Classic British Crime Noir
Added 10/14/2009
One thing you do not expect from a crime thriller is a tender heart at the center. George(Bob Hoskins), after doing a seven year stretch for the crime boss Mortwell(Michael Caine) is given a job chauffeuring Simone(Cathy Tyson), a high priced call girl, to her assignments. At first there is mutual distaste for one another followed by a grudging respect. Simone eventually feels a level of safety with George that she requests a favor of him. It's from that point in the film that George developes a fascination that borders on love for Simone. Make, no mistake about it. This is not "Never on Sunday" or "Pretty Woman". This is a no-holds-barred examination of the prostitution and porn industry. George serves as the audience's conduit to this netherworld of vice. Despite George's exterior toughness lies a certain naivete as well as a sweet nature. A scene that most demonstrates this is when George breaks down emotionally to Simone at a seaside resort sporting novelty sunglasses and professing his love for her after a perceived betrayal. Hoskins is no less than brilliant in expanding on his tough guy persona that he assayed so well in "The Long Good Friday". Tyson falls in the classic femme fatale mode reminiscent of Lana Turner or Lauren Bacall. Caine is scarifying good here making you stand on edge in the few scenes he appears in. Also good in an abbreviated appearance is Sammi Davis as a teenaged prostitute. "Mona Lisa" is intricately plotted with surprises at every corner. Discretion forbids me from giving away key plot points but this movie would make a terrific double-bill with director Neil Jordan's "The Crying Game'. The two films contain eery paralells despite being made six years apart.
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What Acting, What Directing!
Added 9/13/2009
A typically British made movie - atmospheric, fantastic acting and directing that uses the silences as much as the dialogue. A screenplay that is totally believable for it's time.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Classic Gem
Added 4/3/2009
One of the finest British films of the 1990's.Bob Hoskins gives one of the best performances of his career. Michael Caine and Cathy Tyson give great performaces as well.The story is bittersweet,and very enjoyable.Get it,you'll love it.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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looked good but I needed subtitles
Added 8/18/2008
I tried to watch this film twice. I gave up early the first time because I couldn't understand a lot of the dialogue. The Cockney accents did me in. Most of the time the girl spoke is a very low voice and I missed most of what she said.
However it looked so good that I tried again the next evening and got through almost half of it. I could tell that the acting was first rate and I wanted to stick it out. When George, the hero went to sleeze joints and houses of prostitution to find Cathy for his friend, I found it too hard to take. I just wasn't in the mood to see 15 year old girls with bruises on their faces turning tricks for slimy pimps. Too depressing.
Perhaps if I could have understood more of the dialogue I would have made it through that rough spot. Reading the reviews here makes me want to have seen it. I'm not really reviewing the film here. I just wanted to warn others who may have a similar hard time with English films.
I really do wish that English made films supplied subtitles for our American ears.
1 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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A Bob Hoskins must see
Added 3/8/2007
This was my first exposure to Bob Hoskins- and I've been a fan ever since!And it was quite a change to see Michael Caine as a truly nasty guy! Acting is superb, and plot is refreshing. Music was very good too.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Classic British Crime Noir
Added 10/14/2009
One thing you do not expect from a crime thriller is a tender heart at the center. George(Bob Hoskins), after doing a seven year stretch for the crime boss Mortwell(Michael Caine) is given a job chauffeuring Simone(Cathy Tyson), a high priced call girl, to her assignments. At first there is mutual distaste for one another followed by a grudging respect. Simone eventually feels a level of safety with George that she requests a favor of him. It's from that point in the film that George developes a fascination that borders on love for Simone. Make, no mistake about it. This is not "Never on Sunday" or "Pretty Woman". This is a no-holds-barred examination of the prostitution and porn industry. George serves as the audience's conduit to this netherworld of vice. Despite George's exterior toughness lies a certain naivete as well as a sweet nature. A scene that most demonstrates this is when George breaks down emotionally to Simone at a seaside resort sporting novelty sunglasses and professing his love for her after a perceived betrayal. Hoskins is no less than brilliant in expanding on his tough guy persona that he assayed so well in "The Long Good Friday". Tyson falls in the classic femme fatale mode reminiscent of Lana Turner or Lauren Bacall. Caine is scarifying good here making you stand on edge in the few scenes he appears in. Also good in an abbreviated appearance is Sammi Davis as a teenaged prostitute. "Mona Lisa" is intricately plotted with surprises at every corner. Discretion forbids me from giving away key plot points but this movie would make a terrific double-bill with director Neil Jordan's "The Crying Game'. The two films contain eery paralells despite being made six years apart.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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What Acting, What Directing!
Added 9/13/2009
A typically British made movie - atmospheric, fantastic acting and directing that uses the silences as much as the dialogue. A screenplay that is totally believable for it's time.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Classic Gem
Added 4/3/2009
One of the finest British films of the 1990's.Bob Hoskins gives one of the best performances of his career. Michael Caine and Cathy Tyson give great performaces as well.The story is bittersweet,and very enjoyable.Get it,you'll love it.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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