MovieChat Forums > Léon (1994) Discussion > Worst snub of all time

Worst snub of all time

posted 8 years ago by gloria_swanson
6 replies | jump to latest

How was it overlooked by oscars. W T F

[–] wdement 8 years ago

It's a movie by a foreign director that's not very well known and comes dangerously close to promoting pedophilia, I personally love this movie, but it's not the kind of movie that gets academy recognition.

[–] huwdj (4567) 8 years ago

This is true, not the kind of film that attracts Oscars - though I wonder if that might have been different in earlier times (70s). But I just don't see the paedophilic aspect in this film. Matilda was very sexually knowing but Leon was unresponsive and I think he loved her in an innocent protective way. It was a family unit - pretty wierd family without the usual defined roles but perhaps more like elder brother and street-wise younger sister than anything else.

[–] legnadibrom (6248) 7 years ago

pedophilia? you're nuts

[–] Bowilly (171) 7 years ago

No doubt it was the relationship between Leon and Mathilda that made voters look the other way. It's a shame really, there were definitely Oscar worthy performances given by Reno and Portman.

[–] DracTarashV2 (4493) 7 years ago

I have an odd feeling they appreciated the Leon and Mathilda side of the story more than the shoot outs and overall hit man aspect of the film. Whether that's true or not, I see its lack of Oscar notice as no big deal even though Portman and Reno do give stellar performances (and Luc's direction is nearly perfect).

Impressive film on so many levels, yet it would've been a big pleasant surprise if the academy had fallen for it.

[–] Bowilly (171) 7 years ago

I agree very impressive film. The fact that Besson, Reno and Portman were relatively unknown at the time may have influenced some voters to look the other way, but I still believe their relationship was more influential overall, it's still a touchy subject even today.