vampyricacid Reviews

Léon: The Professional (1994)

Stop #2 Into The Mind Of Besson

[10/10 · 10 January 2006]

This was my 2nd stop (or first if you don't count Fifth Element) into the world of Luc Besson, and it is one of the few films I have seen that I sat in awe right through the credits (some of the others being Hero and Fight Club). Everything about this film was done to perfection, the direction, the acting, it was all done with such passion! Jean Reno is as always phenomenal, yet again he slips seamlessly into character so well you can't attach any other role to him, and the emotion he conveys is so real it really plays on the heart strings. Nathalie Portman is superb, better than a lot of actors twice her age and the chemistry between the two makes it feel more like a real life than a film. This film has faced a lot of opposition in the past for its supposed paedophillic undertones, and to that i say b*ll***s, watch the film, you will understand in ways that i fail to find the words to convey how beautiful the relationship between Leon and Mathilda really is. Luc Besson has a way of bringing me to tears, it happened in Big Blue and it happened in this.

I cannot help but give this 10/10, it has jumped straight to the top of my favourite films list, and will be a hard one to shift, if you are thinking of passing this by i urge you to reconsider, you will regret it! stay tuned for my next trip into the world of Besson Le Dernier Combat

The Big Blue (1988)

Stop #3 Into Besson's Mind

[9/10 · 10 January 2006]

This was my 3rd stop (2nd real stop, I have decided not to count Fifth Element)into the world of Luc Besson, and i have to say I was mightily impressed, Leon is still topping my list, I was absolutely blown away by that, but it is almost impossible to compare the two as they are completely different in mood and genre. For anyone wanting to watch a fantastic dream of a film, with absorbing characters, true love in all its forms and some awesome underwater photography then this is for you! The characters are all formed perfectly, almost exaggerated but not, Jean Reno is his usual astounding self, and Jean-Marc Barr really out does himself, with Rosanna Arquette in a superb supporting roll. the story ambles along at its own pace but never stops or gets dull keeping you interested along the way, I don't want to go too much into it as it was kind of spoiled for my by reading too much of these boards, needless to say I was crying at one point, and that doesn't happen often. The score compliments the film perfectly, Eric Serra has done a wonderfully emotive score that almost interacts with the scenes along the way.

Overall I'd give this film a 9/10, yet again awesome direction, acting and soundtrack, and definitely in my top films! just a shame i've borrowed it off a mate and have to give it back tomorrow, it's definitely something i could watch again and again!