La Femme Nikita
La Femme Nikita
R | 01 April 1991 (USA)
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A beautiful felon, sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a policeman, is given a second chance – as a secret political assassin controlled by the government.

Reviews
AniInterview

Sorry, this movie sucks

Wordiezett

So much average

Gutsycurene

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

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Bluebell Alcock

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

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colintoye

Outstanding film. Watch the American remake (The Assassin) and compare the two. Don't worry about the subtitles, you won't notice them once you are absorbed. Brilliant

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Joel Newman

LA FEMME NIKITA's overrated. Don't be fooled by style; it's not a good film. The best scene's the opening shout-out (which is over too quickly); it's downhill from there. I saw this at the movies in around 1990 (it was titled 'Nikita' then) and for some reason thought it was okay but looking at it again it's not. It's actually a bit crap. It came out on VHS dubbed in English titled 'Nikita'; even though I'd seen it at the movies I watched it a number of times at home; one time with my dad (who was unimpressed); I remember him saying something about French films being slow; that's right! This movie drags on but worse; it's embarrassing. Whether it's the dubbed in English version 'Nikita' or the restored to French language version named 'La Femme Nikita' (as originally intended) it's at times embarrasingly bad; those flamboyant costumes in the clothes shopping scenes, the cheesy dialogue; the romance and on vacation/gondolier/Venice scenes which play out like a romantic comedy/drama something akin to Julia Roberts in 'Pretty Woman' until there's some action (which os over in a couple of seconds); the best scene was the opening shout-out i.e. the drug store robbery (which should've gone on longer). The story was a good idea. And was it stylish? Sure. Music? Very good. Photography? Tick. But there's an undeserved mystique surrounding this film 'cause it's French. One of the strongest elements is Tcheky Kayro as 'Bob'. Jean Reno's Victor the Cleaner? I preferred the cleaner played by Harvey Keitel in the remake Point of No Return (1993) aka 'The Assassin'.

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Scott LeBrun

Anne Parillaud stars in the title role, a dangerous street punk who shoots a cop during a botched pharmacy robbery. She ends up saved from her execution by a typically shadowy government organization, because a character named Bob (Tcheky Karyo) has seen potential in her. She's groomed to be an assassin, and eventually adapts to this new life of hers. Adding to her newfound happiness is a romance with a nice guy supermarket cashier, Marco (Jean-Hugues Anglade)."La Femme Nikita" may surprise you if you're seeing it for the first time. Having spawned an American remake ("Point of No Return") and a cable TV series, one might think it were wall to wall action. But it's not. It's actually got quite a bit of humanity, working as a straight drama (for the most part) with interludes of intrigue. It benefits from engaging characters; as Nikita blossoms, the character becomes more and more appealing. Anglade is a likable, worthy love interest, adding to the good vibes.That doesn't mean, however, that there's no action at all. One set piece in a restaurant will capture the viewers' attention, as things go from bad to worse and Nikita gets caught in a shootout. There is some potent violence to enjoy, and giving the proceedings a real shot in the arm is the late-in- the-game appearance of ever-cool Jean Reno, who plays an unhinged "cleaner" named Victor.The sexy Parillaud is convincing every step of the way. The excellent Karyo does a compelling job as this unlikely new sort of "father figure" in her life. Film legend Jeanne Moreau adds a great touch of class as Amande, who coaches Nikita on how to bring out her femininity.The breakthrough film for its writer / director, Luc Besson, "Nikita" might be too slow and quiet for some tastes, but it does have style. Besson would later re-team with Reno for his American debut, "Leon the Professional".Seven out of 10.

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robert-259-28954

Long before there were all of the "edgy, dangerous, and sexy" women we now see in action films every day, there was Anne Parillaud. In the over two decades since this seminal film was produced, unfortunately, they have never produced another actress quite like her. When I first viewed this movie, I was totally unprepared for what I was going to see, a virtual force of nature in a slim female figure. As a working actor myself, there are certain things that make a great actor, or a great performance. Part of this magic involves someone who not only fully understands the character, but brings the creative energy and intelligence to the role, fearlessly and without self-consciousness. Parillaud was like watching a master class in the art of acting... she embodied all of these essential qualities, and more. But with all the many good young actors today, NONE could have played the part with such a fully realized landscape of every human emotion imaginable—from drug-induced psychosis, to unfettered youthful rebellion, to total surrender and adulthood, then ultimately morphing to a beautiful compromise of each. Rather than recount all the story points of this movie, I only wish the reader to simply pick up a copy of this film, and watch the original "Nikita" do her thing. I can only describe her fabulous performance as, "Feral." WATCH IT.

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