DVD Léon lives a lonely life as a professional assassin working for the mob. His days are simple and routine - complete a job, return home, and buy his daily milk. But when a tragic event next door brings a young girl into his life, everything changes.
Details
Mathilda lives in the neighbouring apartment to Léon with her abusive drug-dealing father, an uncaring stepmother and sister who treat her with contempt. The only person who shows her any kindness is her young four-year-old brother. One day a group of corrupt police officers, led by the unhinged Norman Stansfield, arrive demanding to know the whereabouts of a missing shipment of drugs. When Mathilda's father refuses to reveal the truth, the situation escalates violently and Stansfield and his men brutally murder the entire family.
By sheer luck Mathilda is out of the apartment when the massacre happens. Realising what has taken place, she desperately seeks refuge with her quiet neighbour Léon. He reluctantly allows her inside and soon learns the truth about what happened to her family. Devastated by the loss of her little brother, Mathilda begs Léon to teach her his profession so that she can seek revenge. Initially hesitant, Léon slowly forms an unlikely bond with the young girl and eventually agrees to train her in the art of what he calls "cleaning".
Picture & Sound
The picture quality is excellent, with no obvious signs of artifacting and only a very small amount of edge outlining visible in a handful of scenes. The bit-rate is surprisingly high for what was, at the time, a relatively low-profile release. Colours are well balanced and the darker scenes retain a good amount of detail.
The Dolby Digital soundtrack is decent but not spectacular. The surround channels are used sparingly, mainly during the film's action sequences and gun battles. Dialogue remains clear and well centred throughout, ensuring the quieter character moments are easy to follow.
Overall
Leon is an outstanding film and, in my opinion, still Luc Besson's finest work - even ahead of The Fifth Element. Jean Reno is superb as the quiet, emotionally stunted assassin whose life revolves around simple routines and his beloved houseplant. The film also introduced audiences to a very young Natalie Portman in her film debut, delivering an astonishingly mature performance that launched her career. Meanwhile Gary Oldman steals almost every scene he appears in as the completely unhinged Stansfield - one of cinema's most memorable villains.
The film is filled with memorable moments, from the tense training sequences between Léon and Mathilda to the explosive action scenes that follow. One standout moment sees Léon dropping silently from a ceiling vent, dispatching several armed officers before disappearing just as quickly - a perfect example of the film's stylish action and Besson's confident direction.
The only real disappointment with this release is the complete lack of extras. There is nothing included beyond the film itself. This is a shame as a film of this quality really deserves a few behind-the-scenes features or at least a photo gallery.
Despite the bare-bones presentation, Leon remains a superb film and one that is well worth owning. The performances are excellent, the story is gripping and emotional, and Luc Besson's direction ensures the film still feels stylish and engaging even years after its release.
Special features
- None
