Hottoceame The Age of Commercialism

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Matho The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

vincentlynch-moonoi While not a "great" film, I actually think this is pretty decent.You begin with an interesting premise -- a husband and wife were a Communist sleeper cell in America, but have lived their lives here long enough that they have adapted to and enjoy American culture. Suddenly, the Russian government calls on them to do a job...and they refuse. Caught in the middle is their teenaged son who wants to go to the US Air Force Academy and had no idea his parents weren't everyday solid Americans. He becomes the pawn in an international game of intrigue.The cast here is very good, as well. Sidney Poitier is fine as an FBI agent, but -- and this is a significant flaw in the film -- he tries to hard to befriend River Phoenix's character; in today's world, people would have assumed he was a predator. River Phoenix is superb as the teen; makes you wonder what would have been had he not succumbed to drugs. Richard Jenkins is one of this country's great unsung actors; always dependable, as he is here. Richard Grant is fine as the Soviet agent, as in Caroline Kava as the mother. Richard Bradford is very good, but the way in which he was directed to portray his role seems very stereotypical. Richard Lynch is dependably slimy as the really bad guy! Interesting to see a young and svelte Loretta Devine; a fine actress.All in all, a pretty decent film, and probably far more realistic than most "spy" movies.

mark.waltz This is the type of film that Hollywood was producing tons of in the mid 1960's, so by 1988, it seemed "old hat". But, if you are going to give it a sort of "brat pack" touch, then this is an acceptable variation of the familiar story. River Phoenix, really hot in 1988, was the Leonardo di Caprio of his time, and he is well cast as a really nice teen who wants to go into the Air Force Academy. Little does he realize that his parents have a secret, and this is where Sidney Poitier comes in. Poitier is a FBI agent who has been trying to find Scuba, the man who killed his partner years ago, and now, he learns that the killer is blackmailing the KGB into paying him off or he will kill the remainder of the Russian spies they sent over during the cold war. Guess who two of those spies are. Poor River Phoenix has his whole world turned upside down when the truth comes out, and its up to Poitier to prevent him and his family from becoming Scuba's next target.News shots of former movie star Ronald Reagen making peace with the Russian government are briefly seen which sort of the dates the purpose of having even made this movie since the cold war was obviously long over. But it is still presented in an interesting light and is generally entertaining. This is what we referred to in 1988 as a "popcorn movie", something we went to see strictly for entertainment and forgot about by the next day. I will say that the finale is pretty exciting, though, set on the tram that goes from San Diego to the Mexican border. The much missed River Phoenix was a fine young actor whom we lost too early. Along with the excellent nature-battling thriller "Shoot to Kill", this film marked Sidney Poitier's return to acting after a decade, and he is more than welcomed back. The lovely Loretta Devine has a nice small role as the big-hearted guidance counselor Poitier becomes involved with. Richard Jenkins and Caroline Kava are fine as DiCaprio's parents, while Richard Lynch and Richard Bradford are nefariously interesting as the Russians.

elshikh4 I sat to watch this one because it came from the 1980s, and had (Sidney Poitier) in it. Although I know so well that this great icon made a lot of movies that didn't deserve his great talent at all. But let us watch this thriller from 1988.. At first some ridiculous questions were allowed to be asked such as : if the FBI knows the places of the Russian sleepers (temporarily retired Russian spies) why for god's sake they didn't warn them at all about this maniac killer ?! Or even arrest them in the first place?!!, and if (Poitier) already knew the truth of (River Phoenix)'s parents what exactly he intended to do with their son by telling him the hidden reality ?? Is it for using him to convince his father and mother not to obey (Richard Bradford) the Russian officer ?? Maybe. But what's the need of those ones in particular to hand over the money to the killer? And why on earth that very Russian officer phoned the sleepers themselves (after the ballet) from (Poitier)'s apartment ?? .. And if he didn't intent to kidnap their boy (who enters at the same time to the very place so easily !) by what he was going to threaten the previous agents ? Especially with the fact of their parents being dead ?? And let us look at that scene which HAS the Russian officer showering and the killer is here suddenly (with a knife !), menaces him quickly : (I Want My Money Fast) and runs away !!.. To have the miserable fat officer standing under the shower just offended ?? So you must ask yourself why in the world he didn't run after him (even nude ?!), or why he didn't hold his gun (if he had one !) to shot the evil guy who had just a knife ??.. For a second I thought that there was a secret relationship or undercover partnership between them BUT at the end I said to myself what a good twist it would've been if they did what I was thinking of !! Anyway I've got some things extra to bother : (Poitier) all his work at his office is just looking at the pictures more than 10 times ??, reading names from his computer to discover the reality of the sleepers in such too easy way to the extent that I was saying while watching : WaW, the job of the FBI agents is very simple ! Then what's the necessity of his love affair with the school's employee (Poitier was 61 years old at the time)?, and when it comes to the end of the movie I just wonder why the Russian officer kidnapped the boy to have this long chase?! I believe not to kill him for sure but to negotiate with the Americans to GET the killer in his custody, however the movie made him kill the killer with the American FBI agent in the same time ! So long live the peace agreement and good bye to the old cold war ! (must notice that the movie is produced at 1988. Not before. So the changes were very fresh !) but you must ask yourself first what the killer would have earned by throwing the boy out of the bridge ?! And what a shot when all the money went to the two very poor alien emigrants by pure coincidence just to till us how America is so generous and kind to anyone would resort to it ! By the way there is a strange guy appears in that scene out of the blue to stand beside (Poitier) and talk with him about the continuance of life ! so (Poitier) responds in his wise tone : yes, same all same all !!.. Who is that guy anyway ? And from where did he emerge ??!.. Well, It was so aspirant movie with a new catchy story which had unpredictable thrilling lines : The FBI old agent who wants to fulfill his old revenge, the nice relationship between the mentor (Poitier) and Little Nikita (Phoenix), what would you do if you discovered that your parents are not what you're used to know ?? and that serial killer for the old spies who was chased by the Americans and the Russians too. All of this was so bright and original but unfortunately the main big mistake was in the SCREENPLAY which was incapable of building solider plot without any holes. At last, the most enjoyable things in here would be : the potentials of the story, the magical charisma of the old (Sidney Poitier) and the young (River Phoenix) together, Marvin Hamlisch's stylish music, the good chase at the end, and the brief but unique presence of (Ingrid M. Rhoads) at the Air Force Academy as (Cpl. Hogan) in maybe 3 shots only ! (you maybe missed her.. but not me !) although she didn't talk but she was unforgettable sexy in the military suit.. Unforgettable unlike the movie itself for a lot of people and if you don't believe me just ask yourself (for the very last time) why there are no more than 9 comments in here about this one after nearly 20 years of its production ?!

Lee Eisenberg On one level, "Little Nikita" is just another silly action movie. But strong performances and some interesting turns keep this one afloat. FBI agent Roy Parmenter (Sidney Poitier) interviews teenager Jeff Grant (River Phoenix), who is trying to get into the Air Force Academy. But while reviewing Jeff, Roy discovers the most surprising thing of all: Jeff's parents are Soviet "sleeper" spies who fled to the United States and never told him about their history. Moreover, there's renegade Soviet agent Scuba - who murdered Roy's partner many years earlier - looking for Jeff, while the USSR has sent someone to capture Scuba! Yeah, it's beyond convoluted, and - quite frankly - improbable. But director Richard Benjamin knows how to to do it. There isn't a dull moment anywhere in the movie. Pretty interesting. And playing Jeff's dad is Richard Jenkins, aka Nate Sr on "Six Feet Under".