Nikita, while good, does not approach the high art that is León. While the fact that this plot has been imitated so frequently must make it seem less original than at its release, it was never really ironclad to begin with. On the other hand, it fits perfectly the more character-driven progression that is the movie's aim. Like Besson's masterpiece, a strong character in difficult situations powers the film, yet Nikita, for all her gender issues, is simply not developed enough to support the considerable weight bestowed upon her by this director's dead-serious style. Yet this is structural and by no means the fault of Perillaud who is excellent. She pulls off many instances of double roles which are not easy: she is strong but unsure, brutal yet smart, masculine but feminine, animal yet human. To accentuate this is the artful but not annoying cinematography which has what seems like a fresh angle and style for all the various aspects of Nikita. While not entirely typical, neither was the score entirely memorable. And while this film has much more to offer, it must be said that the action scenes were first-rate. Never tame and often surprising, they gave a true sense of struggle rather than any glorification of gore. Overall, the film is excellent as action, strong as a film, and worth seeing in the original French. [7/10]
Review of La Femme Nikita
