La Femme Nikita

REVIEW
Action-packed and filled with mega-violence, Besson's wonderfully entertaining romantic thriller is one part Clockwork Orange, and two parts "Pygmalion." The seductively pouty and dazzlingly leggy Parillaud debuts as Nikita, a modern-day Liza Doolittle with a vicious mean streak. Besson's story follows her somewhat Orwellian transformation from savagely criminal, punked-out heroin addict to well-groomed, statuesque and cold-blooded assassin for the French government. Soon, however, she begins to experience stirrings of humanity, which elevates La Femme Nikita above its action-adventure status. Besson bathes his visuals in neon-drenched colors and captures the action with a high-fashion, nouveau-chic panache. (American remake: Point of No Return) (French with English subtitles)