Best Ever Movie Performances - Gary Oldman in Leon

Gary Oldman is recognised as one of cinema's greatest actors, and it was a long-time coming when he eventually won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour.

One of his most popular roles remains that of unhinged, psychopathic DEA agent Norman Stansfield in action thriller, Leon.

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Stansfield is the antagonist and sets the plot in motion near the start of the movie when he massacres the family of a drug dealer whom he believes is tampering with his product to his own end.

A corrupt cop, Stansfield is involved in the drug trade himself and when he quickly realises the dealer is lying, he murders everyone in the home including a four-year-old boy.

The sole survivor in the family is 12-year-old Mathilda, played by Natalie Portman, who is saved from certain death by the titular character Leon, played by Jean Reno.

Prior to Leon, Oldman played a sociopathic role in True Romance, and you can tell he was having fun, but he takes this to another level in Luc Besson's action classic.

What makes Oldman's performance in Leon so good?

There is no doubt that Stanfield is an evil character, but he is actually rather charming and undoubtedly brings humour to the role, even when performing heinous acts. As director Besson explains:

"A movie without humour somewhere is not a movie. A movie needs humour."

Within a few moments of seeing Stansfield, we see him taking Librium, an anti-anxiety drug, before indulging in his love of classical music. Already we see that the character has layers, even if that main layer shows him as completely deranged.

Throughout the movie, the audience is asked to get behind Leon and Mathilda, an unlikely duo to say the least. The fact that a man in his forties taking care of a 12-year-old girl is present in this film has caused some controversy, but it is definitely a platonic relationship from Leon's point of view.

The relationship between Leon and Mathilda is only strengthened by how fantastic a villain Stansfield is. Make no mistake about it, Stansfield may be the star of this movie, but this isn't a situation where viewers are rooting for him. We are desperate for him to get his comeuppance and for Mathilda to get her revenge.

READ MORE: Gary Oldman says acting retirement is round the corner

Portman admitted that she was "terrified" of Oldman at points during filming, saying: "Working with Gary Oldman was probably the easiest acting experience of my life... I don't think I had to act at all in that scene. I mean, it was really simple, because he really does what he does well."

Oldman and Besson collaborated to create the character, but it has been said that Oldman improvised a lot on set.

These improvisations included two of his most famous scenes, when he literally sniffs the drug dealer he suspects of lying, and when he screams "EVERYONE!" at a colleague to get as many cops as possible to capture or kill Leon near the conclusion of the movie.

Oldman's mannerisms are so unique. There was not another character like this before Leon, and though some has since attempted to replicate the beauty of the performance, not have succeeded.

What have people said about Oldman in Leon?

MSN said of Stansfield: "The role that launched a thousand villains."

Virgin Media writes: "Leon's insane cop Stansfield loves the quiet before the storm, when he imagines Beethoven playing in his head as he goes on his merry little killing sprees.

"Gary Oldman is menacing but so full of whimsical tics you can't help but let out a guilty chuckle. With Stansfield, death comes with music recommendations. 'Check out Brahms, he's good too,' he says to one of his victims shortly before gunning him down."

What is Oldman's best scene?

"EVERYYYYYYONEEEEE!"

Did Oldman win any awards for his performance?

Oldman did not receive any notable rewards for his performance.