31 reviews
It's easy to look back now at this film as a very average Cold War thriller, but that is with the benefit of hindsight. It's difficult for today's generation, those of the age that the Phoenix character plays, to appreciate that the world really was living with a possible Nuclear destruction if there had been an accident or serious misunderstanding.
The action and drama is really primarily psychological, with the heart of the film hinging on the Poitier and Phoenix performances. It's easy now to pass off the whole thing as a trivial character piece, but, then, the stakes were sky high and the Cold War themes were progressive and unusual. In our post Cold War world where Gorbachev and Reagan slowly recede into the mists of history it would be a shame to write of this movie without understanding the atmosphere it was made in.
The action and drama is really primarily psychological, with the heart of the film hinging on the Poitier and Phoenix performances. It's easy now to pass off the whole thing as a trivial character piece, but, then, the stakes were sky high and the Cold War themes were progressive and unusual. In our post Cold War world where Gorbachev and Reagan slowly recede into the mists of history it would be a shame to write of this movie without understanding the atmosphere it was made in.
- barney_holmes
- Jan 2, 2009
- Permalink
The Soviets suspect their agent nicknamed Scuba (Richard Lynch) is killing their deep agents and blackmailing them. They send agent Karpov (Richard Bradford) to stop him. In San Diego, FBI agent Roy Parmenter (Sidney Poitier) has been hunting Scuba for killing his partner. He discovers false information on the Air Force Academy application of Jeffrey Grant (River Phoenix) and suspects his parents Richard (Richard Jenkins) and Elizabeth (Caroline Kava).
There are a lot of dead bodies and it seems only Parmenter is on the case. The Russian characters are too Russian. They are literally meeting at the ballet. Despite having some great actors, this doesn't have the needed gritty realism. The idea of Russian sleeper agents in the suburbs could be interesting but this is not well executed. River Phoenix continues to be great. His next movie 'Running on Empty' has a superior family with secret identities.
There are a lot of dead bodies and it seems only Parmenter is on the case. The Russian characters are too Russian. They are literally meeting at the ballet. Despite having some great actors, this doesn't have the needed gritty realism. The idea of Russian sleeper agents in the suburbs could be interesting but this is not well executed. River Phoenix continues to be great. His next movie 'Running on Empty' has a superior family with secret identities.
- SnoopyStyle
- May 24, 2016
- Permalink
This was a fairly involving story, although it's better in the first half. After that, the kid gets annoying but then the film picks back up in the last 15 minutes. The story is about this teen boy "Jeff Grant" (River Phoenix) who discovers his parents are "sleepr" KGB agents, spies are out of the business. They have come to the United States to start over with their kid.
Meanwhile, an assassin is killing those former, or "sleeper," if you will, agents. "Roy Parmenter" (Sidney Poitier), an FBI man, is after anyone it seems. That last part is a bit confusing.
The story taxes ones believability here and there but is interesting most of the way. However, I thought Phoenix overacts in a number of scenes. This was far from his best performance in his abbreviated film career.
Meanwhile, an assassin is killing those former, or "sleeper," if you will, agents. "Roy Parmenter" (Sidney Poitier), an FBI man, is after anyone it seems. That last part is a bit confusing.
The story taxes ones believability here and there but is interesting most of the way. However, I thought Phoenix overacts in a number of scenes. This was far from his best performance in his abbreviated film career.
- ccthemovieman-1
- Oct 12, 2006
- Permalink
The fact that the basic plot of this movie is ridiculous fails to ruin it. FBI agent Roy Parmenter (Sidney Poitier) is interviewing Jeff Grant (River Phoenix) for his possible entrance into the Air Force Academy. While reviewing Grant's file he discovers that his parents Richard (Richard Jenkins) and Elizabeth (Caroline Kava) are not who they seem to be. They turn out to be dormant Soviet spies, `sleepers', who have come to the United States and started a life with their son, who has no idea they are spies.
I won't even go into how silly it is the way Parmenter discovers this, as if computers REALLY work that way. Suffice it to say, when he finally tells an incredulous Jeff about his parents, several other sleepers have already been murdered by renegade double agent Scuba (Richard Lynch). Scuba wants money from the KGB and if he doesn't get it, he will kill every sleeper on his list, the Grants included. The former boss to all these agents is Constantine (Richard Bradford), who is sent to San Diego to collect Scuba and take him back to Russia for punishment.
Scuba is finally captured, by Parmenter, whose partner was murdered by Scuba some 20 years prior, so he has a personal reason for wanting Scuba too. The aforementioned characters wind up on the trolley going towards the Mexican border and an exchange between Parmenter and Constantine, who has abducted Jeff, occurs. However, once at the border, Scuba makes a run for it and all hell breaks loose.
As I said earlier, as implausible as the plot is, the movie is actually quite enjoyable and somehow suspenseful. While you may find yourself rolling your eyes at certain points, you'll also find yourself chuckling at some of the dialog and situations the characters find themselves in. Loretta Devine, as Jeff's teacher Verna McLaughlin, is hilarious in the scene where she is caught in bed with Parmenter by Jeff. `No problem,' she says when Parmenter apologizes, `I'll just go topless for the whole student body!'
Despite the fact that Scuba is the ultimate enemy I found myself cheering him on because Lynch is such a powerful actor. You want to see him on the screen more, no matter what he's doing. The fact that he's not in the film enough is my only other complaint about it.
I won't even go into how silly it is the way Parmenter discovers this, as if computers REALLY work that way. Suffice it to say, when he finally tells an incredulous Jeff about his parents, several other sleepers have already been murdered by renegade double agent Scuba (Richard Lynch). Scuba wants money from the KGB and if he doesn't get it, he will kill every sleeper on his list, the Grants included. The former boss to all these agents is Constantine (Richard Bradford), who is sent to San Diego to collect Scuba and take him back to Russia for punishment.
Scuba is finally captured, by Parmenter, whose partner was murdered by Scuba some 20 years prior, so he has a personal reason for wanting Scuba too. The aforementioned characters wind up on the trolley going towards the Mexican border and an exchange between Parmenter and Constantine, who has abducted Jeff, occurs. However, once at the border, Scuba makes a run for it and all hell breaks loose.
As I said earlier, as implausible as the plot is, the movie is actually quite enjoyable and somehow suspenseful. While you may find yourself rolling your eyes at certain points, you'll also find yourself chuckling at some of the dialog and situations the characters find themselves in. Loretta Devine, as Jeff's teacher Verna McLaughlin, is hilarious in the scene where she is caught in bed with Parmenter by Jeff. `No problem,' she says when Parmenter apologizes, `I'll just go topless for the whole student body!'
Despite the fact that Scuba is the ultimate enemy I found myself cheering him on because Lynch is such a powerful actor. You want to see him on the screen more, no matter what he's doing. The fact that he's not in the film enough is my only other complaint about it.
River Phoenix co-stars in this political thriller as "Jeff Grant", an All-American teenager determined to enrol in the Air Force Academy to impress his parents. What he's never known is that his dad and mom (Richard Jenkins, Caroline Kava) are in reality Soviet "sleeper" agents that have long been residents of the U.S. of A. FBI agent Roy Parmenter (Sidney Poitier) finds this out, and goes out of his way to befriend Jeff, hoping to expose the parents. But while this is going on, a renegade Soviet agent, "Scuba" (Richard Lynch), is busy eliminating sleepers in hopes of a payoff. The KGB sends one of their top men, Konstantin Karpov (Richard Bradford), to apprehend Scuba.
"Little Nikita" is directed competently enough by actor / filmmaker Richard Benjamin ("My Favourite Year"), but it's almost defeated by an utterly lousy script, credited to John Hill and Bo Goldman. It has barely a believable moment, but, to be fair, the incredible absurdity of the dialogue and scenes is good for some laughs. Poitier does give the movie some life with a lively and jokey performance; he's amusing, helping to smooth over a lot of those rough spots. Phoenix is good as the kid who's confronted with this truth about his folks that seems impossible to swallow. In fact, it's this excellent cast (also including Jerry Hardin as Poitiers' superior, Loretta Devine as a guidance counsellor who gets into bed with Poitier, and a briefly seen Lucy Deakins as Jeffs' girlfriend) that makes this preposterous movie as entertaining as it is. It really goes off the rails towards the end, with a priceless climax that turns the parents into action heroes! This is followed by more nonsense - a standoff on a trolley, a denouement on a border crossing.
Somewhat fun on a no-brainer level, but Phoenix's next picture, "Running on Empty", about another average American kid forced to deal with an unpleasant reality about his folks, is superior.
Six out of 10.
"Little Nikita" is directed competently enough by actor / filmmaker Richard Benjamin ("My Favourite Year"), but it's almost defeated by an utterly lousy script, credited to John Hill and Bo Goldman. It has barely a believable moment, but, to be fair, the incredible absurdity of the dialogue and scenes is good for some laughs. Poitier does give the movie some life with a lively and jokey performance; he's amusing, helping to smooth over a lot of those rough spots. Phoenix is good as the kid who's confronted with this truth about his folks that seems impossible to swallow. In fact, it's this excellent cast (also including Jerry Hardin as Poitiers' superior, Loretta Devine as a guidance counsellor who gets into bed with Poitier, and a briefly seen Lucy Deakins as Jeffs' girlfriend) that makes this preposterous movie as entertaining as it is. It really goes off the rails towards the end, with a priceless climax that turns the parents into action heroes! This is followed by more nonsense - a standoff on a trolley, a denouement on a border crossing.
Somewhat fun on a no-brainer level, but Phoenix's next picture, "Running on Empty", about another average American kid forced to deal with an unpleasant reality about his folks, is superior.
Six out of 10.
- Hey_Sweden
- Jun 18, 2018
- Permalink
On one level, "Little Nikita" is just another silly action movie. But strong performances and some interesting turns keep this one afloat. FBI agent Roy Parmenter (Sidney Poitier) interviews teenager Jeff Grant (River Phoenix), who is trying to get into the Air Force Academy. But while reviewing Jeff, Roy discovers the most surprising thing of all: Jeff's parents are Soviet "sleeper" spies who fled to the United States and never told him about their history. Moreover, there's renegade Soviet agent Scuba - who murdered Roy's partner many years earlier - looking for Jeff, while the USSR has sent someone to capture Scuba! Yeah, it's beyond convoluted, and - quite frankly - improbable. But director Richard Benjamin knows how to to do it. There isn't a dull moment anywhere in the movie. Pretty interesting. And playing Jeff's dad is Richard Jenkins, aka Nate Sr on "Six Feet Under".
- lee_eisenberg
- Jun 21, 2006
- Permalink
- vincentlynch-moonoi
- Dec 27, 2013
- Permalink
One of the most underrated 80's espionage thriller's good movies from actor River Phoenix and Sidney Poitier out there. I grew up with this movie watch it on VHS when I was a kid and I like it then and I like it now. I watch it yesterday and it is a good intrigue thriller about espionage. The acting from everyone is realistic to me, the plot the story is creative and original. It has practical effects, it has a little action scens, the death kills are good. Directed was by Richard Benjamin who wonderful directed this classic movie from the 80's. One of the best performances by River Phoenix. I liked him in Stand by Me, Little Nikita (this movie) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (in which River played Young Indy) and it is my favorite Indiana Jones movie. This is Sidney Poitier's second best movie he did after Shoot to Kill aka... Deadly Pursuit which is my favorite Poiter 80's, movie.
I like Roy Parmenter FBI Agent played by Sidney Poitier. This is his second movie the same year he played two roles a an FBI Agent just not the same character. In my opinion Warren Stantin is a better writen character than Roy Parmenter, Sidney Poitier portrayed.
The movie is about Jeff Grant played by the best actor River Phoenix a high school teen who want's to go to Air Force Academy when he apply's at that academy. He meets Roy Parmenter FBI Agent who is undercover as Major and a neighbor to the Grant's family. He get's close to Jeff and becomes friends. Jeff unawere he find's out that his whole life was a lie. His parents lied to him, his name is Nikita and his parents are actually Russian spy's. There is a rogue agent on a loose called only Scuba (Richard Lynch). He is killing Russian agents, by the same time he is searching for Grants because they stole his money and he want's it back. Meanwhile, a Soviet spy-catcher, Konstantin Karpov (Richard Bradford), has been sent from the Soviet embassy in Mexico City to 'reel in' Scuba. Roy is after Scuba, Richard (Richard Jenkins) and Elizabet Grant (Caroline Kava) too. That's actaually basic plot, but I am not done with the whole story yet...
When I said the acting is realistic to me I am explaning in my review now why: after Jeff finds out that everything was whole lie. His parents lied to him, Roy lied to him. He has no one to turn too. No one to trust too. He has stupid girlfriend Barbara Kerry (Lucy Deakins) she was only in one scene and she was cut from the film thank god. Jeff want it to run away and he called his girlfriend and he thought she will help him she refused him. She did not care about his problems or about him. (When a hero get's a girlfriend in a movie it is stupid, because she helps him do whatever he tells her to do, that is in the movies and it is stupid!) In here is the opposite and it is real because I know I went trough like Jeff did. Jeff Grant was an only child just like me, he was alone, he wasn't some idiot hero who was beaten bad guys, he was forced by his will and taken as hostage by Konstantin Karpov. He did not beat him he did what Karpov order him to do. That is realistic played because Jeff was scared. Jeff Grant is a hero to me, he has no girlfriend. Heroes dose not need girlfriends in the movies, that is why Jeff played by River Phoenix is so unique.
It is funny in 2011 there was this movie called Abduction it had similiar plot from this movie Little Nikita. In which Taylor Lautner played a high school student he finds out he was kidnapped but in discovery his parents were spys CIA or something. He is a high schooler, kills all those professional killers with his martial arts skills which is un realistic atrrocius bad and a lie! It is stupid, he has a girlfriend they are both on the run. Abduction try's to be Jason Bourne but misserably fails! Abduction sucks, sucks, sucks!! I hate that movie so much! Taylor Lautner is an idiot and a stupid actor, he can't act, his character was a freud and an idiot he is!! Lautner's spy movie is a peace a garbage! I don't care about Abduction! Little Nikita is realistic, it is a classic, espionage, cold war spy thriller, that succeeds on many levels.
There is a good car chase scenes, good death kills, like Scuba cut's a young girl's line in the water and she is hit from a ship that was excellent performed and brutal. Roy shoots scuba which is really good. I like the ending it is really happy ending I love how it ends. River Phoenix is excellent MILES way better than Taylor Lautner ever will be Period! It is a shame and tragedy that River Phoenix died in 1993 and is no longer with us anymore. He made that movie "The Thing Called Love" I did not like that film, I couldn't got in to it.
Finally this movie was realeasd on Blu-ray disc you can only got it in the US but not in any other country's which sucks. Little Nikita and Shoot to Kill aka... Deadly Prsuit are both heavily underrated. I am giving this movie a solid 6 out of 10 because I wish there would be more action, it could be fast paced to me it felt slow and I prefer Shoot to Kill over Little Nikita. I gave that movie a 10, this movie I gave lower raiting because I do wish it would had more action in it, more interesting. more fast paced and it could have been much better.
R.I.P. River Phoenix, Richard Bradford and Richard Lynch they are all missed but never forgoten.
I like Roy Parmenter FBI Agent played by Sidney Poitier. This is his second movie the same year he played two roles a an FBI Agent just not the same character. In my opinion Warren Stantin is a better writen character than Roy Parmenter, Sidney Poitier portrayed.
The movie is about Jeff Grant played by the best actor River Phoenix a high school teen who want's to go to Air Force Academy when he apply's at that academy. He meets Roy Parmenter FBI Agent who is undercover as Major and a neighbor to the Grant's family. He get's close to Jeff and becomes friends. Jeff unawere he find's out that his whole life was a lie. His parents lied to him, his name is Nikita and his parents are actually Russian spy's. There is a rogue agent on a loose called only Scuba (Richard Lynch). He is killing Russian agents, by the same time he is searching for Grants because they stole his money and he want's it back. Meanwhile, a Soviet spy-catcher, Konstantin Karpov (Richard Bradford), has been sent from the Soviet embassy in Mexico City to 'reel in' Scuba. Roy is after Scuba, Richard (Richard Jenkins) and Elizabet Grant (Caroline Kava) too. That's actaually basic plot, but I am not done with the whole story yet...
When I said the acting is realistic to me I am explaning in my review now why: after Jeff finds out that everything was whole lie. His parents lied to him, Roy lied to him. He has no one to turn too. No one to trust too. He has stupid girlfriend Barbara Kerry (Lucy Deakins) she was only in one scene and she was cut from the film thank god. Jeff want it to run away and he called his girlfriend and he thought she will help him she refused him. She did not care about his problems or about him. (When a hero get's a girlfriend in a movie it is stupid, because she helps him do whatever he tells her to do, that is in the movies and it is stupid!) In here is the opposite and it is real because I know I went trough like Jeff did. Jeff Grant was an only child just like me, he was alone, he wasn't some idiot hero who was beaten bad guys, he was forced by his will and taken as hostage by Konstantin Karpov. He did not beat him he did what Karpov order him to do. That is realistic played because Jeff was scared. Jeff Grant is a hero to me, he has no girlfriend. Heroes dose not need girlfriends in the movies, that is why Jeff played by River Phoenix is so unique.
It is funny in 2011 there was this movie called Abduction it had similiar plot from this movie Little Nikita. In which Taylor Lautner played a high school student he finds out he was kidnapped but in discovery his parents were spys CIA or something. He is a high schooler, kills all those professional killers with his martial arts skills which is un realistic atrrocius bad and a lie! It is stupid, he has a girlfriend they are both on the run. Abduction try's to be Jason Bourne but misserably fails! Abduction sucks, sucks, sucks!! I hate that movie so much! Taylor Lautner is an idiot and a stupid actor, he can't act, his character was a freud and an idiot he is!! Lautner's spy movie is a peace a garbage! I don't care about Abduction! Little Nikita is realistic, it is a classic, espionage, cold war spy thriller, that succeeds on many levels.
There is a good car chase scenes, good death kills, like Scuba cut's a young girl's line in the water and she is hit from a ship that was excellent performed and brutal. Roy shoots scuba which is really good. I like the ending it is really happy ending I love how it ends. River Phoenix is excellent MILES way better than Taylor Lautner ever will be Period! It is a shame and tragedy that River Phoenix died in 1993 and is no longer with us anymore. He made that movie "The Thing Called Love" I did not like that film, I couldn't got in to it.
Finally this movie was realeasd on Blu-ray disc you can only got it in the US but not in any other country's which sucks. Little Nikita and Shoot to Kill aka... Deadly Prsuit are both heavily underrated. I am giving this movie a solid 6 out of 10 because I wish there would be more action, it could be fast paced to me it felt slow and I prefer Shoot to Kill over Little Nikita. I gave that movie a 10, this movie I gave lower raiting because I do wish it would had more action in it, more interesting. more fast paced and it could have been much better.
R.I.P. River Phoenix, Richard Bradford and Richard Lynch they are all missed but never forgoten.
- NightmareOnElmStreetFan
- Nov 12, 2019
- Permalink
- view_and_review
- Feb 25, 2020
- Permalink
- Psycho_sano
- Nov 5, 2024
- Permalink
I'm kinda disappointed with the dearth of at least 7s for this movie.
It's not a bad movie. As others have noted, the script ain't the best, and the dialogue is lumpy.
So I'll say that the dialogue for most of the adult roles is fine, I think. I wonder if someone else wrote the dialogue for the kids, 'cause it was pretty strained.
River Phoenix was a pretty good actor, but mmm... maybe it was the dialogue, maybe it was the direction of his part, it was a little bit cringe-y. It's like he was being framed as the next James Dean, but this movie wasn't a 50s kitchen sink movie, and he seems to be not comfortable in the role of rebellious teen. The acting seems over the top, I'll blame direction for that. It doesn't fit with the overall feel of the movie, and it doesn't ring true.
Maybe that's the problem with writing for teenage roles? What do I know? Maybe it's difficult to present teenage characters in an un-cringe-y way?
My other quibble is... well, there isn't another one. This is a solid cast, with a decent story, otherwise good dialogue and direction.
I wonder if maybe contemporary viewers are pissed because it isn't a Denzel Washington, slick, Hollywood vehicle? There *are* other black actors, yaknow, just sayin'.
Maybe we've gotten used to seeing such stories presented in a certain way, and this doesn't conform? But they aren't all blockbusters.
I find it just fine.
It's not a bad movie. As others have noted, the script ain't the best, and the dialogue is lumpy.
So I'll say that the dialogue for most of the adult roles is fine, I think. I wonder if someone else wrote the dialogue for the kids, 'cause it was pretty strained.
River Phoenix was a pretty good actor, but mmm... maybe it was the dialogue, maybe it was the direction of his part, it was a little bit cringe-y. It's like he was being framed as the next James Dean, but this movie wasn't a 50s kitchen sink movie, and he seems to be not comfortable in the role of rebellious teen. The acting seems over the top, I'll blame direction for that. It doesn't fit with the overall feel of the movie, and it doesn't ring true.
Maybe that's the problem with writing for teenage roles? What do I know? Maybe it's difficult to present teenage characters in an un-cringe-y way?
My other quibble is... well, there isn't another one. This is a solid cast, with a decent story, otherwise good dialogue and direction.
I wonder if maybe contemporary viewers are pissed because it isn't a Denzel Washington, slick, Hollywood vehicle? There *are* other black actors, yaknow, just sayin'.
Maybe we've gotten used to seeing such stories presented in a certain way, and this doesn't conform? But they aren't all blockbusters.
I find it just fine.
- calcat-75546
- Aug 6, 2023
- Permalink
I would bet that of all the films young River Phoenix did in his short and sweet life, Little Nikita is probably the one where he played the most normal of kids. But it's that very normality that is the basis for the shock unfolding before him.
A rogue agent played by Richard Lynch who has specialized in playing really evil and loathsome types on the big and small screens is going around killing various sleeper agents that the Russians have planted over the years in America. Lynch is blackmailing the Soviets for big bucks to stop bumping off the deep cover spies. One of their top guys, Richard Bradford, is going to America to deal with the problem. As this is the time of Glasnost with Reagan and Gorbachev in some serious and far reaching negotiations, we don't want this to get public and blow up the summit.
At the same time while Sidney Poitier as an FBI agent is running routine background checks for armed service academy admissions, something really doesn't compute in young River Phoenix's background. It turns out that his parents are deep cover agents who've never been activated to do anything. And by an incredible coincidence I just really couldn't buy, Lynch is a guy who killed Poitier's partner many years ago and he wants him too.
You'd think that with this kind of problem a little below summit Glasnost would have been in order for the KGB and FBI. But no, they're both working at cross purposes for the same goal.
What Little Nikita does have going for it to give it as many stars as it does have is River Phoenix's angst ridden performance of an All American kid whose whole world comes crashing around about him. River's screen characters were usually quirky, but he could play a normal kid and well.
Phoenix's performance and the nice location shooting in and around the San Diego area are the only reason to watch this well meaning, but ultimately rather silly film.
A rogue agent played by Richard Lynch who has specialized in playing really evil and loathsome types on the big and small screens is going around killing various sleeper agents that the Russians have planted over the years in America. Lynch is blackmailing the Soviets for big bucks to stop bumping off the deep cover spies. One of their top guys, Richard Bradford, is going to America to deal with the problem. As this is the time of Glasnost with Reagan and Gorbachev in some serious and far reaching negotiations, we don't want this to get public and blow up the summit.
At the same time while Sidney Poitier as an FBI agent is running routine background checks for armed service academy admissions, something really doesn't compute in young River Phoenix's background. It turns out that his parents are deep cover agents who've never been activated to do anything. And by an incredible coincidence I just really couldn't buy, Lynch is a guy who killed Poitier's partner many years ago and he wants him too.
You'd think that with this kind of problem a little below summit Glasnost would have been in order for the KGB and FBI. But no, they're both working at cross purposes for the same goal.
What Little Nikita does have going for it to give it as many stars as it does have is River Phoenix's angst ridden performance of an All American kid whose whole world comes crashing around about him. River's screen characters were usually quirky, but he could play a normal kid and well.
Phoenix's performance and the nice location shooting in and around the San Diego area are the only reason to watch this well meaning, but ultimately rather silly film.
- bkoganbing
- Apr 20, 2008
- Permalink
"Little Nikita" is a good thriller and I found it really enjoyable. I am glad that the lovely Loretta Devine (who played Reese in Urban Legend 1 and 2) had the honour of working with River Phoenix before his death. Sidney Poitier gives a good performance also. I found it highly entertaining and enjoyable. And once again, River Phoenix becomes his character in this taut thriller from Richard Benjamin.
- marcfantozzi
- Apr 21, 2001
- Permalink
It's very odd that 1988 saw two River Phoenix films where the boy's parents are hiding out from the US government. In "Running on Empty", his parents are domestic terrorists who have been hiding for decades...and in "Little Nikita" they are Soviet 'sleeper agents'* whose son has no idea his parents are Russian spies. As far as Jeff goes, he is living a normal and typical life and he hopes to soon attend the US Airforce Academy, a routine search by the FBI indicates the parents are NOT who they claim to be...and Agent Parmentier (Sidney Poitier) is going to investigate the situation while working undercover. At the same time, a Soviet officer has snuck into the USA about this same family....though exactly what his goals are seem uncertain but may have to do with an agent by the codename of 'Scuba' (Dick Lynch) who is killing the Soviet sleepers!
Of the two movies, "Running on Empty" is superior...and it's a bit of a classic. Now this isn't to say "Little Nikita" is bad...it just isn't in the same class as the other movie. If you only see one, see "Running on Empty".
So why do I think it's not as good as the other film? Well, it all boils down to realism. While "Running on Empty" seems possible as you watch the film, "Little Nikita" seems to strive less for realism and more for sensationalism. The ending also is confusing and really doesn't make a lot of sense. Still, it's not bad...but seems more like a Hollywood story than anything else. And, the ending also seemed very theatrical and tough to believe...much more than in "Running on Empty".
*A Soviet sleeper agent is someone who is a trained spy but who is waiting instructions...possibly years...to become active in the spy game. In the meantime, they blend in and live typical American lives.
Of the two movies, "Running on Empty" is superior...and it's a bit of a classic. Now this isn't to say "Little Nikita" is bad...it just isn't in the same class as the other movie. If you only see one, see "Running on Empty".
So why do I think it's not as good as the other film? Well, it all boils down to realism. While "Running on Empty" seems possible as you watch the film, "Little Nikita" seems to strive less for realism and more for sensationalism. The ending also is confusing and really doesn't make a lot of sense. Still, it's not bad...but seems more like a Hollywood story than anything else. And, the ending also seemed very theatrical and tough to believe...much more than in "Running on Empty".
*A Soviet sleeper agent is someone who is a trained spy but who is waiting instructions...possibly years...to become active in the spy game. In the meantime, they blend in and live typical American lives.
- planktonrules
- Aug 8, 2022
- Permalink
The renegade wants $200k... in 1988. Ten years before Austin Powers, this movie one ups it. Or one downs it. At least the renegade isn't greedy. Or intelligent.
The plot is all so whacky, nearly defies belief. Inexplicable motives by the bad guy, and hilarious incompetence by the US and USSR.
Considering there was literally only one FBI guy assigned to this case- involving over half a dozen Russian agents in the US- , they probably didn't want you to sweat the plot too much. Like a lengthy sequence where a pickup truck struggles to chase a commuter train. Hmm, where might that train be going? Gee, maybe farther down the track?
The Russian agent hangs out in the FBI agent's house so that he can capture Phoenix's character to use as leverage to force Phoenix's sleeper Russian agent parents to give the money to the renegade. Good thing the FBI agent didn't show up a few minutes earlier! It's a painfully glaring example of a script needing to move some characters somewhere else but can't think of any plausible way to make it happen.
And why exactly did the Russian agent keep Phoenix hostage after the handoff went south? Was he really trying to sneak him off to Russia? Despite Phoenix (who IS American) ultimately rebelling... oh, and the fact the FBI WOULD KNOW?
Of course not. Once again, it's painfully clunky script mechanics to get the characters together. Ugh.
Then there's a shootout/hostage situation on a pedestrian bridge at the San Ysidro border crossing, but nobody seems to notice. Yup.
What throws it for a loop is that most of the script would have played better as comedy or satire, but almost all the actors are playing it like a hard core drama. And the acting is really quite solid. Poitier and Phoenix have great chemistry here.
You could practically make a drinking game from how many times Poitier looks at the photos of the parents.
The script is just unbelievably ridiculous. The core of the sleeper agents with an unknowing son was nifty, as well as how this was discovered, by the kid applying to the Air Force without his parents knowing, triggering a background check. But wow did it go south from there.
Considering the renegade Soviet agent is killing people left and right, you'd think there would be some behind the scenes coordination between the US and Russians to solve the problem.
The plot is all so whacky, nearly defies belief. Inexplicable motives by the bad guy, and hilarious incompetence by the US and USSR.
Considering there was literally only one FBI guy assigned to this case- involving over half a dozen Russian agents in the US- , they probably didn't want you to sweat the plot too much. Like a lengthy sequence where a pickup truck struggles to chase a commuter train. Hmm, where might that train be going? Gee, maybe farther down the track?
The Russian agent hangs out in the FBI agent's house so that he can capture Phoenix's character to use as leverage to force Phoenix's sleeper Russian agent parents to give the money to the renegade. Good thing the FBI agent didn't show up a few minutes earlier! It's a painfully glaring example of a script needing to move some characters somewhere else but can't think of any plausible way to make it happen.
And why exactly did the Russian agent keep Phoenix hostage after the handoff went south? Was he really trying to sneak him off to Russia? Despite Phoenix (who IS American) ultimately rebelling... oh, and the fact the FBI WOULD KNOW?
Of course not. Once again, it's painfully clunky script mechanics to get the characters together. Ugh.
Then there's a shootout/hostage situation on a pedestrian bridge at the San Ysidro border crossing, but nobody seems to notice. Yup.
What throws it for a loop is that most of the script would have played better as comedy or satire, but almost all the actors are playing it like a hard core drama. And the acting is really quite solid. Poitier and Phoenix have great chemistry here.
You could practically make a drinking game from how many times Poitier looks at the photos of the parents.
The script is just unbelievably ridiculous. The core of the sleeper agents with an unknowing son was nifty, as well as how this was discovered, by the kid applying to the Air Force without his parents knowing, triggering a background check. But wow did it go south from there.
Considering the renegade Soviet agent is killing people left and right, you'd think there would be some behind the scenes coordination between the US and Russians to solve the problem.
- whatch-17931
- Jan 31, 2021
- Permalink
And dont bother watching if you have freeview....a key moment is missed out in the editing which makes the film a little meaningless. Poitier is already too old to be an FBI hero, especially one that doesnt even lock his own front door. Phoenix seems to shout alot and I didnt get much from his performance in this. Bradford and Lynch, who are always good value provide more than a little villainy but its not a film I would wish to watch again, bland-in my view
- davyd-02237
- Aug 13, 2020
- Permalink
Rather flat and without a bit of charm, this is a failure of a Film that is broadly overacted and under Plotted. It assumes much and is delivered in an almost blasé style that goes against the grain of this type of thing.
There is a horribly intrusive, dated Musical Score, and Scenes that are laughably written that come off as unintended Humor. River Phoenix is the worst over-actor here and that is saying something . Because everyone is beyond Characterture and land in the Realm of unbelievable and boring.
This is a Cold War Thriller wannabee with a not aging very well Sidney Poitier giving what seems like a dated, tired Performance. Nothing to recommend here. This is a real sleeper, meaning cured insomnia and not unnoticed or for that matter Spy vs Spys.
There is a horribly intrusive, dated Musical Score, and Scenes that are laughably written that come off as unintended Humor. River Phoenix is the worst over-actor here and that is saying something . Because everyone is beyond Characterture and land in the Realm of unbelievable and boring.
This is a Cold War Thriller wannabee with a not aging very well Sidney Poitier giving what seems like a dated, tired Performance. Nothing to recommend here. This is a real sleeper, meaning cured insomnia and not unnoticed or for that matter Spy vs Spys.
- LeonLouisRicci
- Jul 12, 2013
- Permalink
- mark.waltz
- Jul 2, 2012
- Permalink
Roy Parmenter (Sidney Poitier), having a great mistrust for anything Russian, arguably understandably so as his FBI partner had been killed by a Soviet spy codenamed Scuba decades earlier, has to ascertain if Jeff Grant (River Phoenix), a recent Air Force applicant, is in fact a Soviet spy just as his 'sleeper' parents are, while at the same time protecting them from the aforementioned spy who killed his partner all those years ago and whom is now has turned rouge and is killing Soviet agents in an effort to extort money from Russia.
This film is would be a strictly average 'espionage' thriller if not for Poitier and Phoenix who give some excellent acting in a vain attempt to propel this film above it's source material. They're not entirely successful, as the movie is still pretty of the cut and paste variety. But at the same time I do appreciate their combined efforts.
My Grade: C
This film is would be a strictly average 'espionage' thriller if not for Poitier and Phoenix who give some excellent acting in a vain attempt to propel this film above it's source material. They're not entirely successful, as the movie is still pretty of the cut and paste variety. But at the same time I do appreciate their combined efforts.
My Grade: C
- movieman_kev
- Apr 12, 2009
- Permalink
- Davalon-Davalon
- Nov 6, 2022
- Permalink
This sounds really hot for a movie like LITTLE NIKITA: a teenager (River Phoenix, teen heartthrob of the late-80s) becomes caught in a knot when he learns that his parents are Russian spies. It's no wonder why this would be fun with Phoenix in the act (if this is 1988 right now!), or Sidney Poitier doing all sorts of activities to help maintain its entertainment value. Something had to go wrong with the movie in general, and that is an outburst of instant confusion. It took more than one single piece of the plot to put a monkey wrench in the exhaust pipe. A few killings occur, and later it becomes a raging conspiracy. Adding to the panic is the way this movie was presented to a few young teens, with yes, River Phoenix on screen. It had the potential to become a decent modern-day thriller, but it's left without a whole lot of good interaction.
Little Nikita is a well done thriller. I found it entertaining and well acted. I am extremely glad that the lovely Loretta Devine (who played Reese in Urban Legend 1 and 2) had the honour of working with River Phoenix before he died. For fans of River Phoenix and taut thrillers, check this one out.
- marcfantozzi
- Apr 20, 2001
- Permalink