Léon: The Professional (1994)

'Léon: The Professional' is an English language, French produced action movie that holds the distinction of being the film debut of a 13 year old Natalie Portman. Directed by Luc Besson who like Cameron Crowe is a successful director with a distinct style of which I'm not really a fan. Portman gets to display some youthful acting chops in this, and I mostly liked the ending, as well as some of the character bits between her and Jean Reno (the seemingly autistic assassin next door who gives her shelter after her dysfunctional family is gunned down by crooked cops, oops spoiler). The film self consciously goes out of its way to give characters quarks as substitute for character building, i. e. Reno's Leon loves milk. Gary Oldman has an oddly specific drug use ritual, a sort of  a low rent Frank from 'Blue Velvet', and he looks eerily like present day Sam Rockwell, while Danny Aiello plays a greasy restaurant owner, big stretch. Tween Portman is at times uncomfortably sexualized in this. **