This file was generated 2002-06-09 04:23 GMT. This movie's information hasn't changed since 2001-07-29.
Luc Besson has mixed some bizarre motivations in The Professional. The combination of painful tragedy, resulting revenge, and love under strained circumstances works in a way that probably wouldn't in nine out of ten tries. Maybe it's cheating to use a child like Mathilda to draw the audience's sympathy, but her situation is not an easy one. The character's intelligence and focus makes it even more interesting. Understated performances from Jean Reno and Natalie Portman nicely complement Gary Oldman's scenery chewing. The action sequences occasionally border on the edge of disbelief, but there is joy in their creativity.