Point of No Return

Watch: Point of No Return

3/19/19931h 48m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ The government gave her a choice. Death. Or life as an assassin. Now, there's no turning back. ~

Overview:

Hardened criminal Maggie Hayward's consistent violence, even in police custody, ends in the execution chamber. However, top-secret US government agent 'Bob' arranges a staged death, so Maggie can be elaborately trained as a phantom killer and subdued into obedience.

Director:

John Badham

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$30,038,362.00

Key words:

death penalty
assassin
washington dc, usa
new orleans, louisiana
doomed man
lethal injection
secret agent
remake

Cast

Bridget Fonda

~ as ~

Maggie Hayward

Gabriel Byrne

~ as ~

Bob

Dermot Mulroney

~ as ~

J. P.

Miguel Ferrer

~ as ~

Kaufman

Anne Bancroft

~ as ~

Amanda

Olivia D'Abo

~ as ~

Angela

Richard Romanus

~ as ~

Fahd Bahktiar

Harvey Keitel

~ as ~

Victor the Cleaner

Lorraine Toussaint

~ as ~

Beth

Geoffrey Lewis

~ as ~

Drugstore Owner

View full cast & crew

Reviews (2)

t
tmdb872652
Written 12 year(s) ago
2
Don't waste your precious time. Watch the original directed by Luc Besson.

I couldn't really enjoy this 1993 remake, knowing the so much better original from 1990.
John Chard
Written 10 year(s) ago
6
New Dawn - New Day - New Life.

Point of No Return (AKA: The Assassin) is directed by John Badham and written by Robert Getchell and Alexander Seros. It stars Bridget Fonda, Gabriel Byrne, Dermot Mulroney, Anne Bancroft and Harvey Keitel. Music is by Hans Zimmer and cinematography (Panavision/Technicolor) by Michael Ferris and Michael Watkins.

When drug addict Maggie Hayward (Fonda) kills a policeman in cold blood, she is promptly sentenced to death by lethal injection. But maybe there is an out? A chance to work for the government?

Why so serious?

A remake of Luc Besson's Nikita, this was always going to suffer the usual remake taunts of why bother? Was it necessary etc? Point of No Return is a good honest action movie, it has style to burn, nifty photography and likable leading actors. The action is well staged and thrilling - and Hong Kongish in style, and bubbling away in the writing are themes of identity, absent parents and a delicately off-kilter oedipal angle. The Nina Simone soundtrack is terrific, while Zimmer works around Nina's songs with an aural assuredness that grabs the attention.

It doesn't push any boundaries, and although it has been noted in some neo-noir circles, it is only a borderline entry in that style of film making. But if kinetic is a good word for you, and ultra violence gives you a shot in the arm, then Bridget and her guns are definitely worth a first date at least. 6/10