If you thought Natalie Portman gave a provocative performance in "Closer," you might want to check her out as Mathilda, a fourteen year old singing, dancing nymphet assassin in the tenth anniversary edition of Luc Besson's "Leon: The Professional." Luc Besson's stylish film is out in a two-disc special edition release this week, plus two new thrillers John Sayle's "Silver City," and Thai filmmaker Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's "6ixtynin9."
1. Leon The Professional: Deluxe Edition
Ultra cool Jean Reno, fourteen yead old Natalie Portman, uber-evil Gary Oldman, and a no good Danny Aiello star in Luc Besson's 1994 hit film "Leon: The Professional," a go-for-broke thriller about a professional assassin whose work becomes dangerously personal. The 2-disc set includes the new featurette "The Professional: A 10 Year Retrospective," the cast profiles "Natalie Portman: Starting Young" and "Jean Reno: The Road to Leon," and and optional "factoid" subtitle track.
2. Silver City
John Sayles takes steady aim at corporate influence just behind the facade of government and the media in the wonderful but deeply cynical "Silver City." The terrific ensemble cast includes Chris Cooper, Daryl Hannah, Danny Huston, Maria Bello, Richard Drefyus, Tim Roth, Mary Kay Place and Thora Birch. Special features include commentary by director/writer John Sayles and producer Maggie Renzi and the featurette "The Making of Silver City."3. 6ixtynin9
Thai filmakers Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's sophomore feature is a Tarantino-esque thriller. When a small fortune is dropped off at the wrong apartment, Tum (Lalita Panyopas) transforms from retiring victim to a ferocious survivor as a parade of brutal gangsters, corrupt cops, Thai boxers on the take, and nosy neighbors converge on her tiny studio.4. Everyday People
Indie filmmakers Jim McKay's moving drama follows the diverse group of New Yorkers who pass through a Brooklyn diner on the day that its elderly Jewish owner (Jordan Gelber) reveals plans to sell it off to a condo developer.5. Youth of the Beast
When a mysterious stranger muscles into two rival yakuza gangs, Tokyo’s underworld explodes with violence. Youth of the Beast was a breakthrough for director Seijun Suzuki, introducing the flamboyant colors, hallucinatory images, and striking compositions that would become his trademark.