Movie #49 La Femme Nikita

Luc Besson is an interesting man.  He is the director of The Professional (Leon), and The Fifth Element.  Leon is in my Top 100 movies of all time.  When I type these blogs from home I am facing posters of Bonnie and Clyde and Leon is that tells you anything.  Besson's first film to garnish a lot of attention was 1990's La Femme Nikita.  The movie is about a French female street thug / cop killer.  She is sentenced to death then given a chance to live if she dedicates herself to a secret government program that will turn her into a covert assassin.  She obliges them receives her training then is released into the world.  She meets a man, then has to balance home life with her dirty little secret.

Nikita is played by Anne Parillaud.  She has an Amelie meets Juliet Lewis quality about her.  Innocent and playful one moment and insane and emotionless the next.  The rest of the cast is rounded out by solid French actors.  I guess I mention that the film is entirely in French.  The is a great cameo by Jean Reno as "The Cleaner".

Besson stages action in a way that is recognizable and unique.  I can't really describe it.  The camera isn't stationary, but it is not all over the place either.  There are quick cuts, but you always know where you are in the action.  I think back to the shoot out in the beginning of Leon.  Where he is lurking in the shadows.  You don't know where he is, but you know where you are and that intensifies the action.  His camera movements can be flashy, but they are in service of the story.  Technically he is a very good director.

Watching this movie now 20 after it's release it feels a little dated.  Not so much the wardrobe or settings (although they both have a just post Madonna feel) it is more a sense of detachment that was a common theme in movies around that time period.  The late 80's and early 90's were really a low point for creativity in Hollywood.  That was post the resurgence of the studios and computer enhancement, but prior to the uprising of the independent film movement.    I suppose one could say that films like this helped usher in the indy's.

If you are a fan of hitman movies this is a must.  It is not the first, or the best female assassin movies, but it is a major player in the genre.  If you are a fan of Besson's then you have probably seen this film already.  If not then you should. If neither of these things interest you then you won't be missing out by skipping this film.  I will say that if you are not a fan of Besson, check out Leon.  It might change your mind.  I give Le Femme Nikita a 3/5 stars.  Check out the link below for the trailer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=167URLa-On0