Movie Details
| Title: | Mona Lisa | |
| Director: | Neil Jordan | |
| Year: | 1986 | |
| Genre: | Crime | |
| Times Seen: | 1 | |
| Last Seen: | 11.15.25 |
Other Movies Seen By This Director (3)
- The Brave One
- The Good Thief
- We're No Angels
| Date Viewed | Venue | Note |
| 11.15.25 | Internet | This Screening is part of event: DVRfest 2025 Day Four begins with this Bob Hoskins crime drama from Neil Jordan. I didn't know anything about this other than what I just wrote and that it's often listed along with The Long Good Friday as Hoskins highlights. As it turns out, Hoskins plays an ex con who just got out of a seven-year stint who gets hired on by his old boss (Michael Caine) as a driver for a high-price call girl. There's a search for a girl lost in the life of prostitution similar to Hardcore and a young Clarke Peters (from The Wire) plays a pimp and Hoskins finds himself in some hot water. Most of the movie seems to be about Hoskins and the girl who plays the prostitute getting to know each other and Hoskins learning to empathize with her situation, at least until they find the girl they're looking for. I liked this pretty good. It really wasn't what I thought it might be - if I'd known there was so much stuff revolving around London's red-light district I could've watched it yesterday to fit with Cruising and Looking for Mr. Goodbar - but it easily held my attention. I almost listed this as drama until the last ten minutes or so, which made for a satisfying ending. Also, I have to say, there's a shot near the end of the film as Hoskins walks down the Brighton boardwalk that's pretty wild. I think they were either handheld or on steadi-cam then zoomed in as they circled around him then zoomed back out and tracked him from the other side with the ocean in the background. it's a really intense shot focusing on Hoskin's heartbroken face. Very effective. |
