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Little Nikita

5.5

1,024

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Original title

Little Nikita

Year

1988

Running time

98 min.

Country

United States

Director

Richard Benjamin

Screenwriter

Bo Goldman, John Hill

Cast

Music

Marvin Hamlisch

Cinematography

László Kovács

Producer

Columbia Pictures

Genre

Thriller. Mystery | Spy Film. Cold War

Synopsis

Roy Parmenter is an FBI agent in San Diego; 20 years ago his partner was killed by a Soviet spy, nicknamed Scuba, still at large. Scuba is now trying to extort the Soviets; to prove he's serious, he's killing their agents one by one, including "sleepers," agents under deep cover awaiting orders. Roy interviews a high school lad, Jeff Grant, an applicant to the Air Force Academy. In a routine background check, Roy discovers that Jeff's parents are sleepers. He must see if Jeff is also a spy, confront the parents yet protect them, and catch his nemesis. Meanwhile, the Soviets have sent their own spy-catcher, the loner Karpov, to reel in Scuba. Alliances shift; it's cat and mouse.

Critics' reviews

"Little Nikita is quite a surprise-a film that moves through several layers of irony and absurdism to arrive at a strong and solid emotional core."

Dave Kehr: Chicago Tribune
"Little Nikita never really materializes as a taut espionage thriller and winds up as an unsatisfying execution of a clever premise"

Variety Staff: Variety
"A refreshingly original thriller that is also a wrenchingly poignant family drama."

Kevin Thomas: Los Angeles Times
"[It] would be nothing without River Phoenix's hair. It's the most engaging, the most watchable thing in the film. It has body. It has character. It even has drama. In other words, it has everything that's missing from the rest of the picture."

Hal Hinson: The Washington Post
"Benjamin's creative visual style isn't enough to lift a weak story."

Juan Carlos Coto: Miami Herald
"The film never really carries out its implied deconstruction of the all-American family, but Poitier and Phoenix form an enjoyable bond"

The Guardian

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User history

Little Nikita

1988

Richard Benjamin

5.5

(1,024)