White Nights is helped greatly by the Phil Collins title track and the dancing between the leads although the basic storyline is both intriguing and silly.
A Russian ballet dancer (Baryshnikov) turned defector finds his Tokyo bound plane has crash landed suddenly in the Soviet Union and the KGB are in no mood to forget his lack of patriotism.
The KGB get Baryshnikov to live with a black American defector (Gregory Hines) but amidst some verbal sparring they both decide to escape. Helen Mirren plays a former love interest of Baryshnikov who feels betrayed by him.
The latter part of the film is a cliché spy film plot as our protagonists try to escape the Russians. However the film is an excuse to see Baryshnikov in his pomp doing what he was known for best. Ballet Dancing as well as busting some moves with Hines, himself a noted Jazz/Tap dancer.
Both actors were underutilised by Hollywood for their dancing skills and although the plot is basic (Hines reason to leave America looks a tad weak) both actors play well against each other, ably supported by Mirren and Rossellini. The film is kitschy fun with a dated 80s style.
A Russian ballet dancer (Baryshnikov) turned defector finds his Tokyo bound plane has crash landed suddenly in the Soviet Union and the KGB are in no mood to forget his lack of patriotism.
The KGB get Baryshnikov to live with a black American defector (Gregory Hines) but amidst some verbal sparring they both decide to escape. Helen Mirren plays a former love interest of Baryshnikov who feels betrayed by him.
The latter part of the film is a cliché spy film plot as our protagonists try to escape the Russians. However the film is an excuse to see Baryshnikov in his pomp doing what he was known for best. Ballet Dancing as well as busting some moves with Hines, himself a noted Jazz/Tap dancer.
Both actors were underutilised by Hollywood for their dancing skills and although the plot is basic (Hines reason to leave America looks a tad weak) both actors play well against each other, ably supported by Mirren and Rossellini. The film is kitschy fun with a dated 80s style.