Little Odessa
Seen it?1994 | 98 min | Crime, Drama
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Solid across the board without standing out anywhere. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved State of Grace or A Bronx Tale, start here.
- The mood
- Dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 38 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
Long separated from his family, hitman Joshua returns to Brighton Beach for a contract killing for the Russian Mafia. His abusive father, Arkady, banned him from returning after Joshua committed his first murder. He takes up residence in a hotel, and soon everyone knows he has returned. He goes home to visit his dying mother, Irina, and prepares for the assassination, getting drawn back into the criminal community he left behind.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
53% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.5 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 2 Venice awards: Venice Film Festival: Best First Feature, Venice Film Festival: Best Supporting Actress. Also nominated for 5 Independent Spirit Awards. Plus 1 other award.
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 55K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
We Own the Night Sunday Safe BetAlso from director James Gray: a mob crime drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
State of Grace
Saturday SpecialAnother mob crime drama, and a Saturday Special.
A Bronx Tale
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed mob crime drama.
The Boondock Saints
Weeknight WatchAnother mob crime story, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Knox Goes Away Weeknight WatchAnother hitman crime drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by James Gray
- Tim RothJoshua Shapira
- Edward FurlongReuben Shapira
- Moira KellyAlla Shustervich
- Vanessa RedgraveIrina Shapira
- Paul GuilfoyleBoris Volkoff
- Natalya AndreychenkoNatasha
- Maximilian SchellArkady Shapira
- David VadimSasha
- Mina BernGrandma Tsilya
- Boris McGiverIvan