the professional (1994). directed by luc besson.

i haven't watch the (in)famous black swan (2010). why infamous? i avoid watching movies when they sound too big for their own good. takes away the mystery about them. i like not knowing what is in store - the less hype, the better. perhaps i will watch it next year, after the oscar fever has blown over.

natalie portman made her acting debut in this film, she was only 13 playing the 12 years old mathilda, opposite jean reno as leon, a hit man who lived next to her family's apartment. he's a child in a grown man's body, while killing people for money is a day job; he is child-like, has a penchant for gene kelly and excruciatingly lonely. mathilda is a grown woman in a teenager's body, responsible far beyond her years. she does the family shopping and takes care of her little brother. her family is a wreck; her father beats her and deals in drugs for the family's income. they are the epitome of middle income city folks and their unseen poverty - a large family stuck in a run down apartment constantly tight for money, temper and tension holding the background. this film is graced by the chameleon actor gary oldman, who plays the maniacally sadistic stansfield, a dirty cop who rampages mathilda's home, killing everybody in pursuit of the drugs held by her father. she narrowly missed being killed, and swears to avenge her family. hence began the uneasy relationship between mathilda and leon.

this film was heavily criticized by US audience due to the pedophilia element suggested by mathilda and leon's relationship. there is no sex scene between them, should anyone wonder. personally i think they missed the point. this is a story of two people who gets to live their life as they supposed to be - a lonely man who gets to grow up, be responsible and feel love when a child enters his life - in short, he gets to be an adult; and a child who gets to be a child because she is free from having to shoulder adult responsibilities in her young life. watch out for the scene in which both of them were playing a guessing game - it is like watching two children playing - though only one of them is a child, the other is a grown up who had not lived his childhood fully (or relieving his childhood?). i love the soundtrack, it is sad like a premonition that all is going to end badly, but it is hopeful at the same time. i love the camera work, and the acting is top notch. a less capable child actor than portman would not live up to the maturity demanded by this role.

it is not a surprise that portman is well on her way to win an oscar.