The Professional

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Stephen G. @Mangaloverx999x 4d One of my favorite movies of all time. I saw this when I was lik 7 or 8 yea my dad let me watch movies like this with him. I loved it even at that point. One of Natalie Portman and Gary Goldmans best performances. See more liam Q @RT28690339 Apr 29 The best scene was when she got that loaf of bread from the store. The attention to NYC detail is amazing. I remember seeing that in theaters in 1994 and thinking "sheeeeiiit". See more Ronnie M @spuncake Mar 29 This movie was very uncomfortable to watch...Why would you have a child making sexual advances to a grown man in any movie? Left a bad taste in my mouth.....ridiculous See more Marios K @RT04753237 Mar 15 Léon: The Professional is deeply frustrating because the writing and tone are creepy and all over the place. The Mathilda/Léon dynamic is uncomfortable and forced: a 12-year-old saying she’s in love with a man in his 40s, asking for a kiss, getting intimate and close to Léon’s face, and wearing inappropriate clothing makes the story feel incredibly wrong, unrealistic, and weird. The villain calling in an absurdly huge SWAT team for a single apartment block just to catch one man has no real justification, and the transitions between action, drama, and emotional scenes are jarring. That said, the acting is phenomenal: Gary Oldman is unhinged and unforgettable, Jean Reno is perfectly stoic, and Natalie Portman’s debut at 12 is criminally impressive, full of raw emotion. Extraordinary performances cannot save a movie whose writing and tone are so inconsistent, making it impossible to fully enjoy. See more Nils E @NilsEr Mar 6 Fem films stay with you for decades, but Léon: The Professional is one of them. It’s a movie I find myself returning to again and again. Every time, new layers appear. Luc Besson created something special here. Among his many memorable films, this one stands out as a defining work. The storytelling is minimalist but emotionally rich, and the pacing allows the characters to breathe in a way many modern films no longer attempt. Jean Reno delivers a performance that, by today’s standards, would almost certainly have been recognized with an Oscar nomination. His portrayal of Léon is restrained, vulnerable, and deeply human. At the same time, the film introduced the world to Natalie Portman. Her performance as Mathilda is astonishing for someone so young. It laid the foundation for what would become an extraordinary career. What makes this film endure is its contrast: violence and innocence, darkness and warmth, brutality and tenderness. Few movies balance those elements so effectively See more Joe B @JBru4d Feb 12 Why is no one talking about the over sexualizing of a 12 year old, and the pedophilloic relationship between Leon and Mathilda. "This wouldn't be a good idea Mathilda"... yeah, how about because you're 12... not because of a past lover. I did really enjoy Gary Oldman's performance, never seen him as the bad guy but he did an excellent job. Could've been a good story concept but thought it was executed really weirdly, to the point it was quite disturbing. See more Read all reviews

The Professional

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