Point of No Return (1993)

After drug addict Maggie kills a policeman she is sentenced to death. She is 'executed' but then wakes up to be told she has a choice either she can work for the state or her execution will take place for real. Supervised by 'Bob' her training then begins; she is taught how to behave properly and how to kill. She is not an easy student but eventually passes her final test. Finally she is allowed to leave the training facility and is told to move to Venice Beach and wait further instructions. Time passes and she gets in a relationship with a local man before finally being given her first job. Shortly afterwards 'Uncle Bob' turns up and gives his 'niece' two tickets to New Orleans for Mardi Gras… of course it turns out to be another job. By now Maggie has become more human, the job bothers her on a moral level and she doesn't want her boyfriend caught up in it; Bob tells her that there is no way out of her job. Inevitably she gets given another task… this time things don't go according to plan.When I first watched this in the cinema I really enjoyed this… at the time I hadn't seen 'Nikita'. Having seen both it is clear that this is more than 'based on' it is a very close remake; a few details are changed but not many. While I think the original is the superior film this is still pretty solid and I'll try to review it on its own merits. The story is solid and the main characters are believable despite the unlikely situation. Bridget Fonda does an impressive job as Maggie making her sympathetic despite the way she starts out. She is ably supported by Gabriel Byrne as 'Bob'; Anne Bancroft, as Amanda her etiquette coach; Dermot Mulroney as boyfriend JP and Miguel Ferrer as Bob's boss, who is not a fan of Maggie. There is also an impressively sinister turn from Harvey Keitel as Victor the Cleaner. The action is impressive with shootings, some martial arts and other fights. While there are a few disturbing moments, there is nothing too bad. Overall this is a solid action thriller and while I'd recommend watching 'Nikita' this is worth watching if you don't like subtitles, like any of the main actors involved or just want to compare the films.

This American version of "La Femme Nikita" from 1993 stars Bridget Fonda a a drug-addicted murderer who is saved from lethal injection by a government agent (Gabriel Byrne), who gives her the chance to train as an assassin. Naturally she takes it though she is very resistant.She goes through the training and carries out assignments, but has to on the surface lead a normal life. When she meets and falls for J.P. (Dermot Mulrooney), having to keep so much of situation secret becomes difficult.Bridget Fonda is excellent as Maggie, who is transformed into a classy killer. Gabriel Byrne gives a marvelous performance as her low-key recruiter, who winds up bonding with her. Harvey Keitel plays "The Cleaner" and he's scary as all get-out.Very exciting film, violent, and fast-moving. Fonda seems to be retired now - she is a very appealing actress and handled the role beautifully.

I've only just discovered this movie and wonder how I've missed it before. I gather from other reviews that it's a remake of a french film 'Nikita' but being ignorant of this original picture I can only say how much I enjoyed this American re-make. I don't really care that a lot of reviewers are comparing the two, so for me, Point of No Return or The Assassin as it's sometimes called gripped me from the first frame to the last, hence my 8 stars. It's such a loss to cinema that Bridget Fonda hasn't made a pic for 12 years because I definitely have a crush on her after watching this and Lake Placid just recently. She reminded me very much of Jodie Foster in this movie and she's my all time favourite, in fact just the sort of thriller that Jodie might make. Bridget plays a soulless killer who is given the death sentence, only to be reprieved by sinister government officials, in order to train her to be a government assassin. Gabriel Byrne also gives a good performance as the main government agent who gradually warms to her. I'm not sure in reality that these sort of people can feel love like normal human beings but if you make a movie you have to find some empathy with the characters or you'll alienate the audience. Harvey keitel and Anne Bancroft add to the star power and the only weak character I thought was Dermot Mulroney as a rather hapless love interest for Bridget. The movie is generally pretty fast paced throughout with plenty of action and violence, but really at the end of the movie, all I could think of was Bridget Fonda.

Mediocre and at times Mundane, this Remake of Luc Besson's La Femme Nikita (1990) is Watchable and Americanized to the Point of No Cigar. It is all so Typical and Formulaic that even some Fine Actors cannot make this Rise Above its Uninspired Artlessness.Bridget Fonda, Gabriel Byrne, Anne Bancroft and Harvey Keitel all give Acceptable Pedestrian Performances with Fonda and Keitel Standing Out, but They seem at times Directionless. The Love Interest Provided here is as Forgettable as the Actor Mugging His way through the Overdone Love Scenes.But the Original had so much to Offer that Copying Scene for Scene gives this Enough Pedigree to make it not as Awful as it could have been, but Considering the Inspired Nikita, the Remake is Most Disappointing.