This is one of my favorite films. It's action movie that actually moves you. Director Luc Besson and the star Jean Reno are the French versions of John Woo and Chow Yun Fat or viceversa. Woo and Besson both have great cinematography in their films, a compelling plot lines, and of course intense action scenes. Reno and Chow have that onscreen presence and charisma.
The movie is about a Italian hitman Leon (Jean Reno) takes a 12 year old girl Mathilda (my favorite actress Natalie Portman) under his wing after her family is killed by a corrupt DEA cops lead by Stansfield (Gary Oldman).
What was so compelling is the relationship between Mathilda and Leon. Besson shows Leon's search for light in his life while Mathilda is like Leon's anchor. Also Leon helping Mathilda cope with her loss and eventually he teaches Mathilda how to be a himan ("cleaner").
Besides the outstanding leads making the movie so rememorable is Gary Oldman's Stansfield. If you thought Oldman was psycho in Besson's "Fifth Element" you gonna look him in this movie. He's just being the favorite onscreen psychopath like Christopher Walken.
Okay I think I said enough. It's a great film. If you want something that is close to this movie I recommend another favorite of mine, John Woo's "The Killer" with just about the same similarities like this film.
The movie is about a Italian hitman Leon (Jean Reno) takes a 12 year old girl Mathilda (my favorite actress Natalie Portman) under his wing after her family is killed by a corrupt DEA cops lead by Stansfield (Gary Oldman).
What was so compelling is the relationship between Mathilda and Leon. Besson shows Leon's search for light in his life while Mathilda is like Leon's anchor. Also Leon helping Mathilda cope with her loss and eventually he teaches Mathilda how to be a himan ("cleaner").
Besides the outstanding leads making the movie so rememorable is Gary Oldman's Stansfield. If you thought Oldman was psycho in Besson's "Fifth Element" you gonna look him in this movie. He's just being the favorite onscreen psychopath like Christopher Walken.
Okay I think I said enough. It's a great film. If you want something that is close to this movie I recommend another favorite of mine, John Woo's "The Killer" with just about the same similarities like this film.