jack valentine
"They say every man has his price, but not every man gets it. Interpol Agent Jack Valentine couldn't be bought; at least, not with money. For Jack, glory was the prize." This is how Yuri describes Valentine when they are first introduced to each other in the film, going on to summarize him as "the rarest breed of law enforcement officer: the type who knew I was breaking the law, but wouldn't break it himself to bust me." Valentine shows outstandingly admirable qualities while trying to arrest Yuri throughout the film. He would most easily be categorized as a Type III hero according to Roger Rollin's Beowulf to Batman: The Epic Hero and Pop Culture, as he is "superior in degree to other men but not to his natural environment" and "a leader". He is vulnerable and subject to the laws of physics and order of nature, but has "authority, passions, and powers of expression far greater than ours". He is the personification of what is essentially 'morally good' within this film, and a representation of what every law enforcement officer should be.
When presented with the opportunity to permanently make Yuri "disappear", Valentine's fellow agent tries to convince Valentine to let him kill Yuri, claiming "no one would know." Jack replies, "We would know", exemplifying the obvious turmoil his conscience would sustain if he killed a man (even a morally polar opposite man such as Yuri whom he knew was guilty) in cold blood without giving him a fair (yet unneeded) trial. In the ensuing conversation with Yuri, Valentine states, "Do you know why I do what I do? I mean there are more prestigious assignments: keeping track of nuclear arsenals; you'd think that more critical to world security. But it's not. No, nine out of ten war victims today are killed with assault rifles and small arms, like yours. Those nuclear missiles, they sit in their silo's; your AK-47, that is the real weapon of mass destruction." However, knowing that he does not have sufficient enough evidence to arrest him, he goes on to say, "Since you're so concerned with the law you must know that I'm legally permitted to hold you for twenty-four hours without charging you. You might ask why I would do that, and I can assure you that it's not because I enjoy your company, because I don't. No, the reason why I will delay you for every second of the permissible twenty-four hours, is I am delaying your deadly trade in the deaths of your victims. I don't think of it as taking a day from you, but giving a day to them. Some innocent man, woman, or child is gonna have an extra day on this Earth because you're not free." The character of Jack Valentine can be seen as somewhat divine, even Christ-like, as he righteous and just; though his efforts are fruitless, he tries to expunge the world of the 'evil' that is gunrunners, such as Yuri Orlov.
When presented with the opportunity to permanently make Yuri "disappear", Valentine's fellow agent tries to convince Valentine to let him kill Yuri, claiming "no one would know." Jack replies, "We would know", exemplifying the obvious turmoil his conscience would sustain if he killed a man (even a morally polar opposite man such as Yuri whom he knew was guilty) in cold blood without giving him a fair (yet unneeded) trial. In the ensuing conversation with Yuri, Valentine states, "Do you know why I do what I do? I mean there are more prestigious assignments: keeping track of nuclear arsenals; you'd think that more critical to world security. But it's not. No, nine out of ten war victims today are killed with assault rifles and small arms, like yours. Those nuclear missiles, they sit in their silo's; your AK-47, that is the real weapon of mass destruction." However, knowing that he does not have sufficient enough evidence to arrest him, he goes on to say, "Since you're so concerned with the law you must know that I'm legally permitted to hold you for twenty-four hours without charging you. You might ask why I would do that, and I can assure you that it's not because I enjoy your company, because I don't. No, the reason why I will delay you for every second of the permissible twenty-four hours, is I am delaying your deadly trade in the deaths of your victims. I don't think of it as taking a day from you, but giving a day to them. Some innocent man, woman, or child is gonna have an extra day on this Earth because you're not free." The character of Jack Valentine can be seen as somewhat divine, even Christ-like, as he righteous and just; though his efforts are fruitless, he tries to expunge the world of the 'evil' that is gunrunners, such as Yuri Orlov.