Point of No Return (1993)

Point of No Return (1993) Bridget Fonda was ready for the part! 😛 She’s brilliant. But I think she becomes very true to herself once she leaves the institution, once she changes her style, her look. Because what’s really incredible is her performance at the very beginning, when she’s a thug and a criminal. She manages to copy perfectly the French actress, Anne Parillaud, who won an Oscar for Nikita (1990).

I looked at other reviews I found: “A fascinating film. Although it’s just a remake of Nikita, you’d think Luc Besson had directed it himself. His inimitable style is perfectly reproduced. But the deliciously melancholy atmosphere of the film also owes a lot to the two actors, Bridget Fonda and Gabriel Byrne. Conclusion: a great film for fans of films like “Léon” (1994), but not for people who don’t appreciate long atmospheric moments as an essential element of a film.”

Personally, I think Léon is a masterpiece, but Nikita and its remake Nina aren’t necessarily so in my eyes. They’re still very good films. Those who only liked the 1990 French version will say that it’s a “superfluous American version of Luc Besson’s action film Nikita” and should be avoided. There was one reviewer who found this “Cool Film” and wrote: “The film is just cool. great soundtrack, great atmosphere. very good.” Simple & Clear!

Bridget Fonda: I watched this film mainly for her. Given that she made far too few films and stopped too soon after her terrible car accident, it’s always a great pleasure to see this fabulous actress again. Anne Bancroft: a hell of an actress too! She is best known for “The Graduate” (1967). Ten years later, she starred in the magnificent two-part film “Jesus of Nazareth” with Robert Powell in the title role and alongside the incredible Anthony Quinn. Another three years and she appeared in the poignant “Elephant Man” (1980) with Anthony Hopkins & John Hurt. And that’s just the beginning! It was thirteen years later that she appeared in this film. The same year as her appearance in the film “Malice” alongside Nicole Kidman, Bill Pullman, Alec Baldwin and Peter Gallagher! That’s saying a lot!!! You can’t say she hasn’t played with some great actors. A great charisma for this great lady.

Gabriel Byrne is generally a safe bet. When he’s in a film, it’s usually a good time. Well… he clearly made a mistake with “Siesta,” but he features in the masterpiece that is “Usual Suspects” (1995). Capable of playing many roles (he played a priest and the Devil in two films released in the same year, 1999). He plays a relatively cold character here. But he’s less so than Harvey Keitel, in the role of the killer, the cleaner, here. Keitel often carries guns in his films. I wonder if it’s because he has a head to go with it or if it’s because he loves shooting in real life! And Dermot Mulroney, who we recently saw in the latest “Scream,” in this case 6, is a nice actor who pops up here and there. I was actually going to see 2011’s “The Grey” (Land of the Wolves), in which he stars alongside Liam Neeson.

I’ll see you in the next review!