Léon: The Professional Review: A Hitman and His Unlikely Ward
8.5/10 — Léon: The Professional (1994)
Pros
- Reno and Portman's chemistry
- Oldman's wild villain
- Slick action
Cons
- Uncomfortable central dynamic
Léon, a quiet New York hitman, takes in Mathilda, a twelve-year-old whose family is murdered by a corrupt DEA agent, and teaches her his trade as she seeks revenge. It was Natalie Portman’s film debut.
What works
Jean Reno is gentle and haunted as Léon, and Portman is remarkable for her age. Gary Oldman’s unhinged Stansfield is a gleefully terrifying villain, and the action set pieces are slick and kinetic.
Where it falters
The relationship between Léon and Mathilda is uncomfortable, and the sexualisation of a child character is troubling in places.
Verdict
A stylish, emotional thriller with great performances, though it has ethical issues.
