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Léon: The Professional (1994)



Léon: The Professional (1994)




8/10



Starring
Jean Reno
Natalie Portman
Gary Oldman


Directed by Luc Besson

This is Natalie Portman’s first feature film, and her acting and professionalism show she was a natural. You wouldn’t be able to tell. Léon: The Professional is an intense action/violence film that involves two souls who differ in age and view of life. It delivers an exciting screenplay, wonderful performances by both leads, and a climactic ending. Even though it seems likely the movie will end the way it did, the way Luc Besson pulled it off was eventful enough for you to respect Léon (the hitman) as truly a professional.

Luc Besson is the man behind the movies Taken (2008) and Taken 2 (2012), and this movie is an extension of a film he did in 1990 titled Nikita, which also starred Jean Reno.

Léon: The Professional was made in 1994, directed by Luc Besson, and it was met with favorable reviews, though it can be disturbing seeing a young child like Portman in such a situation, as her character finds herself in.


The plot is about a hitman named Léon (Jean Reno), who didn’t know how to read or write, but what he knew, he knew well—he was a killer, and the best at it.

Léon’s path crosses with a little girl who lives in an apartment just a few rooms from his. He takes a caring interest in her and tries to help when he can. Her name is Mathilda (Natalie Portman), and she lives with her father, brother, stepmother, and stepsister.

Mathilda is always getting regularly beaten by her father, which makes Léon take pity on her. She sees this pity as love, and the 12-year-old decides to run an errand for Léon. When she gets back, her whole family has been murdered, and the killers are still around.

Here’s my favorite scene in the movie: when Mathilda sees her family dead, she walks past the men with guns. She doesn’t start screaming. Instead, she walks to Léon’s door, her back turned to the gunmen, and presses the bell, praying hard that Léon will just let her in. The moment Léon opens the door, his life changes forever.

Another thing to look out for is Gary Oldman. His performance in this movie is worth mentioning—it’s definitely worth his pay.

This tragic thriller revolves around a love between two people who aren’t meant for each other. Their involvement with each other brings death to many lives.

Léon is a good film—something you will enjoy. There’s no pedophilia in this movie, mind you, so fear not and go see it.



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