Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
2.5/4
"You can't stop what you can't see"
Indyfreak - wrote on 09/19/2018
Luc Besson's slick uber-nineties styled action thriller has a great lead performance by the ever underrated Jean Reno as Leon, a stoic cleaner for the mob that takes a young neighbor named Mathilda (Natalie Portman) under his protection after her family is murdered by a vicious dirty cop named Norman Stansfield(Gary Oldman).
Oldman's infamously over the top turn as villain Norman Stansfield is the stuff of internet memes. Eminently quotable yet ever frightening as a character, Stansfield's evil presence is felt even when off-camera. One of the 1990s' best movie villains.
Natalie Portman is very good as the snarky if vulnerable Mathilda who swiftly becomes accustomed to Leon's solitary and dangerous occupation. And their relationship is where the movie becomes awkward to watch …
Rating of
N/A
Killer Mädchen
cinegeek.de - wrote on 03/18/2016
Luc Besson ist die kommerzielle französische Industrie. Er im Alleingang und dafür hasst ihn halb Frankreich. Fast vergisst man dabei seine kalten und traurigen Geschichten aus den 90ern. Professionelle Killerinnen, obsessive Taucher und Punks, die in den Schluchten der Pariser Metro leben, bevölkerten diese Filme. Die Vorbilder von Besson waren Comics und genauso sahen seine Filme aus. Der New Wave Stil der Zeit, in Frankreich fand man dafür den Begriff "Bande Dessinee". Luc Besson scheint ein Anhänger der Pygmalion Theorie zu sein, die besagt, dass jede Person durch Bildung transformiert werden kann. Dieser Glauben mit der Vorliebe Bessons für weibliche Killer, macht Leon - The Professional aus. Einen Fakt aber können wir dabei auf keinen Fall ignorieren: In Leon ist der …
Rating of
4/4
"Leon" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 02/27/2012
Professional killer Jean Reno reluctantly takes in a 12 year old girl after her family is murdered by corrupt police detectives. Luc Besson's mix of offbeat characters, humour and high octane action tends to be a little hit and miss, but in Leon he found the perfect balance between sensitive character study, emotion and tense action sequences. Pot plant loving, milk drinking loner Reno is the antithesis of the usual testosterone-soaked, gung-ho action hero and with no glib one liners or macho posturing, he takes no pleasure in the mayhem he induces; he's just very, very good at it. His relationship with a young Natalie Portman is sincere, funny and touching, and although emotionally ambiguous (at least from her adolescent point of view), it never crosses the line into sexual creepiness. …
Rating of
3.5/4
Professional, The (Léon) review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 08/08/2011
Jean Reno is Leon, the professional hitman who is a loyal unemotional killer when he accidentally helps a young girl named Mathilda whose family was murdered by a crooked cop. Natalie Portman has never been better as the abused daughter Mathilda. Even the supporting cast, Tony was acted well by Danny Aiello. Jean Reno’s timing in delivering lines and dumbfounded gestures are noteworthy. Norman Stansfield, the neurotic, temperamental antagonist was well played by Gary Oldman. His stares are enough to shiver your spine. Memorable quotes: Mathilda – “If you saved my life, you must have saved it for a good reason.” Norman – “It's when you start to become really afraid of death,that you learn to appreciate life.” Leon – “You've given me a new taste for life. I want …
Rating of
3.5/4
Reno/Portman works magic in this film.
mdtinney - wrote on 08/20/2009
This might equally well have been entitled 'Mathilda' for there is no question it is Natalie Portman who steals the show from the merely brilliant Jean Reno (who should have got an Oscar for this.) Gary Oldman is as good being bad as ever, and Danny Aiello provides a classy supporting role.
The movie could be controversial in many respects but the sheer class and emotion lift it above any doubt. It reflects real life. Perhaps surprisingly, it is in Leon that emotion surfaces more easily, with Mathilda almost carrying the hardened hit-man as well as the film, through a series of punishing tests.
Mathilda is irresistible, cute, practical, tortured, sensual, and yet remains entirely innocent. As is the heartless, simple, cold-blooded murderer, Leon. This is artistic, entertaining, …
Rating of
3.5/4
Ecellent action movie
filmfan09 - wrote on 02/22/2009
Léon, also know as 'The Professional' is a well directed and very entertaining movie that full of tension and is also a great looking film.
Léon tells the story of Mathilda a 12-year-old girl, whose father is involved in drug dealing for some crooked cops led by the terrifying Agent Stansfield. When Stansfield discovers he is being cheated by Mathilda's father, he takes revenge by killing nearly the entire family expect Mathilda who escapes and hides out in the neighbor's flat. Léon, the neighbor is a contract killer, when Mathilda find this out she begs him to teach her how to get her own revenge.
Luc Besson, writer and director puts together a stylish and wonderful thriller, which dosen't take itself too seriously. The fast moving pace and amazing action sequences are …
