Review of Léon: The Professional (1994) by Chris T — 29 Dec 2011

Leon tells the story of Mathilda (Nathalie Portman) a young 12 year old girl who is reluctantly taken in by neighbour Leon (John Reno) after her family are brutally slaughtered by corrupt DEA agent Stansfield (Gary Oldman). Mathilda soon learns that Leon is a professional hit man and she begs him to help her gain revenge for the massacre.

Quite simpy Leon is Luc Besson's finest hour, he hasn't even come close to recapturing the form displayed here. Highly stylised but never too explicit in the violence it depicts, Besson also gives the story a real emotional core and you really root for the very strange pairing of the hit man and his naive young companion.

The performances are superb all-round especially from the then 12 year old Nathalie Portman. It is hard to believe this was her first role, the depth and range of emotion she brings to the character of Mathilda is astonishing. Her performance was seen as highly controversial upon release due to some the Lolita style aspects of her character and although there are certainly some uncomfortable moments, Reno plays Leon in such away that you know he would never take advantage of the confused young girl.

Reno gives an understated performance for most of the film but makes the contract killer an extremely sympathetic and surprisingly moral character despite the fact that he kills anyone (except women and children) for money. When his emotions finally do start to bubble to the surface his approach gives those scenes even greater impact.

Gary Oldman is in full scenery chewing maniac mode here and is extremely entertaining as drug propelled villain Stansfield. His character is truly terrifying and is set up perfectly by his introductory scene which apparently Oldman ad-libbed.

Leon is hardly subtle in it's execution or it's themes, but when the direction or performances on hand are this good nothing can drag it down.