The Professional Delivers

The 1980’s and 1990’s were two superb decades for amazing action films that contained easy on the eyes stunts, clever storylines, touches of comedy and great villains. Movies like the Die Hard trilogy, Lethal Weapon 1-4 , Mission Impossible, and James Bond entries like License to Kill and Goldeneye entertained in all of these categories. One of the best action movies to come out of the 90’s though, is known as Léon or The Professional.

The film follows a hit-man named Léon, played by Jean Reno, who works for the Italian restauranteur Tony (Danny Aiello). Near the beginning of the picture we are able to see just what the hired assassin does for his boss in several beautifully choreographed action scenes which gets the viewer’s adrenalin pumping.

Léon lives in a slummy apartment building next to a family of five whose patriarch is a crooked drug dealer. One day, the higher-ups pay him a visit and give him an ultimatum to return some missing drugs. The following day, when he has not done so, they return and kill the family, all but their one daughter Mathilda (Natalie Portman), who is returning home from the corner store. As she approaches her home she realizes what is happening and looks for refuge in the hit-man’s abode. Léon grudgingly allows her in and with that their fates are sealed.

The acting in this film is pure perfection. Jean Reno shows great evolution as he transitions from a man who cares about nothing but a potted plant to becoming a mentor to this young orphaned girl. In an odd sense he even falls in love with her. Portman shows amazing acting chops and range well beyond her years. This performance was her best until her exceptional role in Black Swan. She is able to convey the complex emotions of fear, anger and hatred mixed with a naive bravery, as well as the mysterious feelings of first love (or is it just a stomach ache?). Saving the best for last, Gary Oldman plays the villain Stansfield. It has often been called one of the greatest, yet most forgotten performances ever to grace the silver screen and I would have to agree. No one plays a villain better than Gary Oldman. From his rambling talks about his love for classical music, to his creepy entrance through the beaded doorway in the drug dealer’s house, to his neck cracking use of illegal drugs, to his crazed deliverance of lines like ‘EVERYONE!’, he is able to bring forth a truly mesmerizing and over-the-top performance.

Despite all of the violence, there are some touching and humourous elements both inside and outside of the action to take the edge off. One memorable bit finds us watching Reno and Portman acting out famous celebrities in a guessing game. It gives us a nice view into the more human side of their downtime and nothing is funnier than watching Jean Reno try to do John Wayne.

Luc Besson, the screenwriter and director of the movie, has never lacked the ability to bring beautifully written action to the screen. For those of you who do not know, Besson is the man who wrote the motion picture Taken starring Liam Neeson. If you like European films, you will certainly like this one as it has that flavour even though it was set in North America. In the end, The Professional brings you everything you could want in an action flick: a superb and rich script, actors that are able to bring the screenplay to life, touches of humour, a deliciously creepy villain, plenty of action, and an explosive finale that will have you on pins and needles!