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Rating: 4 out of 5
Oh, Leon: The Professional! This film is one movie with some of the BEST over the top acting in the world. The only reason I watch this film is because of the performance of Gary Oldman. This film right here made me a BIG fan of Gary Oldman. This was the film that made me start rooting for the villains. I was captivated by this performance because it was so insane. The story was actually really good, also. It is one of those films that, when it is on, I can sit and watch every time.
The film was written and directed by Luc Besson and features the film debut of Natalie Portman. A movie with TWO Academy Award winners. You can’t get any better than that. Léon (Reno) is an Italian immigrant who works in New York City as a cleaner. Leon is really good at his job. His handler is mob boss “Uncle” Tony (Aiello). Tony gives Leon the tasks he must carry out while keeping the money he earned safe. Leon is a recluse who lives with his favorite plant in a small apartment. He constantly works out to stay in shape and ensures his weapons are in top form. He lives next door to a troubled family whose twelve-year-old daughter, Mathilda (Portman), occasionally speaks to him. Mathilda is quite miserable as a half-sister. Her father is a drug dealer for corrupt DEA agent Norman Stansfield (Oldman). Mathilda skips school and only stays around for her little brother. One day, while Mathilda is out shopping, her world changes when Stansfield and his crew burst through and wipe out her whole family. Stansfield takes ZERO prisoners while searching for the stolen drugs Mathilda’s father is hiding. When she returns, she finds shelter in Léon’s apartment in the moment of highest need. Soon, Mathilda learns that Leon is a cleaner and asks him for help in getting revenge for her little brother. While Leon and Mathilda become close, he soon starts teaching her how to be a cleaner. This relationship soon changes the hardened hitman, and he discovers his ability to live, feel, and love. Mathilda has a habit of getting into trouble, and when she goes off to get her revenge, Léon comes and saves her. With his identity revealed, Leon and Mathilda will have to battle the police to have the life they want.
Before we talk about the performances, let’s dive into the story. The story was really good and engaging. A little creepy and cringy at times, but overall good. Having a recluse hitman is a nice setup but adding a troubled little girl to it sets it up to a new level. You wonder why Leon would care until he lets Mathilda into his life. Their connection shows Leon that there is more to life than killing people. The scene where Mathilda trains are nice to see because she hates drinking milk and wants to watch TV all day. Another sweet scene is when they play charades with different characters through life. When you add the ticking time bomb of Norman, the story gets really good because there are many elements at play. A little girl wants revenge against the cop who killed her family. The cop is such an addict that he doesn’t know the little girl is after him. The hitman who can bring them all together in a violent display.
The violence is where it is at with this film, and I love it. The film starts with a literal bang when Leon is on a mission to take down some dude rolling up in Tony’s territory. To watch him do his craft is a thing of beauty. The one scene where dude shoots through the steel pane and you see the shadow of Leon is straight-up spooky. When dude calls for help and Leon comes from the shadows like a demon and places his knife on the dude’s throat, it is chilling. The violence is nicely placed throughout the film. Things calm down until Norman shows up. Homeboy listens to Beethoven and kills a whole family like it was nothing. The daughter gets shot while trying to run, and the mother is listening to music in the bathtub, and he straight-up shoots her like it was nothing. In another scene, Leon saves Mathilda but rolls up at the police station and kills most of Norman’s team. Yet, the mwah moment was the ending. That is when Leon went hard in the paint. Mathilda is once again captured by the police, and Leon has a standoff like no other in his apartment.
The acting is where it is at, and one person went way overboard than everyone else. Let’s start off with Jean Reno as Léon. He was a cool character because he was quiet and didn’t want to be bothered. Even though he was a hitman, he showed a sweet side by taking in Mathilda and learning from her. You see how he changed by wanting to give Mathilda all his money and ensure she was taken care of.
Natalie Portman as Mathilda Lando did a fantastic job with this being her first film. When she needed to be emotional, she was. The scene where she asked Leon to answer the door was spot on. The fear on her face when she met Norman in the bathroom was a thrilling scene. The ending was where she really came through and sold her feelings for Leon.
The one who stole the film and was by far my favorite was Gary Oldman as Norman Stansfield. Oldman went so over the top with this role that it was something to see. Homeboy was insane, unhinged, and all over the place. You could see evil on his face. The way he took his pills and cracked his neck made you shiver. He didn’t give a shit about anyone when he shot at that old woman. Who listens to music when they kill people? This dude does. Oldman sold every moment so well. When Mathilda walks into the bathroom, and he closes the door behind her, straight terrifying. Yet, he has so many great lines. For example, “I don’t have time for this Mickey Mouse bullshit!” The scene that stole it was when he asked for everyone. The intensity was excellent. Well done, Gary Oldman. You are my hero!
Leon: The Professional might not be for everyone, but damnit, it is a great ass action/drama film. The violence might be a lot for some people, but it doesn’t overshadow the story. The story of a little girl whose family is murdered by a corrupt cop and who seeks shelter with a hitman is one to watch. Jean Reno and Natalie Portman are fantastic. Each one really did their role and characters to almost perfection. The one who stole the whole movie was Gary Oldman. You watch this film to get a lesson in class. When you watch this film, make sure you bring everyone. Yes, EVERYONE!!!!
