This is the edited-for-content American version of the longer (and much more explicitly controversial) ‘Leon’, the original film by French director Luc Besson. Most of the scenes that have been cut from the original deal with the relationship between Leon and Mathilda. Personally, I’d like to see them because they would show how the two become closer, and even if they do veer more and more towards what is already made explicit in this edited version, they never (from what I understand) cross the line from disturbing into flat-out obscene.
‘The Professional’ is ostensibly the story of a “cleaner” named Leon who saves the life of a young girl named Mathilda. How young? Well, she’s 12, as people seem to know for absolutely no reason. A young boy’s age is also known for absolutely no adequately explored reason, and it’s a bit of a running joke after a while, sort of like everyone thinking “Snake” Plissken was dead(sp?).
Some of the action scenes are somewhat dated(Perhaps ‘Equilibrium”s only redeeming scene should be cut-and-pasted?). The acting is not as good as the ideas, nor is the writing. But the ideas are brilliant, and those who complain about Gary Oldman’s over-the-top Stansfield are overlooking the fact that at least Oldman gives his character an interesting persona, beyond what is actually “called for” in the script.
I could wax philosophical about how the movie is not about death and killing but about saving life and Salvation, and while that may or may not be true, it seems to me to be more about slick cinemacraft than either. Not without its merits, certainly, but as over-rated by its adoring fans as it is hated by its critics.
Oldman’s character displays a creepy fascination for REALLY close physical contact(think of a younger version of ‘Book of Eli”s Carnegie) and is just as menacing in his calm, relaxed psychosis as Pesci in ‘Goodfellas”s “Funny Guy” scene. Reno plays emotionally stunted and naive perfectly…I buy it, at least. Natalie Portman does about as well as a child-actor can as Mathilda, out-performing many of the adults.
Oldman’s character Stansfield is in a position of extreme power, which is a bit far-fetched – Odd, Psychotic Drug Addicts seldom rise to that level of power, I would imagine. And most of his men are INCREDIBLY incompetent.
The “bonding” scenes seem a bit forced at times, again begging for the inclusion of the deleted scenes.
The last third of the movie is easily the best part…everything has been established and the ending is, in its own way, brilliant. However the whole thing is perhaps a bit TOO well-directed. Slick, stylish…so slick it loses some of its believability. Sort of the Reverse-Reservoir-Dogs effect.
Inspirational Quote: “I’m DYING to meet him.”
Grade: B
7/22/14: Parts of it are dumb and parts are too slick and parts are boring, but there are too many great scenes and powerful moments/feelings not to grade this slightly higher.
The ray of light, as if sent down from Heaven in a gesture of Divine mercy, is a fav touch. Arty without being pretentious.
Grade: B+