When her family is murdered by a group of corrupt officers led by the tyrannical Norman Stansfield, a young 12-year-old girl enlists the help of an Italian-American hitman to seek revenge.
Mathilda (Natalie Portman) is only 12 years old, but is already familiar with the dark side of life: her abusive father stores drugs for corrupt police officers and her mother neglects her. Léon (Jean Reno), who lives down the hall, tends to his houseplants and works as a hired hitman for mobster Tony (Danny Aiello).
When her family is murdered by crooked DEA agent Stansfield (Gary Oldman), Mathilda joins forces with a reluctant Léon to learn his deadly trade and avenge her family's deaths. Oozing style, wit and confidence from every sprocket, and offering a dizzyingly, fresh perspective on the Big Apple that only Besson could bring, this is, in a word, wonderful.
- ELEANOR WITCOMB
Eleanor Witcomb who does such an amazing job in our box office and with our volunteers, apparently does an even better job at choosing this season’s Staff Pick - Ang Lee’s modern cult classic featuring a deft mix of amazing martial arts battles, magnificently beautiful cinematography and tasteful drama.