Review of Léon: The Professional (1994) by Will C — 17 Mar 2013

Leon is a stylish & solid action thriller that is rightfully hailed as one of the greatest action films of all time. Superbly directed, swiftly paced, tightly edited & beautifully scored, Leon is the story of a professional assassin who takes in a girl when her family is brutally murdered & helps her exact revenge on those responsible for it.

Also, the film is an odd look at their relationship which might be unsettling for some. Jean Reno stars as Leon & did great justice to his character. Gary Oldman simply nailed his character, Stansfield, & Natalie Portman as Mathilda couldn't have asked for a more sensational debut.

A classic in every way, Leon is violent, brutal & unsettling, yet is a tremendously entertaining & memorable piece of great cinema. Make sure you grab the director's cut.