoon). Cash’s life includes the high-highs and low-lows as he struggles with drug addiction, fame, and his love life.

“Walk the Line” is available to stream on Max .

‘Erin Brockovich’ (2000)

Erin Brockovich , portrayed by Julia Roberts, gets a job at a law firm after she gets into a car accident and asks her attorney to hire her. At the firm, Brockovich discovers medical records within real estate files. After some convincing, Brockovich begins to investigate the discovery and comes across a cover-up for contaminated water in a local community that caused a series of illnesses for its residents.

“Erin Brockovich” is available to buy or rent on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video .

‘The Theory of Everything’ (2014)

The 2014 film chronicles the life of Stephen Hawking, portrayed by Eddie Redmayne, as he falls in love with his first wife, Jane, portrayed by Felicity Jones. When he is 21, Hawking learns that he has motor neuron disease. Despite his diagnosis, the couple are still able to break ground in medicine and science.

“The Theory of Everything” is available to buy or rent on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video .

‘Lion’ (2016)

Based on the non-fiction novel “A Long Way Home” by Saroo Brierley, “Lion” tells the story of Saroo, portrayed by Dev Patel, who gets lost on a train and ends up thousands of miles away from home across India when he is 5 years old. At first, he learns how to survive alone in Kolkata before he is adopted by an Australian couple. More than two decades later, he uses his memories and Google Earth in an effort to find his family and make his way back home. 

“Lion” is available to stream on Tubi .

‘Nomadland’ (2021)

The Oscar-winning film follows a woman in her 60s named Fern (Frances McDormand) who lost everything during the Great Recession in the late 2000s. Fern finds herself living a nomadic life in a van as she goes on a journey through the western United States.

“Nomadland” is available to stream on Hulu .

‘Selma’ (2014)

The 2014 film “Selma” is based on the famous Alabama marches from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

These protest marches were directed by civil rights leader James Bevel and led by Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, and Hosea Williams to advocate for the right to vote. 

“Selma” is available to stream on Paramou n t+ .

Francesca Gariano is a New York City-based freelance journalist reporting on culture, entertainment, beauty, lifestyle and wellness. She is a freelance contributor to TODAY.com, where she covers pop culture and breaking news.

McDonald’s exec says average menu item costs 40% more than in 2019

Restaurants.

Nicholas Galitzine to play He-Man in ‘Masters of the Universe’ film

Kate Middleton’s cancer timeline: Diagnosis, treatment and the latest updates from the palace

Health & wellness.

Janitor of 23 years stuns ‘AGT’ judges with jaw-dropping rendition of ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’

What happened to Trista Sutter? Everything she and her husband shared about her absence

Travis Kelce reacts to getting booed at NBA playoff game

Pop culture.

New Jersey mayor apologizes Kylie Kelce for stranger’s heated alleged altercation with her during date night

Tarek El Moussa is still confusing ex Christina Hall with wife Heather Rae in new video

What is Strands? The New York Times’ latest puzzle combines a word search with a crossword

Virginia mom says white students told her Asian American son to sit at ‘segregated’ table

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, the assignment.

Now streaming on:

“ The Assignment ” is a film that arrives in theaters having already inspired vast outpourings of anger from two groups —the transgender community, which appears to be offended by its very premise, and action buffs, who are put off both by the premise (albeit for different reasons) and what they feel is a lazy execution that fails to offer the requisite thrills. While I am sympathetic to the complaints of both groups (somewhat more for the former) and recognize that it is indeed deeply flawed in many areas, I cannot quite agree with either. This is a modestly scaled B-movie by one of the best genre filmmakers of our time, Walter Hill , that has enough skill and personality going for it to make it worth checking out, even if it doesn’t quite live up (or down, depending on your perspective) to its borderline sleazy premise.

And what is that premise, you ask? In a nutshell, Frank Kitchen ( Michelle Rodriguez … just keep reading) is a ruthless San Francisco hitman who runs afoul of Dr. Rachel Kay ( Sigourney Weaver ), a brilliant but deranged surgeon who has lost her license for conducting various rogue experiments. Frank kills Dr. Kay’s brother, and the good doctor seeks vengeance and experimental research into the importance of physical identity on the psyche. She arranges with crime boss Honest John Hartunian ( Anthony LaPaglia ) to have him grab Frank and bring him to her secret lab, where she proceeds to perform gender reassignment surgery on him. Dr. Kay asserts that the surgery will take away Frank’s desire to kill. Needless to say, Frank sees things a little differently, and, once she discovers that the surgery cannot be reversed, she methodically hatches a grisly revenge plot on everyone involved with her transformation from Honest John and his goons all the way up to Dr. Kay. Helping Frank in her quest is Johnnie ( Caitlin Gerard ), a nurse with whom Frank had a one-night stand before his transformation and who doesn’t seem particularly nonplussed by recent developments, though it seems that she may be harboring a few secrets of her own.

At first blush, one can easily understand why the transgender community might be a tad put off by the very existence of “The Assignment,” but the actual film is nowhere near as offensive as it might initially seem. For one thing, the film as a whole is so willfully and deliberately pulpy in tone (I could easily see a short version of this tale fitting perfectly into the confines of a “ Sin City ” film) that it is hard to take the alleged provocations on display with any degree of seriousness—this is a film that is so archetypal in nature that the sort-of sweethearts at its center are literally named Frank(ie) and Johnnie. Additionally, to suggest that Frank is meant to represent all transgender people is nonsense because he is clearly not one himself, and, outside of the obvious physical construct, little about him changes after undergoing his forced surgery. I would also point out that no less of a filmmaker than Pedro Almodovar used the notion of unwilling gender reassignment surgery as a plot point in his own unabashed genre exercise, “ The Skin I Live In ,” and no one seemed especially put off by it even though the deployment there was arguably more questionable from a taste perspective than what is seen here.

That said, “The Assignment” is still a problematic work in many ways from a purely cinematic perspective. The screenplay by Hill & Denis Hamill (which Hill has been toying with since the late ‘70s) is an awkward construction with much of the story presented in a series of flashbacks, as the now-incarcerated Dr. Kay recounts the story to another psychiatrist ( Tony Shalhoub ). This concept is especially problematic since Hill is at his best when he allows characters to define themselves purely through their actions instead of relentlessly explaining themselves as they do here. The film also screams out for a more overtly stylized visual treatment in the vein of something like his great “ Streets of Fire ”—a fact underlined by the occasional bits of black-and-white photography and comic book-style transitions—that might have also helped to underscore the kind of pulpy approach Hill was clearly going for. Another big problem, at least at first, is the casting of Michelle Rodriguez as Frank. There is nothing wrong with her performance but the early scenes in which she portrays the male version of Frank, complete with a wildly unconvincing beard and a lingering close-up of his genitalia for good measure, do inspire a few bad laughs right when the film is trying to establish itself. For some viewers, it may never recover from that.

For those who can get beyond that, “The Assignment” contains plenty of points of interest. Sigourney Weaver is pretty much a blast throughout as the snidely condescending doctor who sets all of the events into motion. As for Rodriguez, once she sheds the beard, her performance improves greatly. Obviously, we know she can do the steely-eyed badass stuff as well as anyone else but she also gets a couple of quieter moments amidst the chaos where she displays a more vulnerable side without stepping out of character—in one, she consults a doctor about whether the surgery can be reversed and begins shyly inquiring about certain personal details regarding her new equipment. In the other, she is about to go to bed with Johnnie when she realizes that she has no idea of how to approach lovemaking from a female perspective. (“You’ll do fine,” she is reassured in a line that is both funny and strangely touching.) As for Hill, while he is clearly working with a lower budget than usual here (with Vancouver substituting, not too convincingly, for San Francisco), he is still able to establish a convincingly noir attitude toward the material and the scenes of violence are done in a spare and economical style that is a relief from the over-the-top pyrotechnics of most current action films. (He also gets bonus points for employing Giorgio Moroder to deliver a cheerfully retro synth score.)

It is easy to see how the dramatic excesses of the plot could prove offensive to the transgender community, though I can just as easily see “The Assignment” one day becoming a cult favorite in the way that the once-controversial “ Cruising ” would eventually find some fans within the gay community that once scorned it. As an exercise in unapologetic pulp fiction, it gets the job done in a smart, efficient and slyly subversive manner. As the latest entry in the Walter Hill filmography, it definitely belongs on the second tier. Even though it may not be the equal to a classic like “ The Driver ” or “Streets of Fire,” it will do until that next masterwork does come along.

Peter Sobczynski

A moderately insightful critic, full-on Swiftie and all-around  bon vivant , Peter Sobczynski, in addition to his work at this site, is also a contributor to The Spool and can be heard weekly discussing new Blu-Ray releases on the Movie Madness podcast on the Now Playing network.

Now playing

Back to Black

Peyton robinson.

The Roundup: Punishment

Simon abrams.

Kaiya Shunyata

The Big Cigar

Robert daniels.

Turtles All the Way Down

Film credits.

The Assignment (2017)

Rated R for graphic nudity, violence, sexuality, language and drug use.

Michelle Rodriguez as Frank Kitchen / Tomboy

Sigourney Weaver as Dr. Rachel Kay

Tony Shalhoub as Dr. Ralph Galen

Caitlin Gerard as Johnnie

Anthony LaPaglia as Honest John Hartunian

Paul McGillion as Paul Wincott

• Walter Hill

Writer (story)

• Denis Hamill

Cinematographer

• James Liston
• Phil Norden
• Giorgio Moroder
• Raney Shockne

Latest blog posts

We Are Lady Parts is TV at its Finest

A Special Kind of Beauty: Viggo Mortenson on The Dead Don't Hurt

Cannes 2024: Normal Normal or Cannes Normal?

Cannes Video #7: Critics Roundtable

Liza Wiemer

Award-winning author, educator, and public speaker, the story behind the assignment.

• THE ASSIGNMENT – Curriculum Guides and Teacher Info
• Out and About: A Tale of Giving
• Life Imitates Art
• Visit HELLO? Sites
• Contributor to Small Miracles from Beyond
• Contributor to Small Miracles of the Holocaust
• Waiting for Peace
• Extraordinary Guidance
• Author Visits
• Curriculum Guides
• On July 25, 2016, I received a message on Facebook from librarian Wendy Watts Scalfaro asking if I would be interested in coming to her Syracuse-area high school to conduct workshops about my YA novel, Hello? . It’s important that I mention that Wendy and I had never met in person. We were Twitter friends and she was taking a “Teacher’s Write” class that was a part of
• In September 2016, Wendy contacted River’s End Bookstore to arrange for a book signing and I finalized the event on December 7, 2016. We set the date for Tuesday, April 4, 2017
• I traveled to the Syracuse area on Sunday, April 2, 2017. I had a full-day school visit on the 3rd. On the 4th, I decided to leave extra early for Oswego. It was pouring and my windshield wipers could barely keep up. I was concerned about driving in those conditions, especially since River’s End Bookstore was quite a distance away. At one point, I wondered why Wendy had contacted this bookstore when there were at least a half-dozen bookstores within the Syracuse area. I was truly baffled. It took me nearly an hour to get to Oswego. At this point, I was desperate for caffeine and ended up stopping at this grocery store.
• It’s hard to tell from the photo, but this parking lot is slightly bowl-shaped. I had pulled into a spot on the right side of the photo, but because of the amount of rain, the lot was flooded. I didn’t want to get out of my car because I was wearing knit Ugg boots and my feet would have been soaked through immediately. So, I did something I normally wouldn’t do to pass the time: I went on Facebook.
• That’s when I saw this article posted by my aunt.
• I clicked on the link. To my shock, I discovered that this antisemitic school assignment debating the Holocaust took place in Oswego. I contacted my aunt. I contacted writer friends, attaching the link to my text message, saying, “Can you believe I’m in this town?” I spoke to fellow author, Gayle Rosengren, and told her and my aunt that I needed to figure out a way to get in touch with Archer Shurtliff and Jordan April, the two teens courageous teens who refused to do the assignment. Although they and one other student did an alternative, that left over 70 students who created a memorandum from the Nazis’ point-of-view. Even though the assignment had been completed, Archer and Jordan were determined to never have anyone else be in a position of having to do this assignment. I was impressed by their conviction and very much wanted to let them know that I thought that they were brave and their actions heroic. The problem, however, was that I had no idea how to get in touch with them. It’s not like I was speaking at a local high school. Finally, I made the decision to ask the bookstore owner for his help. I planned to purchase copies of my YA novel Hello? and ask him to send them to the teens along with a personal note. I was nervous. What if the owner disagreed with the teens’ stance and advocated in favor of the assignment?
• I decided the risk was worth it. At this point, my expectations for the evening were low. It was still raining and I wasn’t sure how many people would come out in the rain to hear me speak. I arrived a half-hour early, and once again rehearsed how I would approach the owner about my special request.
• In a blink of an eye, everything changed. I took four steps into the bookstore and immediately recognized Jordan. I stopped in my tracks and said, “Oh my goodness! It’s the world-famous Jordan!” Her face morphed from confused to surprised. “How do you know who I am?” she asked. I showed her my phone. It turned out that Jordan worked at the bookstore.
• I did purchase my book for both teens and inscribed it with a message of gratitude. That night, I had a three-way call with Jordan and Archer. I was amazed by their strength, courage, and determination. I was in awe of their decisiveness: the assignment was wrong. No one should advocate for genocide.
• That evening, I could barely sleep so I wrote about the experience. Those thoughts turned into an article that was published on several sites. Here’s one of them: Opinion: No justification for high school assignment debating genocide . When I returned home, author Clara Kensie said to me, “You have to write a YA novel about this.”
• It might seem like it was an easy decision, but it wasn’t. The day before had been one of the most challenging I’d had as an educator and speaker and I admit that I wondered, Is this what I’m supposed to be doing with my life? It was a bad moment. And then it got worse. That evening, I received the sixtieth + rejection for a YA novel that I had worked on for over six years: “Thank you for your query. Sorry it’s taken me an embarrassingly long time to get back to you. I’m afraid XXXXX is a pass for me. I’m just not connecting in the “must have” way that I’d need to offer representation. Best of luck,” ____Agent Z
• I was done. Clearly, writing was not what I was supposed to do with my life. So, I called my elder son Justin and told him that I’d reached my end and that maybe I should attend UW-Milwaukee and get a master’s degree in psychology. Justin, oh-son-of-mine, said what I’ve said to him on many occasions. “This will pass. It was one bad moment. Don’t give up.”
• Obviously, I didn’t. But that’s because I couldn’t turn my back on all the amazing series of events that lead up to what transpired the very next day. I believe in miracles. I believe in Divine Providence. For me, writing this novel has been an experience of that faith.
• Early on in my research, I connected with Syracuse University Professor Emeritus, Alan Goldberg, Coordinator Spector/Warren Fellowship and Director Regional Holocaust & Genocide Initiative, School of Education. Professor Goldberg was one of the individuals who spoke out against the real assignment and was involved in creating new curriculum to be used in New York Schools. For me, what was remarkable is that Professor Alan Goldberg shares the same name as my father, Alan Goldberg. It was the first time in my life I’d ever met someone who had the same name as my dad.
• On November 3, 2017, an author friend of mine, Debbi Lakritz, told me about the Jewish Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators’ Seminar, which was to take place on Sunday, November 12th in New York City. At this point, I had finished several drafts of my new novel and was ready to find an agent. This seminar sounded like a fantastic opportunity. There were several issues, however. The cost of the conference and buying a plane ticket. Money was extremely tight. My husband had been freelancing for several years and we were definitely struggling. I talked to my husband about the event and my concerns. Without any hesitation, he encouraged me to go. I contacted Evie Saphire-Bernstein, the program manager at the Jewish Book Council. Despite missing the deadline, she welcomed and encouraged me to be a part of the event. Her kindness was the open door I needed. So I signed up and bought my plane ticket.
• At the seminar, I met some fantastic people, many have become friends. I also reconnected with Lizzy Mason, a publicist from Bloomsbury (now Page Street), who spoke at the event. We’d met on several occasions at Book Expo America events and so seeing her made this event even more special. We discussed this novel, and from that conversation Lizzy became one of my biggest cheerleaders. I also received valuable feedback from two agents: “This is an important topic, but you need to rewrite your novel from third-person omniscient to first person. I got the message and promised myself that I would start again. But the most incredible thing that transpired at the seminar was a meeting Random House publicist Josh Redlich. I introduced myself right after his panel discussion, shared the elevator pitch for The Assignment. He said, “I know who would love this book. Send it to Beverly Horowitz. I sent myself a email with her name…and…
• Many rewrites later, I was ready to send my manuscript out to agents again. This time, I received requests for the entire novel almost instantly. One of those agents was Steven Chudney, who turned out to be my dream agent. When it was time to submit to editors at publishing houses, I asked Steven to include Beverly. He put her on the top of the list.
• Within a few weeks we had an offer from Beverly. So, there you have it. What a journey! Thank YOU, dear reader, for being a part of it.

Is Mending the Line Movie a True Story? What's Real Vs. Fake

Mending the Line , a recent drama starring Brian Cox and Sinqua Walls, just made its Netflix debut, leaving many wondering about where its true story originated from.

Telling a post-war military story, the movie was written by Stephen Camilo. It debuted in various film festivals in 2022, before seeing a theatrical release the next year.

The movie has themes of survivor's guilt and PTSD directly alongside the power of strong bonds and hope.

What In Mending the Line Is True?

While Mending the Line tells a realistic story, it is not based on true events. However, it does have real-life influences.

Speaking with Flylords in 2022, writer Stephen Camilo revealed that the story was inspired by his father, who survived service in Vietnam but developed cancer due to exposure to Agent Orange during his time fighting.

Camilo told Flylords that his goal was to create a story merging "the destructive elements of war with the healing aspects of nature," and later learned about organizations "using fly fishing to heal," like is shown in the movie:

"My father was in the Army and fought in Vietnam. And though he survived the war, in 2004 he was diagnosed with cancer caused by Agent Orange exposure during his time in the war. Around that time, my wife and I had moved from New York City to Montana and we were living and working in Yellowstone National Park I was writing about fly fishing for various publications. When he passed in 2013, the meditative nature of fly fishing really helped me deal with my grief and I had the idea to write a story that combined the destructive elements of war with the healing aspects of nature. It wasn’t until later that I found out about organizations like Warriors & Quiet Waters and others that were actually doing this in real life – using fly fishing to heal."

He later explained that Mending the Line "is a very personal story for everyone involved," as many have experience with or around military service, and are (or know people who are) "dealing with the trauma" that comes with it.

Camilo said that many of them found that fly fishing " started the healing process and allowed them to find peace," as it did for the characters in the movie:

"This is a very personal story for everyone involved. The sheer act of writing was an exercise in healing as it helped me process my father’s death and understand my mother’s pain as well as the courage she has shown to carry on since his passing. Almost everyone associated with this film had a similar story. Some served in the military themselves or know someone dealing with the effects of going to war. Others lost loved ones and are still dealing with the trauma. Then there were those who, like the main characters of the story, dealt with their trauma through fly fishing, which started the healing process and allowed them to find peace. We hope by telling this story it will also be an inspiration for those still dealing with PTS or any type of trauma to start their healing journey. Whether they do it with a fly rod in their hand or not, that’s up to them."

Director Joshua Caldwell told ScreenRant that as a fly fisherman himself (like Camilo), "it was super important that we got this aspect of the movie correct." This marked another element of the movie based in real life:

"I'm a fly fisherman, and Stephen Camelio, who wrote the movie, is a fly fisherman. For us, it was super important that we got this aspect of the movie correct. Because, if you don't, you're missing out on a tremendous opportunity to involve that community, and get the support of that community. If you mess it up, they're not going to come support the film. I really wanted it to be a high-level portrayal of fly-fishing."

So while the specific story of John Colter's experience with war, PTSD, and fly fishing is not true in its entirety, it comes from elements of real life that informed the narrative.

Mending the Line is available to stream on Netflix.

Read more about other trending Netflix projects:

On the Line Movie's Wild Ending Explained - Mel Gibson Film Meaning

Daphne Abdela Today: Where Is She Now? Homicide New York Criminal Breakdown

Is Tyson's Run a True Story? What's Real vs. Fake In Tyson Hollerman Movie

Full Cast of Buying Beverly Hills Season 2: Meet the Real People In New 2024 Episodes

LATEST NEWS

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

The Assignment

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More from this title

More to explore, recently viewed.

• 12 Mighty Orphans
• 12 Years a Slave
• 15:17 to Paris, The
• 300: Rise of an Empire
• 80 for Brady
• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
• A Journal for Jordan
• A Million Miles Away
• A Small Light
• Against the Ice
• All Eyez on Me
• All My Life
• American Gangster
• American Hustle
• American Made
• American Sniper
• American Underdog
• Amityville Horror (1979)
• Amityville Horror (2005)
• Annabelle: Creation
• Antwone Fisher
• Arthur the King
• Bad Education
• Battle of the Sexes
• Beanie Bubble, The
• Beautiful Boy
• Beauty and the Beast
• Being the Ricardos
• Best of Enemies, The
• Big Lebowski
• Big Short, The
• Big Sick, The
• BlacKkKlansman
• Bleed for This
• Blind Side, The
• Bling Ring, The
• Blue Miracle
• Boardwalk Empire
• Bohemian Rhapsody
• Boston Strangler
• Boys Don't Cry
• Boys in the Boat, The
• Breakthrough
• Brian Banks
• Bridge of Spies
• Burial, The
• Butler, The
• Bye Bye Man, The
• Calendar Girls
• Can You Ever Forgive Me?
• Captain Phillips
• Case for Christ, The
• Catch Me If You Can
• Charlie Wilson's War
• Chasing Mavericks
• Cocaine Bear
• Concrete Cowboy
• Conjuring 2, The
• Conjuring, The
• Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The
• Courier, The
• Crowded Room, The
• Current War, The
• Danish Girl, The
• Danny Collins
• Darkest Hour
• Dear Edward
• Death of Stalin, The
• Deepwater Horizon
• Deliver Us From Evil
• Devil Wears Prada, The
• Disappointments Room, The
• Disaster Artist, The
• Dolemite Is My Name
• Donnie Brasco
• Downton Abbey
• Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
• Dream Horse
• Dropout, The
• Eddie the Eagle
• Emancipation
• End of the Tour, The
• Erin Brockovich
• Exorcism of Emily Rose, The
• Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
• Eyes of Tammy Faye, The
• Fabelmans, The
• Farewell, The
• Fault in Our Stars, The
• Favourite, The
• Fighter, The
• Fighting with My Family
• Finding Neverland
• Finest Hours, The
• Five Days at Memorial
• Flamin' Hot
• Florence Foster Jenkins
• Ford v Ferrari
• Founder, The
• Free State of Jones
• Freedom Writers
• Gigi and Nate
• Girl from Plainville, The
• Glass Castle, The
• Goldbergs, The
• Good Nurse, The
• Good on Paper
• Goodbye Christopher Robin
• Gran Turismo
• Greatest Beer Run Ever, The
• Greatest Showman, The
• Gridiron Gang
• Hacksaw Ridge
• Hands of Stone
• Haunting in Connecticut, The
• Heaven is for Real
• Hidden Figures
• Hillbilly Elegy
• Hollywoodland
• House of Gucci
• Hurricane, The
• I Am the Night
• I Can Only Imagine
• I Saw the Light
• I Still Believe
• I Wanna Dance with Somebody
• Imitation Game, The
• Infiltrator, The
• Inventing Anna
• Irishman, The
• Iron Claw, The
• Jerry and Marge Go Large
• Jersey Boys
• Jesus Revolution
• Jimi: All Is by My Side
• Judas and the Black Messiah
• Kill the Messenger
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• King Arthur
• King Richard
• Last Duel, The
• Last Full Measure, The
• League of Their Own, A
• Lone Survivor
• Lost City of Z, The
• Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
• Maggie Moore(s)
• Man Who Invented Christmas, The
• Masters of the Air
• Mauritanian, The
• McFarland, USA
• Megan Leavey
• Men of Honor
• Military Wives
• Million Dollar Arm
• Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The
• Miracles from Heaven
• Molly's Game
• Monuments Men, The
• Mothman Prophecies, The
• Mrs. America
• Munich: The Edge of War
• My All American
• Next Goal Wins
• Not Without My Daughter
• Old Man & the Gun, The
• On a Wing and a Prayer
• Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
• One and Only Ivan, The
• Only the Brave
• Operation Finale
• Operation Mincemeat
• Oppenheimer
• Ordinary Angels
• Outlaw King
• Outpost, The
• Pain & Gain
• Pain Hustlers
• Passion of the Christ, The
• Patch Adams
• Patriots Day
• Pawn Sacrifice
• Penguin Bloom
• People v. O.J. Simpson, The
• Pianist, The
• Pope's Exorcist, The
• Prayer Before Dawn, A
• Promise, The
• Public Enemies
• Pursuit of Happyness, The
• Queen of Katwe
• Quiet Ones, The
• Railway Man, The
• Remember the Titans
• Rescued by Ruby
• Revenant, The
• Richard Jewell
• Right Stuff, The
• Rookie, The
• Saving Mr. Banks
• Saving Private Ryan
• Schindler's List
• Serpent, The
• Slender Man
• Social Network, The
• Society of the Snow
• Soul Surfer
• Sound of Freedom
• Staircase, The
• Survivor, The
• Tender Bar, The
• Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The
• Texas Rising
• Theory of Everything, The
• Thing About Pam, The
• Thirteen Lives
• To Write Love on Her Arms
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Trees of Peace
• Trial of the Chicago 7, The
• True Spirit
• United Kingdom, A
• United States vs. Billie Holiday, The
• Unsung Hero
• Upside, The
• Victoria and Abdul
• Walk the Line
• Watcher, The
• We Own This City
• We Were the Lucky Ones
• Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
• Welcome to Marwen
• When the Game Stands Tall
• When They See Us
• White Boy Rick
• White House Plumbers
• Wicked Little Letters
• Wolf of Wall Street, The
• Woman in Gold
• Woman King, The
• Zookeeper's Wife, The

A Million Miles Away: History vs. Hollywood

Did josé hernández come from a family of migrant farmworkers.

Yes. "I started off working on the land, a land that wasn't mine." José Hernández told ABC News . "I worked for other farmers, picking just about any fruit and vegetable that grows here in the Valley. You name it, they grow it here, we picked it, including grapes." José's family also picked strawberries, cherries, onions and cucumbers, to name a few. In researching the A Million Miles Away true story, we learned that each year, his parents would bring the family from Mexico to California to pick, spending nine months in the fields before returning to Michoacán, their home state in Central Mexico. "It's the only life we knew, and to me, it was normal. That's where I think my work ethic came from." José is the youngest of four children and has two brothers and a sister. "Some of us were lucky enough to be born [in the U.S.]. Some of us were born in Mexico," José said of himself and his siblings. "I was born during the harvest months, so I was born here in Stockton, California. ... As I grew up, my parents would take us every Saturday and Sunday, if they were working in the fields, we would be working with them. While lots of kids loved summer vacation, us Hernández kids hated it because that meant we would be seven days a week working in the fields." -Valley PBS The real José Hernández is pictured as a boy (inset). Actor Juan Pablo Monterrubio portrays Young José in the movie. Photos: José Hernández Facebook / Amazon Prime

Did José Hernández want to be an astronaut from a young age?

Yes. As a boy, José excelled in math and science, and by age 10, he knew that he wanted to be an astronaut. Our A Million Miles Away fact-check confirms that he told his parents about his dream after watching the Apollo 17 moon landing on TV in 1972. "I remember being mesmerized by the images of the astronaut Gene Cernan walking on the moon," José recalled. "I would go outside, see the moon, come back in, watch, do that several times. I would say, 'My God, we have humans up there, a quarter million miles away.' I remember that day. I said, 'That's what I wanna be. I wanna be an astronaut.' And I shared that dream with my parents." To learn more about Jos&eacute's childhood, read his biography Reaching for the Stars on which the movie is based.  -TEDx Talks Photo: Amazon Prime

Did José Hernández's father support his dream of becoming an astronaut?

Yes. "I think what he saw was the determination of a 10-year-old boy," José told ABC News . He said his father's belief in him helped shape the trajectory of his life. "He validated the dream. He empowered me to believe I can do it." Upon telling his father that he wanted to be an astronaut, his father replied, "I think you can do it." While exploring the A Million Miles Away fact vs. fiction, we discovered that José also credits his second-grade teacher, Ms. Young, with changing the course of his life dramatically. As a child, his parents told him to get his three months' worth of homework because the family was hitting the road again for work. This is when José's teacher showed up at their house and told his parents that education needs to be a priority. They need to consider the future for their children. "She explained it in very simple terms," said José of his teacher. "She described us kids as trees. She said, 'You keep transplanting a tree, it's gonna grow weak. You have to stay in one place so that the trees grow deep roots, branches grow big, and you have big trees.' And my parents took that to heed." That's when everything changed for José and his siblings. His parents decided to remain in Stockton, California and no longer pull the kids out of school for such long periods. "I believe that's when our education got traction," said José, "and we started doing even better in school" ( Valley PBS ). Ms. Young also gave José a book about space that he read over and over and still has today. Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut

Was José Hernández an engineer prior to becoming an astronaut?

After graduating high school in 1980, Hernández earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of the Pacific in 1984. He completed his master's degree at the University of California, Santa Barbara two years later in electrical and computer engineering and began working at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he was a key figure in the invention of the mobile mammogram machine. While working there, he began applying to NASA. José Hernández is pictured at graduation in real life (left) and as depicted by Michael Peña in the movie (right).

Was José Hernández rejected 11 times when applying for the Astronaut Candidate Program?

Yes. The A Million Miles Away true story confirms that José Hernández was rejected by NASA eleven times. It took him 12 years before he was finally accepted into the program in 2004. Hernández said that he made it to the final one hundred candidates three times from a pool of thousands of applicants. "You could almost taste it," he told ABC News . During an interview on the Jocko Podcast , he said that NASA did offer him an engineering job during that time, but he declined the offer out of devotion to his current employer, the federally funded Lawrence Livermore Lab, which had given him a new station assignment in Washington, D.C. and spent "about $25,000" moving his family. "I was working at DOE headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C.," said Hernández. "I had a commitment for two years, and I couldn't in good conscience, after being there a couple months, say, 'Well, you know, I changed my mind. Thanks for spending that $25K. I'm going to Houston now' ... It wasn't the right thing to do. I had made a commitment and I wanted to fulfill it." Hernández figured he wouldn't hear from NASA again, but to his surprise, he eventually got another job offer to work in Houston as an engineer. This was after he completed his D.C. assignment with Livermore Labs. His wife Adela encouraged him to take the NASA job if it meant he'd have a better chance of becoming an astronaut. He worked for NASA for about four years before he was finally selected for the astronaut training program. During that time, his wife Adela ran a Mexican restaurant, the Tierra Luna Grill, near the Johnson Space Center. He credits his time working on the investigation into the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster as helping him gain credibility at NASA. He was one of the spokespeople who explained the science behind why the shuttle disintegrated during re-entry. José Hernández (left) was finally accepted into NASA's astronaut program in 2004. Actor Michael Peña (right) depicts him in the Amazon Prime movie. Photos: NASA / Amazon Prime "I got a lot of face time with a lot of people at NASA," he told Jocko Willink of his time investigating the cause of the Columbia disaster, "and they started looking at me and trusting me. ... Shortly thereafter, the following year, they have a selection of astronauts, and I'm again one of the finalists, and this time, when I sit down across [from] the eighteen people that are there, you know, I know more than half of them through this accident investigation board. ... So, it's kinda like, I'd come home to family now. Before, it was a complete set of strangers, and now, everybody knew me, I knew them." "Don't be so quick to give up on your dreams if you've failed once or twice," Hernández remarked to ABC News . "Sure, failure doesn't feel good. Sure, rejection doesn't feel good, but if you prepare yourself, you can come back stronger, and eventually you'll get there." Hernández received his astronaut wings in 2006.

Did José Hernández have young children at the time he became an astronaut?

Yes. Similar to what's seen in the José Hernández movie, a fact-check corroborates that he and his wife Adela had five children at the time, having welcomed their fifth child into the world the year prior, on January 21, 2003. José Hernández (second from left) is pictured as part of the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-128 Mission on which he served as the Flight Engineer. Original Photo: NASA

Did the real José Hernández go into space?

Yes. In researching how accurate is A Million Miles Away , we learned that on August 28, 2009, Hernández blasted off aboard Space Shuttle Discovery from Cape Canaveral, Florida as the Flight Engineer on the STS-128 Mission, a nearly 14-day mission to the International Space Station ( watch the launch ). His parents, wife, five children, siblings, and extended family were on hand to watch the launch. Unlike the movie, the real-life launch happened in the dark just before midnight. It was one of the final missions that carried a payload to complete the construction of the International Space Station. The payload consisted of seven tons of equipment to install inside and outside of the space station. As emphasized in the José Hernández movie, he became the first first-generation Mexican-American astronaut. He also notably sent the first Tweet from space in Spanish, wishing the U.S., Mexico, and Latin American countries good luck in the upcoming qualifying rounds for the World Cup. -ABC News The Space Shuttle Discovery (left) blasts off close to midnight EDT on August 28, 2009 for the STS-128 Mission. The launch is fictionalized in the movie (right) as happening in the daylight. Photo: NASA / Amazon Prime "I just couldn't believe that, here's this kid working up as a migrant farmworker, who was able to pull himself up by the bootstraps, get a good education, and be able to become an astronaut," said Hernández. "How cool is the fact that NASA allows you to do this? How cool is the fact that this country allows you to do this? And it's certainly living true example of the American dream." -Valley PBS José Hernández is pictured aboard the International Space Station during the STS-128 Mission. Photo: NASA

Did bad weather force the Space Shuttle Discovery to land in California instead of Florida?

Yes. In exploring the A Million Miles Away true story, we discovered that bad weather in Florida indeed forced the landing site to be changed to California. At the end of the STS-128 mission, which lasted approximately 13 days, 20 hours and 55 minutes, Space Shuttle Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force base in California on September 12, 2009 ( watch the landing ). "I always call it poetic justice," says Hernández. "Why? Because it's about 80 miles from where I used to pick strawberries." -ABC News Due to bad weather in Florida, Space Shuttle Discovery instead landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California on September 12, 2009. Photo: NASA

What became of Astronaut José Hernández after leaving NASA?

After retiring from NASA in 2011, the husband and father of five headed back to Stockton, California, where he ran a consulting business and devoted his spare time to the community. He established the Reaching for the Stars Foundation, which offers no-cost STEM-based summer programs for kids to help them achieve their dreams. Hernández entered the political arena at the urging of President Obama, who ironically had canceled NASA's Constellation program in 2011 and defunded NASA's priority of sending astronauts beyond low Earth orbit. Hernández decided to run for Congress in 2011 as a Democrat in California's 10th congressional district, competing for a seat in the House of Representatives. He won his party's nomination but lost the 2012 general election to Jeff Denham, the Republican incumbent. Hernández purchased his own 20-acre plot of land near Lodi, California on which he operates a vineyard. It is not far from where his family had labored as migrant workers for years. "It's great because it's kind of like coming full circle," Hernández told PBS. "As a kid, I used to work picking grapes, and it's kind of like pretty neat that now I own the grapes." In 2021, José Hernández bottled the first vintage of his own brand, Tierra Luna wine, which translates to "Earth Moon" wine. -ABC News José Hernández is pictured in 2004 as an astronaut candidate. Actor Michael Peña portrays the astronaut in the movie. Photos: NASA / Amazon Prime

Based on a True Story

The True Story Behind ‘The Courier’

A new spy thriller draws on the fascinating life—and whopping lies—of one of the U.K.’s most famous intelligence agents

Alex Palmer

In November 1960, Greville Wynne, a 41-year-old British businessman, sat down for a lunch that would change his life. His dining companion, Dickie Franks, revealed himself to be an officer of the British Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, and asked Wynne for his help. An industrial sales consultant who regularly traveled through Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union representing British electrical and steel companies , Wynne was told it would be helpful if on his next trip, he could arrange for a meeting with a state committee in Moscow dedicated to developing opportunities with foreigners in science and technology, and report back on his conversations. Despite having no previous experience in intelligence work, Wynne was being recruited to serve as an MI6 agent.

Wynne agreed, and during his visit to Moscow the following month he wound up connecting with Oleg Penkovsky, a lieutenant colonel in the GRU (the Soviet Union’s foreign-intelligence agency) who was eager to leak high-level military information to Western powers. Penkovsky felt stunted in his career with GRU and expected that by helping the West for a year or two, he and his family could be relocated and build a better life, and that he would personally be showered with recognition and honor. Wynne went along, slightly concerned about whether Penkovsky was on the level and concerned about putting himself into a dangerous situation, kicking off what would be one of the most productive clandestine operations in Cold War history. Penkovsky’s information, and Wynne’s help in delivering it to British and American intelligence officers, would produce mountains of material, play a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, and land both men in prison.

These events serve as the inspiration for The Courier , the new film starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Wynne and Georgian actor Merab Ninidze as Penkovsky, out in theaters on March 19. The film’s screenwriter, Tom O’Connor, found Wynne’s story of a nobody suddenly becoming a somebody compelling. “He just was an ordinary man who got thrust into this just extraordinary, life-altering situation that was going to define his existence forever,” says O’Connor. “The burden of that is hard to imagine.”

But as he began researching Wynne’s story, he learned that this ordinary man could also tell some extraordinary lies. In the late 1960s, after he had been imprisoned for his spycraft and could no longer assist MI6 nor the CIA, the amateur spy authored a pair of books: The Man From Moscow: The Story of Wynne and Penkovsky and The Man From Odessa , that were riddled with falsehoods.

“[Wynne], bless him, for all his wonderful work, was a menace and a fabricator,” says Nigel West , who has written numerous books on British and American intelligence organizations, including two books specifically about fabricators in the intelligence arena. “He just couldn’t tell the truth. It was pathological with him.”

While its standard for Hollywood films to take liberties with the facts, insert composite characters, devise imagined conversations, and smooth-out timelines to ensure a brisk pace, it’s less common for a based-on-a-true-story movie to have to be more truthful than the source material.

O’Connor makes clear that The Courier is “not a documentary,” even as he explains that he took pains to stick to the facts as much as they could be ascertained—drawing on works such as Jerrold L. Shecter and Peter S. Deriabin’s The Spy Who Saved the World: How a Soviet Colonel Changed the Course of the Cold War and other accounts that could be trusted more than Wynne’s own inventions.

“There’s a fair amount of source material from all different kinds of authors, so by reading everybody—not just Wynne’s books, but other historians, and the official history put out by the American side and the Soviet side — I was able to try and work out what made the most sense and what seemed liked disinformation,” says O’Connor.

Even though Wynne wasn’t exactly a reliable narrator for what he did during his time as a secret agent, the materials he smuggled from behind the Iron Curtain were the real thing. After the initial meeting in December 1960, Penkovsky provided Wynne with film of Soviet military documents and later promised more information if an arrangement with British or American intelligence could be made. Wynne dutifully passed the images to his contacts with British intelligence, who established their legitimacy. Thus began their fruitful relationship, one that involved Wynne hosting Penkovsky in London, who was visiting under the pretense of cultivate new opportunities in the West. On this trip, Penkovsky submitted to hours of interviews with British and American intelligence officials about the Soviet Union’s military and political developments.

“Penkovsky’s dynamism and enthusiasm, his wide-ranging and passionate denunciations of the Soviet system and its leaders illustrated with anecdotes, fascinated and captivated the American and British teams,” write Schecter and Deriabin. “Never before had there been a Soviet spy like him.”

Wynne also enthusiastically embraced his role, enjoying the part of a daring secret agent where he could apply his salesman skills to a higher-stakes game. During their visits, Penkovsky and Wynne would get out on the town, visiting restaurants, nightclubs and shops under the cover of talking business, with each man proudly showing the other around his home country. They made an odd contrast—the short, energetic, and thinly mustachioed Wynne alongside the military bearing of Penkovsky—but there seemed to be genuine affection between the two, and this friendship is a central focus of The Courier .

“These guys were in the foxhole together—they each had a secret that only the other man knew,” says O’Connor . “They were alone in the world with this incredible burden except for the other man.”

But the chummy interactions between the agents and Penkovsky’s prolific, even reckless, acquisition of materials grew increasingly perilous—and finally caught the KGB’s attention. After a meeting in Paris in September 1961, Penkovsky’s next trips were mysteriously cancelled at the last minute. When Wynne visited Moscow in July 1962, his hotel room and luggage were searched, and he was tailed during his travels.

On October 29 of that year, just hours after the Soviets stood down during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Wynne went to Soviet-occupied Budapest with a traveling exhibition of British industrial goods, against the advice of his MI6 handlers. Wynne would later relate that as he walked down the steps of an exhibition pavilion, four men suddenly appeared as a car pulled up and Wynne was pushed inside. He was flown to Moscow, imprisoned, and tried alongside Penkovsky, who it would later be learned had been arrested the week before Wynne entered Hungary.

“They had to go through a show trial, basically, so on the stand Wynne accused MI6 of using him as a dupe—he may have just been saying whatever he could say because he worried they might execute him,” says Jeremy Duns , an author of several spy novels set during the Cold War as well as the history book Codename: Hero: The True Story of Oleg Penkovsky and the Cold War’s Most Dangerous Operation .

For his treason, Penkovsky was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad days after the trial ended (though Wynne would later claim he died of suicide). Wynne, despite claiming ignorance of what materials he was smuggling to the West, was sentenced to eight years in prison. After months of negotiations, the British government was eventually able to arrange a trade of Wynne for the Soviet spy Gordon Lonsdale, who’d been arrested the year before and was serving a 25-year sentence in England.

In all, Penkovsky had provided Western intelligence with about 140 hours of interviews and 111 exposed rolls of film, contributing to some 10,000 pages of intelligence reports. The operation was “the most productive classic clandestine operation ever conducted by the CIA or MI6 against the Soviet target,” as Schecter and Deriabin put it, and key to its success was the mustachioed courier with no prior intelligence experience.

“Penkovsky gave a huge amount of details about what missiles the Soviets had, how old they were, how there were queues for food—it was an extremely vivid portrait of the country and the people within intelligence,” says Duns. “He was senior enough that you could sit down with the agents for hours and explain the entire context of how Soviet intelligence worked.”

Among the materials Penkovsky provided to Wynne were four photocopies of plans for construction sites of missile-launching installations in Cuba. This gave American officials a clearer picture of what the Soviets were doing in the region, bringing in medium-range ballistic missiles. It also helped Americans to understand how limited the Soviets’ capabilities actually were in the area, so as tensions grew during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy “knew how much rope he could give [Soviet Premier Nikita] Khrushchev,” as Duns puts it.

Upon release from prison, Wynne’s old life was in tatters—he’d lost much of his business and the time spent in the Soviet prison seemed to have caused long-term damage. Seeking ways to parlay the notoriety he received, he became what Duns calls a “rent-a-spokesperson for all kinds of espionage stuff,” making appearances in the media about anything related to spycraft, whether or not it was anything he had experience with. This led to the publication of his dubious memoirs. At the time, they were largely accepted at face value and sold well. The BBC produced a TV movie based on them. But over time, intelligence experts and those involved in the case, though reluctant to share sensitive information, cast doubt on much of what Wynne laid out in his books.

Wynne’s fabrications range from small to huge. In one of his biggest whoppers, Wynne explains that he and Penkovsky took a trip together in a private military jet from the U.K. to Washington, D.C. The two then visited the White House where President John F. Kennedy personally thanked them for their service—then the two returned to the U.K. just 18 hours later. Not only was this account widely denied shortly after publication by members of the CIA and Kennedy’s staff, but it would have been against the way espionage is run—keeping heads of state a safe distance from the details of intelligence work. To top it off, it would have been physically impossible at the time.

“In 1961, jet travel did not allow someone to fly from the U.K. to the U.S. and back again in 24 hours,” says West.

Why did Wynne make up so much, when the truths of his 18 months as a spy are already filled with astounding details? Among the explanations are a desire for money or fame, a ruinous case of alcoholism, or perhaps even psychological scars left by his time in Soviet prison or the shame he felt for publicly turning against British intelligence during the trial. West maintains that it’s the result of something all too typical in the intelligence community—what he calls “post-usefulness syndrome.”

“Imagine that I recruit you and I tell you that whatever you report to me, within an hour, it will be on the president’s desk. You, in your own mind, have developed this sense of self-importance,” says West. “Then after your service, when you haven’t even told your family or friends about this, you’re told, ‘thank you very much, indeed. Don’t call us, we’ll call you in a couple years.’ When Greville got out of prison, he was not prepared, as people obviously are not in those circumstances, to be ignored.”

When it came to writing the screenplay, O’Connor laments that the true story of Wynne’s experiences may never be known. Even the official accounts put out by American and Russian authorities regarding the Penkovsky affair include disinformation and spin that he, or any historian, has to navigate through.

When it comes to espionage, it’s hard to know who to trust.

Get the latest History stories in your inbox?

Click to visit our Privacy Statement .

Alex Palmer | | READ MORE

Alex Palmer is a travel and culture writer who lives in Brooklyn. He is the author of The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York .

More From Forbes

Is ‘a simple favor’ based on a true story unraveling netflix’s no. 1 movie.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Blake Lively in "A Simple Favor."

A Simple Favor was released six years ago, but the film’s recent Netflix debut propelled the crime thriller to the No. 1 spot on the streamer’s top movie charts. As you’re watching, you might be wondering whether A Simple Favor is based on a true story .

From Bridesmaids director Paul Feig, the 2018 mystery thriller centers on Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick), a widowed single mother with a parenting vlog. Stephanie becomes unexpected friends with Emily Nelson (played by Blake Lively), an intimidating woman whose son attends the same elementary school as hers. Although the pair couldn’t be more different, they get close anyway — even if the other moms think Emily wants a nanny rather than a friend.

One day, after asking Stephanie for another favor, Emily goes missing. Stephanie takes it upon herself to investigate the disappearance and find her so-called friend. Throughout the process, she delves deeper into Emily’s life, uncovering dark and shocking secrets.

Is A Simple Favor Based On A True Story?

Anna Kendrick in "A Simple Favor"

No, A Simple Favor is a fictional story not inspired by real life. The film is based on the novel of the same name by New York Times bestselling author Darcey Bell.

Combined Wealth Of Taiwan’s 50 Richest On Forbes List Rises $19 Billion To $174 Billion

A 3 point cheat sheet for creating romantic chemistry by a psychologist, apple brings back iphone 14 pro for first time at lower price refurbished.

In an April 2017 interview with the Washington Independent Review of Books , Bell was asked whether anything about the story exists in her reality.

“Sort of! As a preschool teacher, I spend a lot of time talking with moms with young children who are often lonely, fiercely protective, and loving parents,” she explained. “To be honest, a lot of the mothers I meet are at least a little like Stephanie. Maybe every mother is, but some know how to hide it better than others! But no sapphire rings or cabins for me...”

Warning: Spoilers for the “A Simple Favor” book and film.

There are several major differences between the book and the movie. In the book, Stephanie has a blog instead of a vlog. Sean Townsend, Emily’s husband, works at a real estate company, while in the movie, he is depicted as a former novelist and current college professor.

Another significant difference is that in the book, Emily’s twin contacts her with suicidal intentions, whereas in the movie, she contacts Emily to ask for money and to blackmail her. Additionally, in the novel, Sean is aware of Emily’s plan, and they devise it together. In contrast, the movie portrays Sean as being in the dark about Emily’s scheme, with Emily attempting to frame him.

Will There Be A Simple Favor 2?

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 10: Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively attend the New York premiere of "A ... [+] Simple Favor" at Museum of Modern Art on September 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jimi Celeste/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

The answer is yes, there will be A Simple Favor 2 . Following the film’s release, Amazon MGM Studios announced a sequel, A Simple Favor 2 , with Lively, Kendrick, and Henry Golding reprising their roles. The sequel recently wrapped up filming in Rome, coinciding with the first movie’s debut on Netflix.

In May 2024, Feig described the moment when he found out A Simple Favor was the No. 1 most-watched movie on Netflix. “I sent it to all my main cast saying, ‘Hey, we’re doing the right thing here,” Feig told Variety from the set.

The director said he was thrilled with the film’s success on the streaming giant. “It makes me so happy because this really is one of my favorite movies. It’s done well in the theaters, but I always feel so many people haven’t seen it yet so now they do get to see it.”

A Simple Favor is streaming on Netflix. Watch the official trailer below.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Join The Conversation

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's  Terms of Service.   We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

• False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
• Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
• Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
• Content that otherwise violates our site's  terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

• Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
• Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
• Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
• Actions that otherwise violate our site's  terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

• Stay on topic and share your insights
• Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
• ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
• Protect your community.
• Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's  Terms of Service.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Movie Review: Glen Powell gives big leading man energy in ‘Hit Man’

This image released by Netflix shows Adria Arjona, left, and Glen Powell in a scene from “Hit Man.” (Netflix via AP)

This image released by Netflix shows Glen Powell in a scene from “Hit Man.” (Netflix via AP)

This image released by Netflix shows Glen Powell, left, and Richard Robichaux in a scene from “Hit Man.” (Netflix via AP)

• Copy Link copied

For a guy like Glen Powell, the ascent to movie stardom isn’t really a question. It’s more like an inevitability.

Blessed with that square jawline, those bright green eyes, a flop of dirty blonde hair and the kind of symmetrical smile that would seem suspect if it weren’t so darn charming, he’s a Disney prince before they all became the bad guys. And he’s got the kind of effortless, high-wattage charisma that ensures a career beyond soaps and procedurals, the typical resting ground for the laughably handsome. Powell has something, you believe, going on behind the eyes.

This is all to say that suspension of disbelief is a prerequisite going into “Hit Man,” a decently entertaining action-comedy-romance about a fake hit man from filmmaker Richard Linklater, who co-wrote the script with Powell. It’s making a brief stop in theaters starting Friday before hitting Netflix on June 7.

Based on a “somewhat true story” though it may be, this is a film that asks its audience to buy into the idea that the characters in this film believe that Powell’s face is bland and forgettable. This has everything to do with his character, Gary Johnson, a philosophy professor in New Orleans who lives a quiet, solitary life in the suburbs tending to his two cats, birding, tinkering with electronics and helping the local police install surveillance equipment for sting operations. He drives a Honda Civic and wears ill-fitting polo shirts, knee-length jean shorts and socks with his semi-orthopedic sandals. And, of course, like many hot guys in disguise before him, he’s got a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. Why he dresses like your middle-aged uncle in 1992 is anyone’s guess. Were he in Bushwick, it might not even look odd. But this is a movie and we know that Gary is predestined for a glow-up.

Not that “Hit Man” allows itself to have any fun with the makeover aspect. No, once plain Gary is thrown into this amateur undercover work (by Retta and Sanjay Rao), we only get to see the final looks he wears to meet all the people looking to hire a hit man. He dips into the theatrical for these occasions, sporting wigs, makeup, accents and fake tattoos in his attempt to be what he thinks each specific person thinks a hit man should be, which is moderately amusing.

But besides a brief bit showing him watching a wig-and-makeup YouTube tutorial, his transformations are not exactly investigated. There’s no shopping montage, no Harvey Fierstein-type character helping him find his way around the college theater department’s costume room, and no apparent budgetary concerns or discussions, which seems odd for a guy who is only doing this undercover stuff for an extra paycheck. In a movie that perhaps had a better engine behind it, questions like these might evaporate with the laughter and enjoyment of a fairly silly premise. “Hit Man” does not quite have that, though. Again, that suspension of disbelief is necessary.

Things do pick up with the introduction of The Girl, Madison (Adria Arjona, terrific despite being awfully underdeveloped), an unhappy wife looking to get rid of her cruel husband. Gary meets her as “Ron,” who acts and dresses like the leading man of an action movie, or a cocky off-duty movie star, with well-fitting jeans and tight henleys and cool-guy jackets showing off his inexplicably ripped physique.

And he treats Madison differently than the many other characters he’s helped put behind bars whose stupidity, trashiness and ugliness are all played for madcap comedic effect. She, he decides, doesn’t really want this — a grace he extends to no one else. He talks her out of hiring him to kill the bad husband, whom she promptly leaves without incident before moving into a nice house and beginning a steamy romance with Ron.

Again, questions arise about how this woman whose husband didn’t allow her to work and who was so scared of him that she was ready to hire a hit man has managed to escape so smoothly. But, you know, good for her and good for us because the chemistry between her and Powell is electric and ravenous, up there with George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez in “Out of Sight.”

But the honeymoon only lasts so long and things soon get tricky as Ron starts to become Gary’s dominant character. This all builds to a fairly exciting third act with the introduction of an actual murder and the possibility of being exposed by an increasingly suspicious and crooked cop (played with slimy perfection by Austin Amelio). And you can’t help shake the feeling that it needed something else: a bigger twist, a stickier conflict, some heightened stakes.

“Hit Man” was a movie that got some breathless praise out of the fall film festivals, which might be to its detriment. It’s perfectly enjoyable: a glossy, easy-to-digest Powell showcase that isn’t trying to be anything but fun. But the second coming of the action-comedy-romance, it is not.

“Hit Man,” a Netflix release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “language throughout, sexual content and some violence.” Running time: 115 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

Is Sight based on a true story? Everything we know about Andrew Hyatt's film

Sight tells the inspiring story of Dr. Ming Wang, an eye surgeon who proves that resilience and innovation can conquer any challenge. In a world where medical miracles can change lives, Dr. Ming Wang and his groundbreaking work in helping blind people see again is amazing. This true story has been turned into a movie called Sight , directed by Andrew Hyatt and featuring Terry Chen in the role of Dr. Wang.

The official synopsis of the film on Angel Studios reads:

"Wang, an impoverished Chinese prodigy who flees Communist China to become a pioneering eye surgeon in America. When tasked with restoring the sight of an orphan who was blinded by her step mother, he must confront the trauma of living through the violent uprising in his youth, the Cultural Revolution."

This biographical drama chronicles Dr. Wang's accomplishments while also aiming to inspire and educate viewers about the importance of vision and medical progress.

Journey of Dr. Ming Wang in Andrew Hyatt's Sight

Growing up in Hangzhou, China, during the Cultural Revolution wasn't easy for Dr. Ming Wang. Despite the challenges he faced , he never lost his drive to succeed. According to his biography on drmingwang.com, Wang was able to snag a unique chance to move to the US with hopes of making it big in the medical field.

When Dr. Wang went to the US, he had to deal with cultural differences and language barriers. He worked hard to navigate the American education system. He did well in school, getting degrees from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He went on to earn a Ph.D. in laser physics from the University of Maryland.

Dr. Wang has helped thousands of patients see again with his groundbreaking techniques and innovations in eye surgery. He's received lots of awards and is known as a top expert in his field. In the movie , viewers get to see how Dr. Wang's passion for science and care for others changed so many lives.

Dr. Ming Wang's legacy: Medical innovations and compassion in Sight movie trailer

Sight is a story that highlights the profound impact medical progress has on the lives of individuals and communities. Dr. Ming Wang has made a huge impact on the field of ophthalmology, way beyond just his surgical skills. The trailer shows how a little girl walks in to his clinic in hopes of regaining her eyesight and how well the doctor treats her, not only through his behavior but by his willingness to take a chance and go the extra mile to secure her vision.

The trailer also shows how he got separated from his lady love back in China and wished to take her out of that darkness, and used his medical profession to do the same, at least in some way, for other people. While actor Terry Chen portrays Dr. Wang, Greg Kinnear plays Dr. Misha Bartnovsky, the former's eye surgeon partner. His dedication to patient care and innovative spirit make him a beacon of hope in the story.

Dr. Wang created the amniotic membrane contact lens, with Dr. Bartnovsky working with him. Dr. Wang's work in treating cataracts, keratoconus, and other eye problems has been groundbreaking. It's helped a lot of people live better lives.

Dr. Wang also runs a non-profit organization called the Wang Foundation for Sight Restoration, where he provides free medical services and surgeries to people in underserved communities globally. The movie captures both sides of Dr. Wang's legacy: his medical work and his caring approach to helping others. It's a great reminder that success in medicine isn't just about discoveries, but also about how they improve people's lives.

Sight is currently running in theaters on May 24, 2024 (Memorial Day Weekend).

Screen Rant

The strangers true story: real-life crimes that inspired the horror movie.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

The Strangers New Trilogy Is Risking What Made The Franchise's Masked Killers So Terrifying

Where to watch the strangers chapter 1: showtimes & streaming status, where to watch the strangers & prey at night.

• Real-life crimes like the Manson Family murders inspired the chilling home invasion premise of The Strangers.
• The trilogy, starting with Chapter 1, delves into the killers' backstories, breaking away from the real-life origins of the first film.
• The Strangers' grounded scare tactics make the home-invasion horror series unsettling and effective in its portrayal of random violence.

A 2008 home-invasion horror film starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, The Strangers is inspired by a true story, which only adds to the movie's overall sense of terror. While the horror genre is often associated with tales of monsters, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures, some of the most effective horror films of all time rely on real-world possibilities . The Strangers series, which continues with the 2018 sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night , and the 2024 prequel-meets-reboot The Strangers: Chapter 1 , leverages its real-life origins for the better, all while paying homage to '80s slashers.

Despite divided reviews, the original 2008 film's portrait of a sadistic — and chilling — home invasion is unrivaled. In need of a vacation, a couple (Tyler and Speedman) venture to a remote home, only to be terrorized by three masked strangers. As the couple fight to survive against the unrelenting killers — Man in the Mask, Dollface, and Pin-Up Girl — The Strangers leans into the horrors of its very plausible premise . In fact, several harrowing real-life crimes form the backbone of The Strangers ' core narrative, including several haunting murders.

The Strangers True Story: Real-Life Crimes That Inspired The Movie

The film's creator cites 3 key sources of inspiration.

According to Strangers writer and director Bryan Bertino, the film's true story is primarily based on three real-life happenings. The first inspiration is the series of murders committed by the Manson Family in 1969. Later nicknamed "Helter Skelter," the killings were organized by Charles Manson in an ill-conceived bid to start a race war that the cult leader himself had predicted. In particular, the Manson Family's brutal killing of actress Sharon Tate at her own Los Angeles home stands out as a clear inspiration for The Strangers , which boasts gruesome stabbings of its own.

One night when a young Bertino's parents weren't home, someone knocked on the door and asked for someone who didn't live there.

The second inspiration for The Strangers true story is the 1981 Keddie Cabin Murders, which saw four people killed in a small California resort town. Disturbingly, the motive for those murders is still unknown, as the Keddie police department never caught the real-life killer(s) . Even now, the case remains unsolved. Obvious similarities to The Strangers ' premise abound, with the three masked assailants in The Strangers wandering off into the morning chill after massacring the couple simply " because they were home ."

The Strangers: Chapter One will ambitiously expand on the original horror film's premise, answering questions that could make or break the franchise.

The third and final slice of real-life inspiration for The Strangers derives from Bertino's own experience. One night when a young Bertino's parents weren't home, someone knocked on the door and asked for someone who didn't live there. Unlike in The Strangers , however, the would-be burglars were knocking on doors to rob houses that were empty for the night instead of attacking people inside their homes. Still, the experience left an indelible mark on Bertino that later morphed into the terrifying portrait of random violence that The Strangers movie depicts .

The Strangers

*Availability in US

Not available

The first film in the horror series, The Strangers, follows an unsuspecting couple on vacation who find themselves at the mercy of a group of murderers who seek to physically and psychologically torture them. After a series of unfortunate events that lead the couple to commit an accidental crime, they find themselves fighting for survival against three masked intruders that chose to attack them "because they were home." 

Were James Hoyt And Kristin McKay Really Murdered?

Liv tyler & scott speedman's characters were invented for the strangers film.

Given that The Strangers ' true story inspiration is a blend of several actual murders, it's fair to assume that James Hoyt (Speedman) and Kristin McKay (Tyler) were real murder victims. In actuality, however, they are fictional characters who were made up for the movie. The two were constructs; no couple with those names were murdered in real life to the writer's knowledge. Still, the movie's central figures act as conduits for the real-life murders that inspired The Strangers . So, while James Hoyt and Kristin McKay aren't real people, they do act as proxies for those who have been randomly targeted for senseless violence .

The Strangers horror franchise has returned. Here is where to watch The Strangers: Chapter 1 in theaters with showtimes or at home on streaming.

The Strangers Realistic Scenario Is What Makes It So Disturbing

The horror movie's "what if" premise makes it chilling.

Non-paranormal horror movies prey on viewers' more grounded fears, which makes it even more unsettling when a terrifying film is based on true events. The Strangers true story is no exception. The knowledge that real events inspired the film makes the movie especially chilling. In fact, that's why properties in Conjuring verse are so popular: even if a viewer doesn't believe in ghosts, Ed and Lorraine Warren were real paranormal investigators. What works about The Strangers is that it centers on a senseless act of violence that truly could have happened to anyone.

The Strangers is intriguing because it exposes viewers to a chilling "what if" story.

Unlike slasher movies based around larger-than-life characters like Jason Voorhees, The Strangers chronicles a random and intentionally brutal home invasion. The killers psychologically terrorize and physically assault the couple they hold captive. The reveal that James and Kristin were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time makes the terror more palpable. True-crime series have surged in popularity because they allow viewers to confront their greatest fears at a safe distance. Similarly, The Strangers is intriguing because it exposes viewers to a chilling "what if" story.

A sequel to The Strangers, The Strangers: Prey at Night is a slasher that chronicles a struggle to survive—as does 2024's The Strangers: Chapter 1.

The Strangers Sequel Is Just As Unsettling And Realistic

The strangers: prey at night builds on the series' grounded horror.

While its release wasn't quite the sensation that The Strangers was, the 2018 sequel, Prey At Night , is an underrated horror gem that continues to build on the cult classic movie's depiction of plausible real-life horrors. Much like its predecessor, The Strangers 2 drew on several real-life inspirations. Again, the murder of Sharon Tate at the hands of Charles Manson's followers provides fodder for the film series. In the second installment, the trio of weapon-wielding strangers terrorize a family of four who are vacationing in a remote trailer park . Again, sometimes a grounded scare is more effective than a supernatural one.

The Strangers: Prey at Night

The Strangers: Prey at Night is a sequel to Bryan Bertino's 2008 slasher The Strangers. The film has a similar plot to the original, centering on a group of masked strangers that attack a family taking a vacation at a trailer park. In August 2022, it was announced that three more films would be released in the coming years.

How The Strangers Turned Into A Horror Franchise

The strangers: chapter 1 will start a new trilogy of films.

The Strangers ' true story inspirations definitely lent to the success of the first movie, allowing it to grow into a blockbuster sleeper hit. In addition to spawning the less-popular The Strangers: Prey at Night , the first film in the horror series kick-started a soon-to-be franchise. The newest film, The Strangers: Chapter 1 , is not just a prequel to the first two films, but the first in a standalone trilogy that occurs in the same continuity as the 2008 and 2018 movies. With the trilogy set to explore the killers' backstories, it seems unlikely that Chapter 1 will follow in The Strangers ' footsteps and stem from real-life inspirations.

The Strangers: Chapter 1

The Strangers: Chapter 1 is the third film in the horror/slasher franchise directed by Renny Harlin. The film follows a young couple who move to the Pacific Northwest to start a new life. However, their new life gets off to a terrifying start when a broken-down vehicle forces them to stay at a remote vacation home, leaving them to be stalked relentlessly by three masked murderers. 

10 Best Football Movies That Are Based on True Stories

Football movies already come with their own sense of nostalgia, but those based on true stories really touch the heart.

Football movies already come with a certain nostalgia, as they remind audiences of the chilly fall evenings with bright lights illuminating perfectly manicured fields. Each year, millions of people attend games and events, rally with their friends at sports bars, or tune into the game from the comfort of their own homes. Football is more than just a sport for some; it's a complete lifestyle. When it comes to movies featuring fictional football games , many fans are skeptical, as rules, regulations, and reality are often thrown out. However, there are plenty of football films that are based on true stories to get sports fans and cinephiles rooting for the same team.

Seeing a real-life coach, specific athlete, or whole team depicted in a movie is an honor. These individuals or groups have usually been recognized in a huge way within the industry, and those with the cameras and scripts feel as if their incredible stories should be told to the masses. Check out the 10 best football movies of all time that are actually based on true stories.

10 Remember the Titans (2000)

As one of the most popular and well-known football movies that is based on a true story, Remember the Titans does so much more than show audiences how a group of young men can come together as a team to win some games. Denzel Washington and Will Patton portray the very real coach, Herman Boone, and his assistant coach, Bill Yoast. Together, the men were able to make a difference in their players' lives and help their small town learn to accept and embrace everyone, no matter the color of their skin.

The True Story Behind the Film

As a Black man born in America in 1935, Herman Boone knew what it meant to be judged by the color of his skin. Just over a decade into his teaching and coaching career, Boone was hired at T. C. Williams High School (the school featured in the movie), and in 1971, he was promoted to head coach as three already racially integrated schools were merged together. Boone was a force no one wanted to reckon with as his motivation seeped into his players, and they handled their business on the field with more wins than anything. Stream on Disney+

9 Rudy (1993)

Rudy is the ultimate underdog football story that tells about the time a young man named Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger from Illinois had big dreams for himself despite many challenges. Lord of the Rings and Stranger Things actor Sean Astin portrayed the aspiring young man in the film, and perfectly showed how Ruettiger was able to pursue his life-long dream of playing college football. Between the advice given and the rallying support students have in the movie, you may even find yourself chanting for Rudy to get on the field.

Much like he is portrayed in the film, Ruettiger did not have the easiest time in school. His grades were not stellar, and with 13 other siblings, college seemed like a difficult dream to achieve. Nevertheless, he persisted. After attending Holy Cross College, Ruettiger was able to transfer to Notre Dame, where he earned a spot on the practice team. The real Dan Devine, Notre Dame's head football coach at the time, was not a heartless monster like he was made out to be in the film. Instead, he encouraged Ruetigger to play during the final game of his senior year. Furthermore, Ruettiger really was carried off the field by fellow teammates. Stream on Hulu

8 North Dallas Forty (1979)

Nick Nolte portrays Phil Elliott, an older player on the North Dallas Bulls football team, in North Dallas Forty . Phil and Seth Maxwell, the Bulls' quarterback and Phil's best friend, enjoy the party life a bit too much off the field, and they have gotten away with a lot since they do so well in games. Unfortunately, Phil's time comes to an end when the owners decide they've had enough of his attitude.

North Dallas Forty is not the typical feel-good football film that most audiences are used to, but rather, it depicts what happened behind the scenes in the industry in the 1960s. Based on Peter Gent's semi-autobiographical novel, many fans have been able to connect the characters in his book and the film to players and officials on the Dallas Cowboys team. Looking at the lifestyles people were naturally living in the late '60s and the honest account from Gent, this film is an eye-opener to what goes on when business trumps humanity. Rent on YouTube

7 Brian's Song (2001)

Nobody is ever really excited about being someone else's understudy or being second-string. For Brian Piccolo in Brian's Song , he is less than pleased to find that the starting running back, Gale Sayers, is always just a step ahead of him. However, after a serious injury allows Brian to step up as the starter, he realizes he wants to earn the spot rather than be the de facto player. Brian makes it his mission to help Gale get better and train, and naturally, the two bond and become the best of friends.

Based on a single chapter in Gale Sayers' autobiography, I Am Third , the former Chicago Bears halfback fondly remembers the standoff attitude he and Brian Piccolo had towards one another that later became a friendship. While the 1971 film (as well as the 2001 remake here) put a larger emphasis on the players' friendship, both did face their own struggles in real life. Piccolo really did have to work his way up the ranks to be a starter, and Sayers did get injured, which resulted in Piccolo replacing him for a short time. Stream on Tubi

Related: The 11 Best Fictional Movie Football Players, Ranked

6 Gridiron Gang (2006)

Gridiron gang.

It should come as no surprise to see Dwayne Johnson in a football coaching position , but to make him a probation officer that tries to help kids see more potential in themselves than living a life of violence is touching. Gridiron Gang follows a group of juvenile delinquents as they are given the chance to create a football team and learn what it means to work together for a common goal. Now, this is easier said than done, as some boys come from rival gangs, and plenty of them have reasons to be angry.

In the Santa Monica Mountains of California, there is a juvenile detention center called Camp Kilpatrick. The camp started to gain some recognition in the late-80s with its introduction of a sports program to help build character for the kids there. In 1990, their football team, the Kilpatrcik Mustangs, went a full season against other teams and schools in the area. A documentary came out in 1993 depicting their inaugural season. Sean Porter had a part in the creation of the football program, but not to the degree shown in the movie. Stream on Netflix

5 Friday Night Lights (2004)

Friday night lights.

It is no secret that small towns in Texas and high school football go hand in hand, but one particular town in west Texas is known for its love of the game. In Odessa, at Permian High School, young men can be found on the field all year round as they get ready for football season.

Billy Bob Thornton portrays the legendary Coach Gary Gaines in Friday Night Lights , as he prepares his boys to set their sights on the state championship. Lucas Black and Derek Luke, respectively, play Mike Winchell and Boobie Miles. The film shows the struggles many players go through and how they are able to manage significant wins as well as devastating losses.

In the late-80s, a journalist by the name of H. G. Bissingger believed there was a story to tell about how high school football played a much larger role in our society. He found the Permian High football team in Odessa, Texas and decided to involve himself with the players and coaches (per Screen Rant ). He went to their games, practices, and even homes to get a better sense of who everyone was both on the field and off of it. He discovered that Gary Gaines was a championship-driven coach who cared deeply about his players, and he got to know what motivated several of the young men on the team. Rent on Prime Video

4 Invincible (2006)

Mark Wahlberg plays Vince Papale in Invincible , a former teacher who managed to earn himself a spot on the Philadelphia Eagles for three seasons. In the film, Papale struggles with getting laid off and losing his wife all at once, but a glimmer of hope presents itself when the new coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear), decides to hold open public tryouts to find new talent for the team. Papale tries out and makes the team. Unfortunately, not all the players are as excited about his involvement.

While several things are true throughout Invincible , the storyline for a lot of it is skewed. Rather than Vince Papale being a teacher-bartender combo, who only played pick-up games at the park, he actually had real experience playing football. The real Papale played in the semi-pro Seaboard Football League, and then he attended the open tryouts for the Philadelphia Bell. Two seasons later, he was invited to a private training session with the Philadelphia Eagles where he made the roster. Stream on Disney+

Related: The Best Football Movies of All Time, Ranked

3 We Are Marshall (2006)

We are marshall.

Matthew McConaughey gave an outstanding performance in We Are Mashall as the real-life Jack Lengyel, a man who took on the head coaching job at Marshall University after the previous head coach, dozens of players, and many others lost their lives in a plane crash. With very few football players, Lengyel had to recruit athletes from other sports and allow walk-ons to try out for the team. The film shows what it is like for the university as well as the town to come together to honor the memory of those they lost.

In 1970, a chartered plane carrying most of Marshall University's football team and coaches crashed just before reaching the runway, killing everyone onboard. Lengyel became the new head coach of the Thundering Herd football team, and with the help of Marshall University's assistant coach, Red Dawson, he was able to put together a team. Lengyel asked the NCAA to allow first-year students to play college ball, and given the circumstance, they allowed the new rule. Rent on Apple TV

2 Undefeated (2011)

Some high school students go out for sports to stay fit, some grow up playing with their friends and family members, and then there are those who feel like they have control of nothing else in their lives except for themselves while in a game. These students are the ones who put their heart and soul into the sport, and they're also the ones featured in the award-winning football documentary , Undefeated .

Rather than seeing actors portray players and coaches, Undefeated gets right into the thick of it as a camera crew followed a head football coach, Bill Courtney, and his players in Memphis, Tennessee. From outbreaks and fights to honest speeches and advice, Courtney was able to turn around the team in a single season. He not only made his players work for their wins, but he made sure they knew they were supported in the classroom and at home. The documentary won an Academy Award and an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Stream on Hoopla

1 The Express: The Ernie Davis Story (2008)

The express.

Actor Rob Brown was no stranger to sports films being based on true stories, since he had already been in Coach Carter , but with The Express: The Ernie Davis Story , there was a much deeper message to portray than overcoming personal hardships. Brown plays the title character as he is recruited by the Syracuse University football head coach as well as all-star player Jim Brown. When in Texas, Ernie is met with threats, discrimination, and biased referees. Despite everyone rooting for his failure, Ernie manages to excel.

Ernie Davis was the first African American man to win the Heisman Trophy, the highest honor any college football player can receive. Like in the film, he really was persuaded to join Syracuse's team because of Jim Brown, and a couple of years later, Davis was able to convince Floyd Little to do the same. Davis and his team did face backlash and hostility while playing in the Cotton Bowl, but he still managed to keep his composure and give the game his all. Rent on AppleTV

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Entertainment

The True Story Behind Hit Man Starring Glen Powell

Netflix's 'Hit Man' starring Glen Powell is based on the true story of a fake hitman named Gary Johnson

Courtesy of Netflix

Glen Powell is going undercover in his latest film Hit Man . 

The Richard Linklater -directed film, which hits theaters on May 24 before streaming on Netflix on June 7, follows Powell as part-time staffer with the New Orleans Police Department who goes undercover as a hitman to catch criminals. 

Though he has a knack for disguising himself as people’s “ideal” hitman, things hit a snag when he begins to fall for a woman who wants to kill her husband. 

While the film is filled with twists and turns, perhaps the most shocking part of the film is that it’s based on a true story. 

The screenplay, written by Richard Linklater and Powell, was based on a Texas Monthly article of the same name by Skip Hollandsworth, which details the extraordinary career of a college-professor-turned-fake-hitman named Gary Johnson. 

Speaking with PEOPLE about producing recent projects such as Hit Man and The Blue Angels , Powell noted that he’s always “respected actors that had a strong hand in what they were giving the world,” and he’s excited to do that with his own career. 

“I really have this moment where I can tell the stories I've always dreamed about telling, and the movies that got me into this business in the first place,” he explained. “I'm trying to find the gaps in the marketplace, the gaps that are sort of in my heart on a theatrical level, and give audiences that.” 

Here’s everything to know about the true story behind Hit Man . 

Warning: spoilers for Hit Man ahead. 

Who is Gary Johnson?

Matt Lankes / Netflix

Johnson was born in 1947 to a father who was a carpenter and a mother who was a housewife, per Texas Monthly . He grew up in rural Louisiana, where there were 12 students in his senior class. 

After graduating, he spent a year in Vietnam working as a military policeman overseeing convoys. When he returned home, he held various law enforcement jobs, including a sheriff’s deputy and doing undercover work for the Port Arthur police department in the mid-1970s. 

During that same time, he took night courses at McNeese State University, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, receiving a master’s degree in psychology. 

Eventually, he moved to Houston in 1981 with hopes of entering the University of Houston’s doctoral program in psychology. When he wasn’t accepted, he took on a job as an investigator for the district attorney’s office, eventually paving the way for his future career as a fake hitman.

What did Gary Johnson do for a living? 

In 1989, Johnson took on his first fake hitman job, which eventually turned into a 30-year career. Working as as a staff investigator for the Harris County district attorney’s office, Johnson became a master of disguise, taking on identities such as Mike Caine, Jody Eagle and Chris Buck. 

“He’s the perfect chameleon,” Houston lawyer Michael Hinton, who previously served as one of Johnson’s supervisors, told Texas Monthly . “Gary is a truly great performer who can turn into whatever he needs to be, in whatever situation he finds himself. He never gets flustered, and he never says the wrong thing. He’s somehow able to persuade people who are rich and not so rich, successful and not so successful, that he’s the real thing. He fools them every time.”

The film notes that he assisted in over 70 arrests as an undercover agent. 

Despite his ability to morph into the ideal criminal, Johnson's real life persona was the polar opposite. As detailed at the end of the film, he was the “chillest dude imaginable” and was an “animal-loving Buddhist.” Per Texas Monthly , he lived alone with his two cats, named Id and Ego, and would spend his mornings outside, feeding his goldfish in a small pond, tending to his garden and meditating. 

In addition to working with the district attorney’s office, Johnson was also a teacher, teaching human sexuality and general psychology at a local college two nights a week.

Was Gary Johnson married? 

According to Texas Monthly , Johnson had been married and divorced three times. “The true essence of Gary is that he is a loner,” his second wife, Sunny, told the publication, who noted they were still good friends. 

“He’ll show up at parties and have a good time, and he’s always friendly, but he likes being alone, being quiet. It’s still amazing to me that he can turn on this other personality that makes people think he is a vicious killer,” she added. 

Is Adria Arjona’s character in Hit Man based on a real person?

While Powell’s character is loosely based on Johnson, Adria Arjona ’s character Maddy, who serves as his love interest in the movie, was also loosely inspired by a real person mentioned in the Texas Monthly article. 

At the end of the story, the interviewer mentions how Johnson recently did something completely “out of character” after getting a phone call from a woman who wanted to put a hit out on her abusive boyfriend. 

Before contacting her, Johnson did some research, and discovered she was the victim of abuse and was “regularly battered by her boyfriend,” but was “too terrified to leave him because of her fear of what he might do if he found her.” 

Instead of putting together a sting to catch the woman and send her to jail, he referred her to social service agencies and a therapist to get proper help and get into a women’s shelter.

For Powell, those few lines are what inspired him to write Hit Man . “When a lot of other people tried to tell this story, they tried to contain it to Gary Johnson’s function within the police department,” he said in the Netflix interview. “That’s where a lot of things can be redundant since he did that for 30 years. However, there were maybe a couple of sentences in the Texas Monthly article that talked about this relationship Gary had with this woman who was actually in danger.” 

“I told Rick, ‘I think that’s the story. That’s the thread we need to pull,’” he recalled of how the script came together. “So we started digging in to see what that relationship was like and where that  went. We still had the real Gary Johnson baked into our character, but the love story is where we started taking our creative license.” 

Did Gary Johnson ever kill anyone? 

The biggest liberty the film takes with Johnson’s story is the twist ending. (Warning: major spoilers for Hit Man ahead). 

After Maddy and Gary (who she believes to be a hitman named Ron) embark on a relationship together, things take a turn when Maddy’s abusive ex comes into the picture and tries to enlist “Ron” to kill her. Gary then informs Maddy of her ex's plan, leading her to take matters into her own hands and kill her ex. The news causes Gary to break down, revealing the truth about his identity and work as a fake hitman. 

Things take another turn when the police find out about the murder and enlist Gary to try and get a confession out of her. The two eventually team up to clear her name, however, Gary’s coworker Jasper figures out their scheme and shows up to Maddy’s apartment to blackmail them both.

To clear their names, Gary decides they should kill Jasper. After Maddy drugs him by spiking his beer, Gary puts a plastic bag over his head, suffocating him. 

Unlike the twist ending of the film, the real-life Johnson didn’t ever kill anyone. The film even makes sure to note that that part of the story was completely made up. 

Was Gary Johnson involved in Hit Man ?

Johnson wasn’t directly involved in the project, though Powell and Linklater did a lot of research on him as they ironed out the story. 

“I never got a chance to talk to the real Gary Johnson,” Powell told Netflix. “I listened to him a lot in old recordings and read a lot of what he did in police debriefs ... We were creating a moment in time for Gary, not where he is now. Sometimes when you meet the real-life people, you meet them in a different phase of their life and it can taint who they used to be.” 

Where is Gary Johnson now?

Johnson died in 2022, just before filming for Hit Man began. Powell told Netflix he really wishes he could “have gotten a chance to meet him because Rick had a lot of reverence for Gary and who he was.” Powell added that Johnson never got to see the final cut of the film, but thinks he would have “really appreciated the story.” “I’m really glad we have that tribute to him at the end of the movie,” he added.

Related Articles