Barnes & Noble

Director Neil Jordan's Mona Lisa sketches a fragile relationship in an underworld where exploitation is the norm, delivering a study in how opposites both attract and repel, and so much more. Bob Hoskins is thick but sweet as George, an ex-con hired to chauffeur a beautiful, refined prostitute named Simone (Cathy Tyson) to her appointments in classy hotels and palatial mansions. After getting off to a bad start (George is a racist and Simone is black, among their many differences) the two gradually develop a mutually protective relationship. But London's seedy underground sex industry, with its drugs, violence, and extortion, is no place for love, nor even trust -- a lesson George learns the hard way once his employer, a mob boss (played for snide impact by Michael Caine), gets involved in the situation. For all its seediness, Mona Lisa comes across rather upbeat and clean. Could it be the ubiquity of Nat King Cole's title song? Or maybe this is due to the recent surplus of gritty, urban realism in British cinema. In any case, the off-key details (15-year-old prostitutes portrayed by 30-year-old actresses) don't significantly detract from the central story. Mona Lisa resounds as a tender, complex love story that feels all the more real for its unconventionality. Jordan and Hoskins provide illuminating commentary on the DVD, in brogue and Cockney, respectively. -- Craig Garrett

All Movie Guide

Bob Hoskins plays George, a tough but basically goodhearted British mob flunky, recently released from prison, where he'd served a term to cover up for his gangster boss (Michael Caine). Still willing to be everyone's doormat, George agrees to act as chauffeur for Simone (Cathy Tyson), a haughty, high-priced call girl. They don't like each other at first, but George begins to fall for her and take a protective interest. She implores him to help her find her only truly friend, a prostitute named Cathy (Kate Hardie). Touched by this devotion, George locates the girl, only to be chagrined to learn that Simone and Cathy are lovers. Hoskins is used and abused by so many people in Mona Lisa that when the worm finally does turn, you feel like cheering--even though it doesn't make him any happier. Director Neil Jordan cowrote this study of underworld mores with David Leland. Hal Erickson

Product Details

• UPC: 715515012027
• Source: CRITERION
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Alternate Wide Screen (1.77:1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: monaural
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Time: 1:44:00
• Sales Rank: 6,640

Features:

DVD MENU