Welcome to The Best Movies I’ve Never Seen! This is the part of the blog where I work my way through 100 films I’ve never seen that are generally considered to be great. You’re invited to watch along with me if you can find a copy or find it streaming. So grab some popcorn and let’s get started!
The Professional
1994
Directed by Luc Besson
If you’re looking for a film that somehow blends heart-wrenching drama, explosive action, and – let’s be honest here – more than a hint of creepiness, then Luc Besson’s 1994 cult classic Léon: The Professional is the twisted cinematic treat you’ve been craving.
Right off the bat, let’s address the elephant in the room – yes, this is the film where a lonely 12-year-old girl (Natalie Portman in her debut role) develops an unsettling crush on her mysterious next-door neighbor Léon (Jean Reno), a reserved but deadly hitman. Their unlikely bond forms after her dysfunctional family is violently wiped out by a rampantly unhinged DEA agent, played by Gary Oldman in what can only be described as a tour-de-force of delirious overacting that you can’t tear your eyes away from.
As disturbing as aspects of the plot may sound, Besson somehow walks a tightrope where you find yourself emotionally invested in the tender mentorship between the haunted hitman and the parentally-starved teen. Their relationship takes some shockingly dark turns, but Portman and Reno’s grounded performances provide an earnestness that’s hard to resist.
Behind the scenes, The Professional was essentially an expansion of an idea Besson explored in his earlier hit La Femme Nikita, with Reno reprising a similar “cleaner” role. Most of the interiors were shot in France, but the gritty New York City exteriors add immensely to the film’s brooding atmosphere.
While controversial elements have understandably drawn more scrutiny in recent years, The Professional remains a singularly stylized and twistedly entertaining entry in Besson’s filmography. It’s a polarizing flick to be sure, but one that has undeniably carved out a cult status.
What did you think of this one? A misfire trying too hard to be edgy? Or a misunderstood masterpiece? Share your takes in the comments!
The Confusing Middle 
I remember really enjoying this. I never got the sense that Leon had any prurient interest in Mathilda. I also didn’t think that her saying she loved him was in any way romantic or erotic.
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Léon: The Professional is a great action film. Jean Reno is the perfect hitman and Natalie Portman really proves herself at such a young age. I saw their relationship as more of an innocent crush and a man trying fill a parental role. I love Gary Oldman’s performance as much as everyone else.
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