A wayward hitman discovers a newfound purpose in life when he takes on a corrupt DEA officer on behalf of an orphaned 12-year-old girl.

In Luc Besson’s THE PROFESSIONAL, Jean Reno plays Leon, the best cleaner in New York City. When he’s not collecting on perfectly executed mob contracts, Leon spends his time alone in his apartment, watering plants and keeping himself in shape. He’s lonely, but a hitman with connections can wind up dead. When a corrupt, cocaine-addled DEA agent (Gary Oldman) kills the family living next door, Leon’s solitary life suddenly comes to a close as his orphaned neighbor, twelve-year-old Mathilda (Natalie Portman), comes to him for protection. Mathilda and Leon become an unlikely pair, as Leon teaches the eager young girl the secrets of his trade so she can avenge her family.

Part of Nitehawk’s January THE PERFECT CRIME brunch series.