The acting from everyone was great in this movie. Natalie Portman did a great job for only being as old as she was. The ending was sad, but you sort of knew it wasn't going to end any other way. And of course Gary Oldman rocked the socks off of his character again, that man is just too awesome at what he does.
I loved this movie especially with the growing connection between the Assassin Leon and Mathilda into a very unusual Father/Daughter kind of relationship.
an absolutely brilliant film that really triumphs in all important areas. with a blistering opening and a rally moving ending, you'd need to be stark raving mad to miss it. a timeless classic.
Even at a young age Natalie Portman was a great actress! It figures. This movie deals with tragic subject matters but it has heart. Jeno Reno offers a superb performance as a recluse hitman.
One of Luc Besson's best films along with La Femme Nikita this well charged thriller has a great lead in Jean Reno and Natalie Portman as well as a menacing villain in Gary Oldman, who is a bit over the top in his portrayal here. The action aspect of this film is great as is the relationship between the characters especially Reno's assassin and Portman's young girl.
A murderer with a heart, a seductive little girl and a vicious cop. And a plant. Leon is a real Master Piece, a perfect movie that gets into your heart and senses. You will end up loving all the main character, no matter who fucked up they are.
This film is absolutely wonderful. The storytelling is truly marvelous. It is a very emotional, intense, and fast film. The performance by the twelve-year old Natalie Portman was brilliant. Furthermore, Jean Reno and Gary Oldman were just magnificent. Personally, I think it was one of the sadest films I have ever seen. You have to watch it if you liked 'Taxi Driver'.
Saw this on thanxgiving 1994. Great flick and my 1st Gary Oldman movie. Since that, he' become one of my fav actors. Love the latest work in HP and Batman. He is a grat Jim Gordon. Excellent Jean-Luc Besson film. A himan befriends a girl (very young natalie portman) and takes he rup as his protoge'. (and estranged lover....sorta)
yah when i saw this many years ago it was great kinda like those ww2 movies out of france and italy during the 60's of two total strangers buddying together for survival sad ending though but understandable
eccentricities aside, this film has a startling realism amidst the excellent subsistence of the violence, an action-packed thrill ride filled with a stoic humanity rarely seen of its kind, an unlikely diamond in the rough
Unlikely compassion of a professional cleaner? Still, the chemistry between Jean and Natalie is brilliant. "He's not my father, he's my ... lover" man, does she loves to stir things up.
Wow. eleve year old Natalie Portman NAILS it, and is hereby one of my favourite actresses. And damn, what a film this is. Raw, violent, and emotional. Or, as Mathilda phrased it: cool.
Oh my, I was just a stupid kid all those years ago when this came on HBO, but this film AMAZED ME. It got me into Jean Reno & I have loved him ever since (I saw Jean interviewed on David Letterman shortly afterwards and his personality solidified my respect for him).
Léon has become one of my favorite films and is almost unanimously one of those rare masterpieces both the viewer and the critic loves. Perfect acting, great storyline... watch it!
Jean Reno and Natalie Portman are excellent as two people stuck together after her family is killed by crooked cops. Jean Reno character is a hitman and she wants him to train her so she can get revenge.
The friendship between Reno and Portman makes this movie. Gary Oldman is a great actor and is entertaining here but an over the top villian wasn't needed. Some unrealistic shoot-outs hold the movie down as well.
The relationship between Reno and Portman is what makes the movie great though. He becomes her father figure but she also has a big crush on him. Their scenes together are both sweet and smart.
Leon is an immigrant hit-man who works for an Italian guy named Tony. He lives a lonely life only his plant accompanying him in his solace. His seemingly desolate life takes a screeching right turn when a neighboring family gets killed by crooked DEA agents. Only poor Mathilda survived the onslaught so Leon reluctantly takes her under his wing teaching her his skills as an assassin so Mathilda can exact revenge to the agents.
Jean Reno plays hit-man Leon in this captivating tale of self discovery and finding that one person who gives you a taste of life. Director Luc Besson created a masterpiece. His style is unique, the flow of the story never gets in your nerves instead it gets in your heart. In the earlier parts of the film, the character Leon is established as a stone cold contract killer but as the film progresses, we realize that he is as gentle as a puppy dog. Mathilda gave him a reason to live and rediscover life again. She had given him and I quote "A taste of life".
Superb acting from a then young Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman as the crooked DEA agent Stan was creepy as hell (as in every of his role). An interesting character sure and he's the yang of Leon's yin (or vice versa whatever). He likes his walkman (no iPod back then), he likes Beethoven...and Mozart. And he gets in a trance-like funk whenever he takes his green loopy pills. Leon on the other hand is excellently portrayed by Jean Reno. He too, is an interesting character and he will go down as one of the most memorable hit-man in cinema history. He likes his milk, he wears knitted bonnets because he can't afford to catch a cold and he has mastered the art of killing efficiently. A beast that was tamed by an 18 year old girl...13. Just like what Ann Darrow is to King Kong.
Rest assured the ending will make you sad. "Leon" is a memorable film to be remembered from here to eternity. 5/5
Originally released in the States as simply 'The Professional', this movie was awesome. An incredible performance by Gary Oldman, Jean Reno, and Danny Aiello. The introduction of a young actress by the name of Natalie Portman that is just incredible to watch in scenes with these incredible actors. The original European release of 'Leon' added much more to the story & some hints of sexual tension between the young Mathilda & older Leon. A must see!
a really entertaining flick. in reality, this wasnt a "good" movie, but it was just a lot of fun. oldman as the villian was way over the top and the entire premise of the film was beyond silly in every way, but it was enjoyable.
Gary Oldman is so scary but totally amazing in this! Actually big thumbs up all round to the whole cast!
Having now seen this on the big screen... my life is now complete! :D
In this emotional tale, director Luc Besson proves that the simplest of concepts often translate into the most satisfying of stories. Jean Reno and a young Natalie Portman form an unlikely pair at the beginning of the movie, but their relationship develops into one of huge power. Reno and Gary Oldman lead a cast of uniformly excellent performances, but it is Portman that steals the show with her staggeringly mature turn as a girl who has lost her family.
MCT:June 19, 2008
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MCT:May 6, 2008
