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Le Professionnel (1981)

Facts

Directed byGeorges Lautner
CastJean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Desailly, Robert Hossein, Michel Beaune, Cyrielle Claire, Jean Paul Belmondo, Sidiki Bakaba and Pierre Vernier
Theatrical ReleaseNovember 30, 1980
DVD ReleaseOctober 30, 2001
Running Time104 minutes
MPAA RatingUnrated
UPC Code014381066623
Buy this item ...2 new from $174.45
 

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User Reviews

Average user review: 4.0 (10 reviews)

rating: 4 QuoteA good classic french action movieQuote
ANyone interested in French movies should watch this one at least once so they would get a pretty good idea of what was done in the late 80 in France. The best actors, The best writers, the best soundtrack all mixed into one masterpiece.

Of course with todays standards this movie has BADLY aged and anyone not familiar with the nostalgia and story behind it will easily dismissed it as a laughable chessy action movie. January 11, 2008

rating: 5 QuoteBelmondo at his bestQuote
Fantastic movie. Very believable characters, nice acting for the most part, great score by Morricone. Numerous unforgettable classic scenes -- enough for several years' worth of Hollywood production.

One of the best French movies. Can watch over and over.

The DVD is very good. Nice quality, French / English soundtracks, subtitles. The English translation is inferior to the French original, though. August 24, 2007

rating: 3 QuoteCuriosity piece.Quote
I'd love to have been able to rent this title as it is certainly worth a look for anyone who is interested in movies from this rather odd genre. Violent French action flick with a fairly short, classic style car chase(no CGI)in Paris. The movie does have a look and style that you won't see anywhere else...... but the purchase price is a bit much for a film that you will probably only look at once or twice in your lifetime.
Not one of the greats even in it's day .... but if you're a collector it might be worth your attention. August 29, 2005

rating: 5 QuoteLe ProfessionelQuote
I have seen this movie I think in the late 80s or early 90s. I have been looking around for this movie and I finally find it here. It is a great movie one of a kind. Belmondo did a great job. I had the theme song stuck in my head for so long and I finally I have to hear it again. I would suggest that every classic movie lovers should definitely watch this movie. Well, for me I'm going to watch it again for the N times... May 12, 2005

rating: 4 Quotefatal indifferenceQuote
The plot revolves around the fact that French agent, Joss Baumont, is sent by his government to assassinate a ruthless and oppressive African dictator. Unfortunately, before his mission can be completed, the French decide that the dictator might be a useful ally; consequently, Baumont is "sacrificed" by his own agency and betrayed to the dictator's police. Baumont is imprisoned in a brutal African labor camp for two years, before he manages to escape. What follows next is a sort of vendetta against the African dictator and his former associates in the French secret service. Upon his escape, Baumont acts rather like a character without a soul, in that he seems completely indifferent to his ultimate fate. He proceeds to France with the intention of killing the African dictator (who conveniently has a scheduled state visit in Paris);however, he cannot resist the temptation to notify his former French colleagues of his plans. Naturally, what ensues is a game of cat and mouse, in which Baumont generally outwits his former comrades (who are now responsible for protecting the dictator during his state visit). Baumont does receive some assistance with his plans from his wife and from a few assorted characters;
however, he is largely on his own as he attempts to penetrate the security around the dictator. His most persistent antagonist is an unscrupulous police inspector named
Rosen. Rosen is not the least bit reluctant to sanction almost any method which yields the desired result-- the capture or killing of Baumont. This story has elements of humor, notably the scenes involving a prositute and her client and what amounts to an almost Wild West type of gunfight between Baumont and Rosen. Ultimately, a certain measure of justice prevails in that some of the most villainous characters suffer a well deserved demise. However, the ending of the story (while predictable) is somewhat unsatisfying--- as the viewer is left only with an empty feeling regarding the pointlessness and futility of Baumont's fatal choices. Still, this film is worth viewing and owning for any true Belmondo fan. On the whole, it was more entertaining than some French films which have been more critically acclaimed. September 11, 2004

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