"Safe-keeping" his money. Leon would've been raking in bulk dead presidents but lived under the poverty line. He wanted access to more of his money and Tony gave him a hard time about it and made him feel guilty for even asking, only to give me $1000. Tony also gives up Leon's location to Stansfield. And after Leon dies Tony gives Matilda $100 at a time? Lol.
Its never really clear what his motivations are. On one hand you could argue Leon wouldn't know what to do with it and maybe when Leon got older Tony would help him setup somewhere.
Personally he always felt off to me, gave him up after a beating. Surely the Italian way is never rat on anyone? It seemed more of a control thing to me so Leon would depend on him. If he was bothered in his well being then he would be helping him integrate more into daily life, teach him to read, get him a part time job, etc.
So yes, Tony was taking advantage if him.
Its very obvious he was a scammer. He was hoping that Leon would eventually one day die while on the job, thus keeping all of Leon's money for himself
shareI can see both sides of the argument. He did seem shady and underhanded the entire movie, but he ultimately did turn Matilda away at the end, and thus showed he did have some sort of moral compass. (I know he'd never use her for 'cleaning' but someone in Tonys position would know how to get a girl like Matilda 'work') Perhaps he had some kind of code of honor after all....
shareMost people in real life are complicated, not just one shade of "right and wrong." Tony well could have been a totally dishonest businessman, after all he hired assassins, but also with a soft heart for a child. But Leon would be his dream "cleaner", someone who is very proficient and efficient, but without enough street smarts to know Tony was cheating him.
Since he is a fictional character and it wasn't made explicit in the story then we can never know for sure, but to me all signs point to Tony never intending to pay Leon all his earnings.
..*.. TxMike ..*..
Make a choice, to take a chance, to make a difference.
I always thought that Tony was scamming Leon. It's pretty clear especially when he makes the line that he's 'better than a bank' bc 'noone knocks off Ol' Tony'.
One thing to note is the part where Tony reminds Leon that he took him in when he was 19, after the incident with his dead girlfriend's father. Leon probably felt like he owed Tony, and Tony took full advantage of that, plus the fact that Leon was basically a grown-up child, who didn't know he was being used.
watching the movie several times since i was a kid till today, i just come to the conclusion that he was clearly taking advantage of leon's social awkwardness. he knows lean can do the job and he's raking in money for him and that by manipulating him to not cash out all his earning, he's rolling in the dough.
kinda like what a pimp does.
I've always just seen him as a person that want to control others. He wants others to be dependant on him so he has the ability to use them if push comes to shove, but not necessarily a scammer right out, more of a emotinal blackmailer.
Some might find me morally challenged or morally ambiguous. I prefer morally creative.
This. Exactly this.
shareHe was given more than a beating when he gives up Leon. There is a deleted scene that was filmed where Stansfield shoots one of the children during the birthday party.
share