1994 (France) (Crime, Drama, Thriller)
Starring: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman
Director: Luc Besson
Leon is a haunting and compulsive thriller that explores the relationship between the emotionally stunted hitman of the title and his 12-year-old neighbour, Mathilda. Léon reluctantly takes on Mathilda after her family is murdered by a corrupt DEA agent (Gary Oldman). Léon and Mathilda form an unusual relationship, as she becomes his protégée and learns the assassin’s trade so that she can take revenge on the deranged cop.
The two masterly central performances from Reno and Portman intelligently convey how Leon’s carefully constructed, reclusive existence falls apart as he lets feelings enter his life for the very first time. But it’s the ultra-stylish action scenes and the series of totally breathtaking set pieces, interspersed with a provocative streak of dark humour, that propel Leon into the suspense stratosphere as Besson redefines the action genre. Funny, tragic, brilliant and unmissable.
(2hr 13min)