Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- brooding
- bleak
- harrowing
- serious movie night
- independent film night
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the film’s austere crime melodrama, atmospheric direction, and emotional intensity, though aggregate scores indicate generally favorable rather than unanimous acclaim.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joshua’s hit-man identity conflicts with memories of his Russian-immigrant family and former companions in Brighton Beach.
Joshua and Reuben’s relationship with their abusive father is central to the family’s dysfunction and Joshua’s defensive emotional isolation.
The job takes Joshua back into Brighton Beach’s Russian-immigrant community and its bratva-linked criminal environment.
The film’s bitter family drama and Joshua’s unraveling are grounded in a cold, oppressive Brighton Beach atmosphere.
Films like Little Odessa, and why
Mean Streets
bleak crime drama centered on family loyalty, professional violence, and moral collapse
The Funeral
stylized urban crime story where criminal identity collides with intimate family and community relationships
The Yards
somber immigrant-family drama shaped by organized crime, masculine violence, and damaged brotherhood
Eastern Promises
brooding character study of criminal alienation and corrosive family bonds in an urban setting
Movie Details
- Director
- James Gray
- Release Date
- 1994-10-28
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (251)
Cast
- Tim Roth
- Edward Furlong
- Moira Kelly
- Vanessa Redgrave
- Paul Guilfoyle
- Natalya Andreychenko
- Maximilian Schell
- David Vadim
- Mina Bern
- Boris McGiver
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Starz Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Little Odessa about?
- A professional killer’s return to his Russian-immigrant family turns a routine job into a devastating confrontation with buried humanity.
- What is Little Odessa like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Little Odessa as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Little Odessa violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Little Odessa as brutal.
- What did critics think of Little Odessa?
- Critics broadly admired the film’s austere crime melodrama, atmospheric direction, and emotional intensity, though aggregate scores indicate generally favorable rather than unanimous acclaim.
- Which films are like Little Odessa?
- Films with a similar feel include Mean Streets, The Funeral, The Yards, and Eastern Promises.
- How long is Little Odessa?
- Little Odessa runs 98 minutes.
- Where can I watch Little Odessa?
- In United States, Little Odessa streams on Starz Apple TV channel.
