Léon: The Professional (1994)
8.294 /10
15821 Reviews
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Léon, the top hit man in New York, has earned a rep as an effective "cleaner". But when his next-door neighbors are wiped out by a loose-cannon DEA agent, he becomes the unwilling custodian of 12-year-old Mathilda. Before long, Mathilda's thoughts turn to revenge, and she considers following in Léon's footsteps.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Léon Montana
... Mathilda Lando
... Norman Stansfield
... Tony
... Malky
User reviews
HOW TO MAKE A FEMALE ASSASSIN. TRAUMA, TRAINING THEN GET HER EXTRA ANGRY. NATILIE PORTMANS FIRST ASSASSIN ROLE AND HOPEFULLY NOT HER LAST. WE NEED A PART 2 TO THIS MOVIE.
Reviews of
Léon: The Professional
HOW TO MAKE A FEMALE ASSASSIN. TRAUMA, TRAINING THEN GET HER EXTRA ANGRY. NATILIE PORTMANS FIRST ASSASSIN ROLE AND HOPEFULLY NOT HER LAST. WE NEED A PART 2 TO THIS MOVIE.
This films stars a 12-year old Natalie Portman as Mathilda, a girl living with her abusive stepfather, a step-sister, mother, and four-year old brother. She doesn’t care for any of these people except her brother. One day, she returns home from getting the groceries to find corrupt DEA agents have killed her entire family. Key amongst those agents is Stansfield, played by Gary Oldman. Seeking refuge in the flat of a neighbour she had befriended earlier, Léon (Jean Reno), she learns that he is a hitman. She makes a deal with him: she will look after the flat by doing the domestic chores if he will teach her how to get revenge on the men who killed her brother.
Strange though the synopsis may be, the relationship between Léon and Mathilda is kept innocent, and the scenes between the two are believable. Mathilda’s sexual awareness is at a nascent stage and her exposure to the sordid side of life with her recently deceased family (her step-father worked for drug-dealers) means she is perhaps not as innocent as most 12-year old girls; however, Léon is unwilling to take advantage of the situation. This means the story can focus on the platonic relationship between the two, the bond that develops between them, and how each affects the other’s life.
Although it may seem a little far-fetched that a young girl would accompany a hitman during his work, Léon ensures that her assistance is required only on fairly routine hits that follow a well-defined pattern. For the more complex hits he leaves her behind.
There is a thread of humour running through the film, but you must bear in mind the film is framed in the world of corruption and greed and all is not sweet and light, and graphic violence is depicted.
Jean Reno is wonderful as the extremely good but placid hitman, whose whole outlook on life is changed by the young Mathilda, played wonderfully by Natalie Portman in her first film. I’ve not read it, but I understand that Eppie has a similar effect on Silas Marner, as described in the book of the same name. I found Gary Oldman’s performance histrionic, the only let-down in the film, albeit not something that spoilt the film as a whole.
Recommended.
Cast & Crew of
Léon: The Professional
Cast
... Léon Montana
... Mathilda Lando
... Norman Stansfield
... Tony
... Malky
... Mathilda's Father
... Mathilda's Mother
... Mathilda's Sister
... Mathilda's Brother
... Bodyguard Chief
... 1st Stansfield Man
... 2nd Stansfield man
... 3rd Stansfield man (Benny)
... Stansfield man
... Stansfield man
... Fatman
... Leon's Taxi driver
... Tonto
... Blond Babe
... Mickey
... Stairway Swat
... Manolo
... Old Lady
... Receptionist
... Ball Kid
... Cigarette Kid
... 1st Policeman
... 2nd Policeman
... 1st Security man
... Orphanage Headmistress
... Swat Hostage
... Swat Chief
... Doctor
... Important Jogger
... Client #1
... 3rd Security Guard
... Subway Rapper
... DEA Security Guard
... Security Guard
... Bodyguard
... Newspaperman
... Girl
... Chinatown Boss' sidekick
... Tony's Barber
... Swat 1
... Swat 2
... Swat 3
... Swat 4
... Swat 5
... Swat 6
... Swat 7
... Swat 8
... Swat 9
... Extra (uncredited)
... Jimmy, SWAT Team Member (uncredited)
Crew
... Producer
... Original Music Composer
... Director of Photography
... Editor
... Casting
... Production Design
... Art Direction
... Set Decoration
... Costume Design
... Screenplay
... Makeup Artist
... Executive Producer
... Line Producer
... Line Producer
... Hairstylist
... Unit Manager
... Assistant Unit Manager
... Production Manager
... Second Assistant Director
... First Assistant Director
... Special Effects Supervisor
... Special Effects Assistant
... Special Effects
... Makeup Artist
... Sound Editor
... Set Decoration
... Assistant Art Director
... Art Direction
... Script Supervisor
... Still Photographer
... Executive Music Producer
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... First Assistant Director
... Stunt Coordinator
... Special Effects
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunt Coordinator
... Stunts
... Post Production Consulting
... Director
... Post Production Coordinator
Videos & Photos of
Léon: The Professional
Videos (3)
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