Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		0.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.0

La Femme Nikita 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"There are two things that are infinite: femininity and the means to take advantage of it."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown June 13, 2024

If the words La Femme Nikita cause you to draw a blank but the title Point of No Return stirs up memories of the 1993 Bridget Fonda and Gabriel Byrne-led assassin thriller, then might I suggest you've been watching the wrong movie for quite a long time. Superior to its American remake, French filmmaker Luc Besson's wild, often weird little action romp is as much a strange, psychological slowburn as it is a classic foreign action film responsible for dozens of similar movies in the decades following its release. If this is your first time with Nikita, chances are you'll encounter several iconic genre archetypes, whole scenes even, that would seem plagiarized were it not for the fact that it arrived all the way back in the year of our lord, ye olde 1990. And while it isn't a perfect film by any means, nor is its director nearly as quintessentially cool as he once seemed prior to some less-than-positive news stories, La Femme Nikita holds its own thanks to the spark and outright fire of actress Anne Parillaud.

"What's the worst that could happen?"

Convicted French felon Nikita (Anne Parillaud) narrowly avoids prison when a secret government organization fakes her death and gives her a chance at a new life and identity. Trained as an elite assassin, she transforms from feral street urchin to icy femme fatale, quickly taking to all the skills necessary to impress her handler Bob (Tchéky Karyo) and mentor Amande (Jeanne Moreau). But once she's back in the real world, where a mission can interrupt any moment, she begins to realize she may not be able to juggle a lover (Jean-Hugues Anglade) and the dangerous requirements of her job. Written and directed by Besson with cinematography by Thierry Arbogast, the film also stars Jean Reno (as "Victor the Cleaner," not as Leon from The Professional), Jacques Boudet, Philippe Leroy and Jean Bouise.

Click here to read Dr. Svet Atanasov's 2009 review of the film, which he calls a "genre-defining classic." He adds, "the action is what attracts many to La Femme Nikita," but "its heavy psychedelic overtones are what transforms it into a terrific film."

La Femme Nikita 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The UltraHD 4K Blu-ray release of La Femme Nikita represents -- hands down -- the best the film has ever looked. Allow me to offer two comparisons. While not the most memorable two scenes or exact frame-to-frame screengrabs, these images offer some of the clearest examples of the many ways in which the new 4K presentation improves upon Sony's previous Blu-ray release: shot 1 (2024 4K vs. 2009 1080p) and shot 2 (2024 4K vs. 2009 1080p). Colors are bolder and more natural, with more natural skintones and less bronzed and blue-tinted hues. Contrast is more vibrant and alive, lending depth and dimensionality to the image that's lacking in the previous release. Black levels are rich and satisfying too, as is detail, which is far more convincing and revealing. Hairs stand on end as splintered fragments of furniture and drywall erupt all around a gunfight. A tear dances on the edge of Nikita's eye as she chooses a kill over her love. The tiny etchings and imperfections on a blade catch the light and the viewer's attention. It all fares magnificently, yet retains its distinct early '90s verve and aesthetic. Edges are crisp and clean, without any sign of haloing or artificiality. Textures have been refined to perfection thanks to the use of native 4K elements, which also delivers a wonderfully resolved veneer of grain that, while a tad inconsistent, is wholly filmic from start to finish. There's arguably some crush present, but such things trace back to the original photography and source, not the new encode. Moreover, there isn't any sign of banding, blocking or other such nonsense. This is a top tier catalog transfer through and through. Kudos, Sony.

La Femme Nikita 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Less slap-in-the-face incredible but no less proficient is Sony's French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. I won't lament the absence of a Dolby Atmos track, other than to say it would have (presumably) made some of the most intense sequences in La Femme Nikita that much more unnerving and immersive. Ah well. Dialogue is intelligible and nicely prioritized (barring a few examples of obvious ADR circa 1990), fidelity is excellent and dynamics are quite terrific. LFE output is aggressive and chest-thumpingly satisfying, even if a few explosions and other low-end elements sound a wee bit canned thirty-five years later. Likewise, the rear speakers are suitably engaging, despite a somewhat dated sound design that doesn't always fully take advantage of every channel. But when the action kicks up? Or when Nikita walks the city streets? Or the score rises? You'll be drawn in, just as you hope.

La Femme Nikita 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The 4K Blu-ray release doesn't include a standard Blu-ray copy nor any special features whatsoever. My only gripe is that this is becoming something of a habit for Sony when it comes to catalog releases. Several Blu-rays I recently reviewed didn't even have a menu. (La Femme Nikita at least offers a menu.) I don't claim to know the in's and out's of 4K budgets, and believe me I'd rather have an amazing AV package than new extras, but why not both? Is there no one that had anything to say about such an iconic 35-year old film? Or was no attempt made to invest in offering an exploration of the film's production, themes or legacy? Who knows. I'm an extras junkie but maybe in 2024 I'm in the minority. Maybe people just don't care as much to learn about the films they love. Me? I would've pored through as many commentaries and documentaries the disc had on tap.

La Femme Nikita 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you love La Femme Nikita, I don't have to sell you on anything. Just assure you that yes, Sony's new 4K release looks incredible and sounds nearly as good. To those who haven't watched the 1990 French classic (or perhaps have only sampled the 1993 American remake or one of the television series adapted from Besson's film), may I heartily recommend this version. Sure, special features would have been nice, but don't let a barebones disc scare you off.