Review of Léon: The Professional (1994) by Thomassmithson — 20 Jul 2014

The Professional opens with an oppressive thrum; the weight of loneliness, a major theme to the story.

We are forced to identify with 'Leon' (Jean Reno) who we learn is a hit man that drinks milk, not whiskey, suggesting he is not numbed to his profession, but perhaps pure in his approach, further clarified by his number one rule, "No women, no kids.".

12yr old 'Matilda' (Natalie Portman) an old soul that says things like, "I'm already grown up, I'm just getting old." and a fatal romantic, "I want love, or death, that's it." Matilda's surroundings and upbringing make us think she could one day be an artist, a mother of three, or a prostitute, so many outs if she can only stay alive.

DEA agent Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman) charming, gallant, intense, stepping out of the pages of GQ Magazine clearly in love with himself and his work and when he pops a happy pill (his fix) one hears a disturbing audible crack and when the curtains are pulled it's a manic blend of beethoven and 12 gauge blasts, he is everything a detective should be turned on its head into corruption and greed but still we find him taking the time to lecture some truants, "Kids, should be in school.".

These three characters collide in a story of revenge and justice that a badge or a gavel cannot deliver; it's a love story, The Professional is tender and brutal and platonic and ruthless and moral and in the end, it delivers.

Would have preferred a more European open ending, but American audiences demand closure and absoluteness, robbing themselves of a story or character living on and haunting their imagination.