Léon: The Professional (1994)

Luc Besson made Léon: The Professional off the back of Nikita (1990) and The Fifth Element was already in the pipeline, placing this squarely in his most creatively fertile period. A French production shot almost entirely on location in New York, it marked a conscious push by Gaumont to break into the American market with a European sensibility intact. The film is probably best remembered now as the screen debut of a then twelve-year-old Natalie Portman, who landed the role after an open casting search. Gary Oldman, already well established as a go-to screen villain following Dracula (1992) and True Romance (1993), plays the corrupt DEA agent Norman Stansfield in what became one of his most frequently cited performances. A longer European cut, running roughly twenty minutes more, exists and has circulated widely.

Milk and a plant. Absolutely fantastic. Léon: The Professional is one of those rare films that hits every mark; tight writing, beautiful direction, and phenomenal performances from start to finish. It’s equal parts action thriller and emotional drama, with an undercurrent of quiet sadness that gives it real depth. Jean Reno is iconic as Léon. Stoic, awkward, lethal, and unexpectedly tender. Natalie Portman, in her debut, is ridiculously good. She brings so much raw emotion and complexity to Mathilda, it’s hard to believe she was only 12. Their relationship is strange, yes, but it’s handled with surprising nuance and care. Gary Oldman (Brilliant in everything) is utterly unhinged in the best way possible. Every scene he’s in feels like a powder keg about to explode with the line “EVERYONE!” seared into cinema history for a reason. It’s such a well-crafted film, and you feel it all the way through, from the quiet moments with Léon and his plant to the explosive, heartbreaking finale. I would’ve loved to see a sequel, even just to check in on Mathilda’s life after all of this. Stylish, emotional, unforgettable. An absolute classic.

Rating: ★★★★½  | Year: 1994  | Watched: 2025-04-06

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