Session 013 - La Femme Nikita
Who saw it and what are your thoughts on it?
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
In the Screening Room - Luc Besson's
La Femme Nikita
Session 013 - La Femme Nikita
Who saw it and what are your thoughts on it?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
All I have to say is that this movie is worth watching if for no other reason than the scene where Jean Reno pulls an "Indiana Jones" on that guard.
I lied, that's not all I have to say. I like this film. It's got some great action, a great cast and a strong plot to boot. I never saw any of the American tv series and never will. Nothing will live up to the original.
After that opening scene, I was entirely ready to hate this film. A drugged up self-regarding punk chick inhumanely shoots and kills a police officer who’s checking out the scene of a bloodbath that her idiot friends quite literally dragged her stoned-out ass into.
Luckily, it gets better. For one thing, the punk female act is dropped as Nikita is trained to become an operative for the government instead of facing the death penalty (why they would choose a drugged out social deviant like Nikita, I have no idea). But, with a little suspension of disbelief, Nikita becomes a killing machine for the government’s use.
I don’t know if director Luc Besson was interested in the morals he’s inadvertently presenting here, but as soon as Nikita conforms to the ‘government ideal’ she’s a much more attractive character. Beforehand, she was half a Neanderthal, biting people and acting like a whining child. Afterwards, she’s a well-groomed, fashionable upper class citizen who manages to find love and gather some remnants of a conscious. Then again, the government uses her indiscriminately as their own little killing toy too, so it’s not exactly glorifying the idea of conforming either.
It’s best not to think about the plot too much and instead focus on the missions that Nikita is sent on. Director Luc Besson has always been best suited for presenting a good deal of violence (Leon the Professional comes to mind) and when Nikita is rolling around, shooting half a dozen people and getting away without a scratch the film is at its best. She embodies a strong, female character who just so happens to be as good at killing people as a John McClane or T-1000. A sniper scene where she's trying to hold off her lover from entering the bathroom just long enough for her to kill some unidentified woman stands out as especially well done.
Then Jean Reno shows up late in the game, playing a hilariously badass precursor to his role in Leon (the scene Rebecca mentions in her previous post as Reno apes Indy is flat-out great, it’s a true deadpan and darkly comic scene). Reno’s character is so gung-ho about killing lots and lots of people, he makes Nikita look almost redeemable.
By the end of the film I had forgotten about the reservations I had with its premise and just sat back and enjoyed the ride. Also, I have seen the American remake, Point of No Return with Bridget Fonda, and while I feel that Fonda might even be a better choice for the role (at the least she’s more likable than actress Anne Parillaud) the film pales in comparison. B
Couldn't have said it better myself.
I really was ready to hate this film with that opening heist, but once Nikita is converted, it is such a much better film.
Yes plot is not its strong suit, but I did like the dynamic between her and her fiance. It felt naively romantic, if that makes sense. They both have so much trust, that it becomes all the sweeter seeing them together, but all the tougher that you know it won't last.
Acting was good. I liked "Uncle Bob" and Jean Reno steals the film in only about 10 min of screen time. They called for a cleaner...God I now want to see a redone version of Pulp Fiction with Reno as the Wolf, but than again they are two very different cleaners.
Surprised that Besson had no interest in revisited it in a sequel. It warranted it, but than again I've never seen the show.
Leon is still a much better film.
Wow, an "In the Screening Room" where we're on the exact same page? Amazing.
Ever get around to seeing Sense and Sensibility though (or how about Bugsy from back in the day, haha)?
Oh, and a word of warning, the mere mention of remaking Pulp Fiction is probably enough to get you killed in some circles... but Jean Reno was the shit in Nikita. I can almost allow it.
Hopefully I'll get Sense and Sensibility tomorrow. Just never found myself in a period mood.
Still nothing for Bugsy.
And naturally I wouldn't remake Pulp Fiction. My god its my second favorite film ever. I was just saying if I could see the Wolf scenes done with Jean Reno instead. Thats all. Please don't kill me.
Post a Comment