Le professionnel Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Le professionnel Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 16, 2026

Supplements on this Radiance Films edition of The Professional get into two aspects of the production where certain contrarian views, at least in this review, may arise. The film's very distinctive opening credits treatment gets a special mention as being innovative, but fans of vintage television may recall there was a very similar opening credits sequence (with a fantastic 7/4 theme by Dave Grusin to boot) for the three season quasi-anthology series The Name of the Game (it's in the wrong aspect ratio, but there is an example here which displays almost an identical graphic approach to both text and colored images of focal characters when compared to what's on tap here). Speaking of fantastic themes, that's my probably unfortunate next bone of contention. I've previously confessed the obviously heretical view that I find some of Maurice Jarre's scores to be absolutely weirdly disjunctive and anachronistic, though that strangeness can admittedly work quite well as in Jarre's bizarre music box adjacent theme for The Collector. To continue along this certifiably perilous line of opinion, as celebrated as Ennio Morricone's Chi Mai has been, both before and after its use in this film, I for one do not find it an especially good organic match, either "traditionally" as emotionally or situationally relevant underscore or as some kind of ironic counterpoint, to this convoluted tale. The narrative follows the travails of a wronged French spy named Joss Beaumont (Jean- Paul Belmondo) who endures a veritable Job like assortment of trials (literal in one case) and tribulations in order to bring those who wronged him to justice, a quest which this cynical story might suggest is a fool's errand in any case.

The Professional had a 1080 release in Region A courtesy of Kino Lorber, and Svet Atanasov's The Professional Blu-ray review provides more plot information, a list of supplements on that edition (some ported over here), and a reaction to the technical presentation.

Le professionnel Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Professional is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Radiance Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.67:1. Radiance sent a check disc for purposes of this review, and so I'm not privy to any verbiage their insert booklet may contain. Their website offers only a generic "high definition digital transfer", but it seems pretty likely this is based off the same master used for the Region A Kino Lorber release and a cursory comparison of screenshots here and in the review of that release shows no real signs of differentiation that I can spot. The palette is mostly quite healthy looking here, and clarity is also generally appealing as well. There are some passing moments (divorced from any opticals) where grain spikes and be pretty yellow looking, along with a slight ebb in detailing (see screenshot 7). Very minor age related wear and tear can be spotted on occasion.

Le professionnel Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Professional features LPCM Mono audio in the original French, though my hunch is many fans will be as interested in the Morricone score as in any dialogue. The track has no real problems to report, though it might be just a tad anemic in the midrange. That said, some of the more explosive (in more than one sense of that word) action sequences deliver some solid sounding effects. All spoken material is delivered cleanly and clearly. Optional English subtitles are available.

Le professionnel Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary by Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson


• Ginette Vincendeau (HD; 17:32) is a new piece with Vincendeau looking at Belmondo's career as a whole and this film as a perceived turning point in the kind of roles he played.


• Lovely Jon (HD; 31:48) offers his thoughts on Morricone and this film's (in?)famous theme.


• Jean-Paul Belmondo (HD; 4:23) is featured in a 1981 television appearance. Subtitled in English.


• Rene Chateau (HD; 6:42) has some interesting background on putting together a "package" production with Belmondo courtesy of his assistant and right hand man. This is from a 1982 television piece. Subtitled in English.


• Trailer (HD; 2:12)

Radiance sent a check disc for purposes of this review, but their website mentions their usual assortment of packaging extras.

Le professionnel Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Professional is probably undeniably nihilistic, but it provides a great showcase for Belmondo and director Georges Lautner keeps things moving through a sometimes surprisingly scenic set of events. Technical merits are generally solid and Radiance has assembled some enjoyable supplements. Recommended.