Review of Léon: The Professional (1994) by Richard D — 14 Jul 2016

Seems I'm doomed to perpetually waver on this film. The last time I watched it, I was convinced that it was far better than I had previously thought it to be. Watching it again ... I'm not so sure.

I think it's an undeniably good film, but it feels about half an hour too long. The half hour leading up to the climax is particularly painfully slow. I think the problem is that I never really buy the relationship between Mathilda and Leon in anything deeper than a superficial action film manner, so when the film tries to delve into that relationship for real emotional payoff, it loses me.

Great action flick ... check. Great villain ... check (I have firmly decided that Gary Oldman's amazingly outsized performance is great) The rest ... no not so much.