Diagonaldi Very well executed

Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!

TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

David_Brown I am not a dance fan, but dance is very important to this film, as is the story, and the theme song "Say You" by Lionel Ritchie. The best things about the film are the characters, and the way the film switches gears and tricks the audience (In a good way). These are characters you care about because of the hell they have went through and the best of them is without question Darya Greenwood (Isabella Rossellini), who is a Russian who is married to a black American defector to the USSR (Gregory Hines). You can see emotions written all over her face, throughout the film: Love and fear, being just two of them. Spoilers: As for the trickery you think the story is about 'Kolya' Rodchenko (Mikhail Baryshnikov), an ex- Bolshoi Ballet dancer who crashed in a plane and landed back in the USSR, and his relationship with Galina Ivanova (Helen Mirren). But rather it is about Raymond Greenwood (Gregory Hines), who made a major mistake years ago and defected to the USSR, and is being used as a pawn by Colonel Chaiko (Jerzy Skolimowski), who is great in this film (Second only to Rossellini in the acting department). At the end of the film Koyla and Darya make it to the US Embassy after a great car chase, and Raymond is finally exchanged for a low level spy, Greenwood says at the end: "I'm going home, for better or for worse, I'm going home." You know that it is Greenwood's story, because he is the one who ends up with the girl. 10/10 stars.

anfer Nikolai Rodchenko (Mikhail Baryshnikov, one of the best ballet dancers) is a famous ballet dancer who tours around the world with his company. While traveling to Japan for a presentation, the plane crashes down and they are forced to land on the USSR. Nikolai had defected the Soviet Union 8 years ago, so he is captured by the KGB. The Soviets want him back to the Kirov Ballet... but all he wishes is to scape. When I first saw this movie, I was 12 years old and I enjoyed it very much. Filmed in the USSR during the Cold War, this movie has a good story, script, direction and the performances are superb. Most of all, the dance sequences were Nikolai and his fellow American dance partner Raymond Greenwood (Gregory Hines, another talented dancer) are rehearsing. Also, the most impressive scene is when Nikolai dances in the Kirov Theatre, in front of his ex-girlfriend Galina Ivanona (Helen Mirren, in yet another great performance). If you enjoy watching dance movies, or looking for a good drama story, get "White Nights". You won't regret it :)

elisa-liv The two giant and opposing nations of the Cold War, Russia and the United States of America, are represented through the protagonists of "White Nights". Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov are two superb dancers who act in the film, and delight the viewer through artistic communication. The emotion evoked by their performances is unparalleled; feelings of despair, frustration, anger and desire for freedom are all present in their body-language. The title of the film refers to a natural occurrence, present in northern Russia: The White Nights are a phenomenon which lasts a few weeks between Spring and Summer. During this time, there is light for most the night; after sunset and during twilight, it looks white and clear... a white night. This film is truly worth watching, I own it and am glad. Not only does it possess a grand artistic value, but also a great story from a historical period in which one's life was completely controlled by political agreements. It is in this Orwellian society, that human values arise and struggle for survival... do not miss it!

John Wilkes Booth The direction of Taylor Hackford is unique in that it is able to harness romance, dramatic tension and difficult subject matter into film. White Nights, much like Against All Odds and Proof of Life, is an excellent work of this under-appreciated director that has its problems in translating into box-office success. In the long run that really does not matter.This is a distinct movie with great music, dance sequences and strong performances from the actors that lend this work a greater respect and credibility in the years after the end of the Stalinist Soviet Union and the Cold War--which is an important part of life before 1991, now nearly forgotten.White Nights is not a great--change your life film like Casablanca or the Third Man--but it is strange enough to conjure your attentions for its duration for the appearances of Gregory Hines, Isabella Rosselini, Helen Mirren and Barishnikov and the strange flow of the storyline that is unlike most films produced. The music, editing and acting will make White Nights a memorable experience for even the most cynical viewer regardless of the mixed ending and prisoner exchange.I liked this film a lot and I hope I am not in the minority report.