Release: 1986
Directed by: Neil Jordan
Starring: Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Michael Caine
George (Bob Hoskins) is fresh out of prison and quickly thrust into a new line of work by his old vice boss, Denny Mortwell (Michael Caine.) This job requires the short statured, short tempered George to be a chauffeur and body guard for the tall, elegant Simone (Cathy Tyson) who is a high priced prostitute for the social elite in London. The two are instantly at odds, given their opposing natures and the walls they have put up to defend against the pains of the past. As their nightly drives continue, George slowly finds out more about the mysterious Simone, and begins the dangerous job of digging through the underbelly of London in search for answers to her past, as well as digging through the underbelly of his own heart, wrestling with his growing feelings for the elusive prostitute.
Writing & Directing 5/5
Neil Jordan and writer David Leland capture the budding friendship between George and Simone in a neat, natural paced manner. This pacing keeps the audience invested in the pair’s emotionally messy interactions from beginning to end. While the larger plot of Mona Lisa is a great commentary on the industry of sex, as well as an endearing romance/noir film, if Mona Lisa was simply a focused character study on George and Simone, it would have succeeded just as well.
A majority of the setting is in the suffocating, seedy vice halls run by men like Mortwell. There is a palpable tension as George goes about his investigations, the only relief being the momentary glimpses of the extravagant hotels and houses Simone frequents. Jordan provides excellent visual contrasts between these locales and the leads, Hoskins and Tyson.
The iconic car interior shots of Hoskins and Tyson’s conversations are magnificent images that embody the line “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
Acting 5/5
While Neil Jordan and David Leland smoothly scripted the progression of George and Simone, Hoskins and Tyson bring the characters to life in a raw and engaging way. From the initial conflict and growth between each other, to their internal conflicts with their own demons, Hoskins and Tyson are a dynamic pair that deservedly earned them numerous nominations and awards for their acting.
Michael Caine has a surprisingly small part, but he is unsurprisingly effective as the villain, Denny Mortwell.
Overall 5/5
Mona Lisa is a film that I wasn’t sure what to expect from but was very pleasantly surprised with what it gave me.
It’s a film that I think about from time to time and would definitely recommend and watch again. It’s not exactly a happy story, given its subject matter, so it might not be the best choice for say Valentine’s Day, but it would make a solid choice.
If you like your characters ripe with depth – played by talented actors to boot – as well as a subtle character driven romance that allows you to sit back and enjoy, then Mona Lisa is for you.
TL;DR
+Bob Hoskins/Cathy Tyson knock it out of the park
+Subtle, character driven romance/noir
-Michael Caine has a small part
-More engaging/dramatic romance than a happy one.