The Reel Rejects - LÉON: THE PROFESSIONAL (1994) MOVIE REIEW!! FIRST TIME WATCHING!!

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Starting point is 00:01:05 But right now, it's clearance time. So you can save even more on everything you need to get active and outside. Visit your local Sierra store today. Don't let us down. Leon, the professional. Here we go. Damn. Keep it rolling. So we just watched Leon the Professional. I get why this movie is so loved,

Starting point is 00:01:36 and we're going to really talk all about it because holy crap, that was a movie. But a couple things from you guys at home first. If you are on Apple, Spotify, don't forget, five stars. If you haven't already gone over to rejectnation shop.com, we've got unreal merch. Oh, I have my sweater here. cool to she Jeejacks.

Starting point is 00:01:56 Let's go, baby. And some really cool t-shirts out for the she-jacks. And they got some really cool upcoming stuff. Yeah, we do. I don't know when you guys are going to see this, but check it out because we've got an unbelievable nude drop that is coming. It sounded like I said nude. It's not nude.

Starting point is 00:02:13 It's clothing. And also, don't forget about social media. Please go over at Real Rejects at the Real Rejects at all different social media platforms. um okay damn i feel like you and i both feel like we just got hit by a car right now yeah for sure usually after a movie we're like all right let's both of both like okay let's talk about it is a great film yeah how you feel first of all i want to i loved all the performances gary oldman played this unhinged crazy um DEA officer and i didn't even realize it was d a i like how a lot of the reveals didn't come out right away and they didn't like

Starting point is 00:02:48 hit you over the head with a lot of stuff yeah um so that was great his performance was fantastic. Excellent. Spooky. Yeah, for sure. He's just so... Trivia man. Can you tell me what he did before this? Before this, I know he did the Dracula movie that was directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Starting point is 00:03:03 I did, I don't know too many of this. So this wasn't him breaking onto the scene. This was, he was already on the scene. I mean, it definitely pushed the boundary forward for him as an actor, but yeah, I know more of his work after this with Fifth Element, Air Force One, obviously he then did the Nolan trilogy. I'm sure he did other films

Starting point is 00:03:19 in between those as well, but yeah, This is quite a performance from him. Jean Reno as Leon, he was fantastic. But, and again, not downplaying. They're amazing performances, but Natalie Portman. But Natalie Portman. As a 12 or 13-year-old, to be up with these heavyweight actors and to stand toe to toe and give that performance at that young age.

Starting point is 00:03:40 I mean, everybody must have known. Everybody must have seen her and been like, oh, she's going to be a mega star. And she is a mega star. I mean, I think she is one of the most talented people alive because she doesn't move her face. much like she just says what she feels and feels what she says on her skin it's unbelievable to watch her be able to do that at that point because as somebody you know i've been acting since i was i was in my first play when i was four years old and it was really hard to learn the craft for her

Starting point is 00:04:12 her it feels so effortless natural just like just comes straight through her um wow she's such unbelievable the performances make this movie but it's also the script the actual script was really interesting I know that coming into this Greg said to us you know there's a part that's a little controversial now and obviously he's talking

Starting point is 00:04:34 about her falling in love with him but I didn't find that controversial I mean if it's controversial to somebody then I hear you but to me it didn't feel distasteful because as a little kid I'm sure you were the same way I had crushes on adults all the time it's the adult

Starting point is 00:04:50 job to be the adult in the room and Leon was absolutely never did I feel like he was creepy at all yeah and if he would have been if again great point if he would have been creepy then I would have felt like oh my god this is beyond ridiculous and controversial now and now I feel like gross right um so I'm glad we never went that around again like you when I was at that age I had crushes on adults too so it's totally normal natural yeah posters on your wall and also too like besides her little brother this is the first time someone was actually treating her with respect and like a human being. And her little brother's four. Yeah, no, no, no, I'm saying, yeah, an actual, like, someone who's older than four years old.

Starting point is 00:05:28 So, I mean, I understand, like, why she felt that way. And I think that was the, I mean, I love the intro, by the way, too, a lot of the camera shots. The way we got introduced to this character of Leone, just seeing like he's a ruthless badass as a professional hitman. And then you see, like, he's actually got this soft spot as a human being, like, just from the first scene where where we introduce him to Natalie Portman's character. For us, the audience, obviously, they have some history because they're neighbors. But just like he's very worried about her. Like, he sees the mark on her face.

Starting point is 00:05:58 He sees her smoking a cigarette saying he shouldn't do that. Right. So he's already in kind of a protective mode. And we see, like, okay, he's a human at heart. He's got a soft spot. And he cares about this individual. And just seeing that relationship grow throughout the film, through the events that happened. I think that's the strongest thing in the film, obviously, naturally.

Starting point is 00:06:19 so easy to say is their relationship and watching it grow and blossom like a plant. It's just, it's beautiful to watch. And their chemistry, their interactions, it's just, they're so good together. It was just perfectly cast between the two of them, in my opinion. Natalie Portman

Starting point is 00:06:35 and Jean-Renault. They both must have had to audition their pants off for this. Oh yeah, but again, just in my opinion, perfectly cast between the two of them. They work so well together. Yeah, I agree with everything you're saying. I also just feel like this is why I love

Starting point is 00:06:50 Real Rejects. I have never heard of this movie. It came out in 1994. If it wasn't for Greg saying this is what you're watching today with Andrew, I never would have seen this movie for the rest of my life. And maybe at some point you would have gotten around to it.

Starting point is 00:07:07 Maybe. Or maybe not. Because there's so many new movies that come and something like this is, it feels timeless. It feels engaging. It feels exhilarating to watch. Natalie at the beginning of her career to watch this story which clearly very much inspired something like a John Wick which goes more action heavy but this is like a more indie version of that I just thought that it was so incredible and that is why we do what we do here absolutely like you know I love covering I cover a lot of new movies here too you know something comes out like challengers which I loved that movie but that's like a text from Greg that's like, don't watch this, watch it here.

Starting point is 00:07:51 And I was going to see it anyway because it's current. This, I never, I would have got my whole life. And now I'm so grateful I saw it because it's inspiring. Yeah. And the ending, I feel like this wasn't a Hollywood ending. It was raw and it felt realistic. Man, I really loved this movie. I loved it too.

Starting point is 00:08:10 And like you, yeah, that's why I'm so grateful to be on this channel besides getting to share my reactions with all you lovely folks and working with the best team ever. Yes. Not only that is... Jew checks. Not only that, it's we get to see so many films that... Natalie Portman, Phil of Duke. Sorry. Yeah, true. Yeah, it's just we get

Starting point is 00:08:27 to see these movies. Like, again, I've seen the poster for this movie a million times, but... You have? What does it look like? It's just, I think it's just the shot of Leon with the glasses. I believe, if I'm not mistaken. Natalie's not in it? I don't think so. I could be wrong. But I believe it's just the poster of

Starting point is 00:08:42 Leon with the glasses. Which, again, it always looks like a badass poster, but now I've got a lot more context to that poster, which is great. And I'm glad I never saw it because now I get to share my feelings on camera about this film. And again, it's one of the grateful things I am for this channel is I get to see so many movies that just for some reason passed me by or I never, I'm just a creature of habit. A lot of movies, I do watch a lot of new movies or movies that when they came out were new, but I like watching a lot of stuff in repeat as well because it's

Starting point is 00:09:13 what I'm comfortable with. But also, I'm glad that I get to check new things out in the channel or that are new for me, even if they're older. But, yeah, and last thing I want to say before I get to the trivia and before you say anything else, I do, on top of the relationship, I just love how he gains, like, an appreciation for life through her and how they elevate each other. And again, it's one of the more heartfelt and beautiful things, yeah. He says that.

Starting point is 00:09:36 He's like, I made me want to live. Yeah, exactly. And that scene at the end where we knew as an audience, at least I think you and I could tell, like, this is the last time they're ever going to be with. each other was like it was heartfelt and was sad yeah but it's still cool because it's suspenseful because he's such a badass you're like he could get out

Starting point is 00:09:52 of here once Gary Oldman saw him like shit and also too once the music you started playing you're like that's a giveaway it's like happy ending music and you're like no I'm not doing that we're not getting tricked right now as a surprise to no one this was nominated for five different

Starting point is 00:10:10 16 nominations five awards wins but for all different kind of things for awards circuit community awards 2020 awards i wish that this was nominated for an oscar i think natalie poor i mean you could make an argument for all three of the main actors are but natalie poorman especially i agree with that wholeheartedly uh and yeah for for both the male leads and for her too yeah they were incredible so you've said that his name is pronounced jean i think it's jean reno i don't know okay according to jean reno he decided to play leon as if he were a little mentally slow

Starting point is 00:10:46 and emotionally repressed, he felt that would make audiences relax and realize that he wasn't someone who would take advantage of a vulnerable young girl. Renault claims that for Leon, the possibility of physical relationship with Matilda is not even conceivable, and as such, during the scenes when such a relationship is discussed, Renault very much allowed Portman to be emotionally in control of the scenes. I thought he did that brilliantly. That's how it felt to me as well. Yeah, and that's why it didn't, just like what you said,

Starting point is 00:11:15 That's why it didn't feel distasteful in any way. Like, not controversial to us, at least. You probably knew this, but this was Natalie Portman's motion picture debut. She was born in 1981. She was 11 years old when she was cast. Wow. And two years after this, she did Mars attacks. Damn.

Starting point is 00:11:33 Did you ever see that one? Wow, Natalie Port. I don't think so. I'd have to look it up. You know, I don't know if I've seen it. The other day, Greg talking about a movie that hasn't dropped yet, so I don't want to tell people, but we watched months ago. and he was like mentioning.

Starting point is 00:11:46 I was like, oh, I never saw that. And he's like, yeah, we saw it together. We watched it together. Once I look at it, I'm like, oh, I know a little more. Natalie Portman beat out 2,000 other actresses for the role of Matilda. Oh, with her performance in this, I can believe it, but that's a lot of people to be at our love. I'm curious who else, aren't you? Any other celebrities that, yeah.

Starting point is 00:12:05 I'd be curious. All the interiors of Leon's apartment were shot in Paris, France. All the shots of the outside corridor were shot six weeks. earlier in New York. Makes sense. It kind of, like, why they shoot the interior in Paris? Right. Why not just shoot it in New York if you're already there?

Starting point is 00:12:24 Maybe they got tax breaks back then? Yeah, they need exterior shots for New York. I get that, but Locke-Pesson, however you say it, I know he's French, so maybe just wanted to shoot back on. I have no idea. Okay, so this gives us a little bit of knowledge about the title. The original cut of the film had more scenes with awkward. sexual tension between Matilda and Leon these scenes were later cut out for the

Starting point is 00:12:49 American release dubbed the professional they were included in the 1996 European release as well as the in the deleted scenes of the special edition DVD they were reintegrated back into the film for the international cut which is now available on DVD so I think we watched the one that's the original not the one with the cutout scenes but I don't I don't know. I don't know, actually. Oh, okay, I have an actress that was considered for the part of Matilda. Okay.

Starting point is 00:13:21 But she was 15, so she was deemed too old. Too old. I can just tell you, because I don't think you're going to guess it, but I could give you one hint if you want to guess. Not Karen Knightley, is that? Here's the one hint. She is the daughter of a very famous rock star. Oh, I'm going to go with Liv Tyler. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:13:36 I don't know why I would know that, but I just knew. How many? Stephen Tyler, Airosmith, yeah. I thought that that would help. doing that but yeah she would probably be too a little she's unbelievably talented yeah great actress unbelievably talented and then four years after this movie she did armageddon's according to lupe besant first script draft leon's first name is leone montana i like leon better according to luke besant the role of leon was always intended for jean renon and no one else

Starting point is 00:14:10 however according to the fact track on the deluxe edition DVD, both two actors. We're extremely interested in the role. Do you want to guess either of them? One of them's our least favorite actor alive. Oh, okay. So I know who that is. Mel Gibson. Who's the other one? And the other is a person that we've referenced a thousand times

Starting point is 00:14:28 today. Who we've referenced a thousand times? Because of a movie that we think borrowed from this. Oh, Keanu Reeves. Mm-hmm. Interesting. Interesting. That That would have been a young Keanu Reeves playing Leone. Interesting.

Starting point is 00:14:45 Have you seen this guy, Jean-Renault? The only other thing I've seen him in, to my recollection right now, it's coming off the top of my head, is Godzilla in 1998 with Matthew Broderick. Okay, well, he has 115 credits. That's a lot. Which is a lot. It says that he, wow, I don't recognize a lot of these titles.

Starting point is 00:15:05 I would imagine a lot of French films, right? Possibly. I don't know, because it's translated on IMDB, so it's hard for me to tell just from looking at it. The one thing that I do recognize is Pink Panther. Oh, that's right. He was in the Pink Panther. I saw those movies so long ago. I don't even remember them.

Starting point is 00:15:23 He was in a movie that I also saw, or I think I did couples retreat. That's the Vincent's on. Oh, he was also in Mission Impossible, the first one with Tom Cruise. Was he? He was the first Mission Impossible. Totally spaced down prior. There was two years after this movie. Damn, that's crazy.

Starting point is 00:15:37 He was in Hotel Rwanda, uncredited, though. Interesting. uh so many roles i feel like this guy is an absolute bona fide star and i'm super upset that i didn't know his name before this now i do so that's what i got for you yeah like i said great suspenseful powerful character driven uh thriller and when the action scenes happen because you're so damn invested in these characters you really give a damn and it's great action too great cinematography good direction good writing powerful uh theatrical performance by natalie porment

Starting point is 00:16:10 great male uh you know great performance by the other two leads gary oldman and uh jean rano yeah we didn't spend enough time talking about gary oldman he really was incredible like the way that he i hate when we watch on screen people use drugs and then they turn into like fucking jumbo the clown it's just like what um i love how realistic he was in his usage where and and like you can tell as he's talking about i don't kill people whose lives don't matter to that like this is a sickness that he has. Yeah, interesting character traits, too, and, like, the way he turned his head as he was biting it.

Starting point is 00:16:46 Don't do it to me. Yeah, but I'm just saying, I like those ticks and those character traits. You could tell, like, I don't know if the script maybe wrote that in, or, like, I feel like that would be a Gary Olman. Like, I'm going to add these character ticks myself, you know what I mean? Kind of like Heath Ledger and, uh, as the Joker way he would do that. Like, I love when actors can insert themselves and get really deep in the role, like, and make it their own and just.

Starting point is 00:17:09 had those things themselves. You would like slow horses, man. I don't know. Is that Gary? Yeah. Anything with Gary Oldman, I'll check out. He's such a damn good actor. Again, it just shows me every time I watch another performance.

Starting point is 00:17:22 I'm like, this guy's so damn versatile. That is it for us today. Let us know what you think. We read all the comments. We want to know what your guys' thoughts and feelings are on this movie. Master of us. Let us know if you want us to do a team up again. I'm sure we will.

Starting point is 00:17:36 Can't keep us apart. and we will see you guys later. Later, Rejects. I'm a real wild one. Getting the kids fed and out the door on time is wild. But I got breakfast on lock. You have Kodiak. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:17:57 Do you think they know we're feeding them protein and whole grains? Who cares? They actually eat it. Mom, I know it's Kodiak. You're not tricking me into eating it. Breakfast on lock, baby. Find Kodiak's frozen waffles. granola bars, oatmeal, and more, all crafted with 100% whole grains and protein at your local grocery store. We're the ones with the bear on the box.

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The Reel Rejects - LÉON: THE PROFESSIONAL (1994) MOVIE REIEW!! FIRST TIME WATCHING!!

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