BJs Grade:

A+++++++

My favorite Jean Reno movie ever. One of my all time favs

I did a search on the professonal, i did not find it at the time :???: awell thanks for the link :wink:

Well, since the other thread only had one reply (and it doesn't have a nifty poll like this one), I'll leave this open.

A


Amazing action-drama that takes its time to develop unlike most of its kind. Jean Reno pulls off a great and often underrated performance. His chemistry with the young Natalie Portman is great. Though both movies are different, this one reminds me of another smart hitman action-drama, Ghost Dog. Both have great leads who seem tough on the outside, but have a soft core on the inside. I guess I just like this kind of movies.

At the same time, however, The Professional is a very well-crafted action movie that really kicks into high gear in its last 20-30 minutes. Once hell is unleashed the highly stylized action leaves you simply breathless. Despite the great performances from both, Portman and Reno, the most memorable character remains Gary Oldman's deliciously vicious Stansfield, definitely one of the best villains ever seen on screen.

This movie has it all. It works as an actioner, as a drama and as a thriller. It has its touching moments, it has its moments of suspense and it has its breathless action. This movie is the masterpiece of its genre as well as the best movie Luc Besson has ever made (and probably will ever make). I am also glad that a sequel wasn't made to this one because it is really unneeded.

When it works, it really works. Reno is great, Portman is impressive, the two have great chemistry, and the action scenes are exhilarating. When it doesn't work, though, it really doesn't work. Oldman is basically playing the same role he was stuck with throughout the 90s (though he gives it his all), the direction is bland and damn near amateurish, the whole film looks cheap, and the core relationship, while developed well, leaves a bad taste in one's month. A little too much awkward sexual tension. I think the problem is that Portman's role was written for someone older, and, as such, she just seems too young. It's rather overrated, and it's also dated by some terrible, terrible music choices.

Yeah, but was he really better here than in True Romance, Air Force One, The Fifth Element, Lost in Space, Dracula, or one of the other thousand villain roles that he was stuck with during this time?

He was great, I'll give you that. He's always great. But I thought he was better, especially, in True Romance, when he had a more interesting character even in much more limited screen time.

I think I've gotta agree with Magnus on this one. I've seen all those other films and I think that in most of them, Oldman, while good, is a rather generic villain. In Léon, he gave me the chills, portraying an absolutely insane crazy mofo on drugs.

Agreed. He's brilliant in Leon, much better than in the other films listed. Which is saying something, considering how good he generally is in those films.

The film itself - brilliant. Grade : A

Loved this film.

Really great flick. It's been a few years since I've watched it but I bought the Blu-ray so I plan on watching it again sometime soon.

A-

This just came available on Netflix - quite amazing. Gary Oldman, Jean Reno, and Natalie Portman are all wonderful.

But.... Gary Oldman, holy cow. I loved his insanity. EEEEEEVERRRRYONE!!!!!!!!!

A

Yeah, it is a great film. I should watch it more often.