The cinematography is simply brilliant, as the violent opening sequence locks in the electrifying tone for the picture. As Mathilda's pain and persistence begin to wear down Léon's defenses, it isn't long before she's welcomed under his wing and into his heart.Īlthough Léon: The Professional does share a few similarities with Nikita ('Léon' was even inspired by Reno's 'cleaner' character in that film), Besson crafts a tale that is entirely in a class by itself. Not only does Mathilda uncover what Léon really does for a living, she wants to become his student so she can have her revenge. In a moment of kindness, Léon offers sanctuary to the young girl and unwittingly invites in a whole heap of trouble in the process. After the family is massacred by a psychotic lunatic (played by a devilish Gary Oldman), the only one left is twelve-year-old Mathilda (Natalie Portman). Léon's simplistic lifestyle unexpectedly takes a complicated turn when a drug deal in the next door apartment goes sour. When his best friend is his houseplant, it goes without saying that social skills just aren't his forte. Of course, being an efficient killing machine does come with one major drawback - he's not much of a 'people person.' Aside from Tony and his short-lived clients, Léon is someone who has very little human contact. Léon is the best assassin in the city, and routine, order, and simplicity have molded his way of living.

In New York City's underworld, Léon (Jean Reno) is a 'cleaner,' a professional hit-man for a mobster named Tony (Danny Aiello). French auteur Luc Besson may have gained international acclaim for La Femme Nikita, cleaned house at the box office with his sci-fi smash The Fifth Element and had a hand in making Jason Statham into an action leading man with The Transporter, but for me his pièce de résistance will always be 'Léon: The Professional.' Brutal, beautiful, and controversial, the film isn't just Besson at his best-it's cinema at its finest.

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