The Professional (1981)

What should have been just another spy/revenge B-movie ends up being one of the most memorable French films in my book. Sure, similar modern thrillers from Hollywood (e.g., Bourne franchise) may be more sophisticated plots, more intense chase scenes, camera angles, elaborated combat but ... who cares? A few months later, I can barely remember what those movies were about, let alone specific scenes. And yet, I just cannot get enough of Belmondo as The Professional. This movie hits me emotionally again and again, no matter how many times I watch it. It's charming, often funny, and ultimately, profoundly sad. If you've never heard of Belmondo, who by the way, is one of French cinema's national treasures, this is a great one to start with. A true classic!

Noble Paris, beautiful women, small local cars... At times Africa: poor, wars, corrupted elite... Themes of love, betrayal, broken dreams are universal and fit into a spy and hit-man film as well. Belmondo is a real star, overshadowing others in every scene he is in; I would like to compare his character with James Bond - only in French.Music by Morricone is a real treasure, although it is somewhat similar to the background music from the Soviet cult series Seventeen moments of spring (1973).The ending is strange, however, I would have expected and preferred a more motivated one.

I do not understand the high rating and glowing reviews that this film has received. The plot points are weak; the acting is appalling, with each actor - except Belmondo, earning his rent money in a bored performance - chewing the scenery every chance they get. If it weren't for Belmondo, and the fondness so many of us have for him, I doubt this movie would score more than 3 out of 10.Watch Le Samourai; watch Rififi, or Le Circle Rouge, or Bob Le Flambeur, or any number of really good French crime movies, with classic actors and you'll see why I gave this 2 out of 10, and even that is generous.

This is the best film on the specific topic of mercenary vigilante model of a film hero highly exploited by Hollywood even today. Everything else is a bad copy of it. I read comment of one user who compares the structural basis of the film with Count Monte Kristo idea which is interesting, but unlike the Count Le Professionnel is the milestone for the bad guys (assassins) that are becoming good during the movie getting all our sympathies, unlike any movie before that. We, the observers, are suffering with their pain and sharing it even though they had been murders in many color pictures just few film minutes ago. Excellent casting and one of the best Belmondo's roles. Morricone music makes one perfect whole, making this film being your favorite, if you are hesitating about that.