Leon

Coming before the patented Besson film-o-matic conveyor belt of identikit action thrillers Leon (known as The Professional in the States) in 1994 cemented Luc Besson as filmmaker to watch.

His first American outing after a trio of accomplished cult films (Subway, The Big Blue, La Femme Nikita) it's a great action thriller and at the same time a drama based around the growing relationship between an orphaned girl and the emotionally cut off man who comes to be her carer

The film centers around Jean Reno's "Cleaner" character who cameo'd in La Femme Nikita (although this is a different version of the same character rather than literally being the same), a professional hit-man who lives alone with his handler being the only person he knows.

He ends up taking in the girl, Mathilda (Natalie Portman) who lives down the hall after her family are killed by corrupt cops. She discovers how he makes a living and eventually convinces him to let her learn from him so she can avenger her baby brother.

The pair slowly grow closer as adopted father and daughter. Giving him the personal connection he's never had and her the caring father figure she has never had.

With strong performances all round, from Reno's stoic title character who loves musicals, Gary Oldman's unhinged corrupt DEA officer and of course Natalie Portman's startling debut performance. Showing a range well beyond her then 13 years.

Besson's style perfectly suits the film, zooms (with some great use of depth of field) and tracking shots work to emphasize moments of action & tension as well moments of reflection and emotion.Whilst the framing brings the feel of the French new wave of the 80s from which he emerged and is almost comic book styled at times.

In short a thriller that is guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye at the end. Just don't watch the trailer first, it gives basically everything away.