Plot: What’s it about?
George (Bob Hoskins) has just been released from prison, but he is unable to return to his previous status in the criminal realm. He was never a big time player by any means, but now that he’s spent some time in the box, he finds himself at the very bottom of the ladder, where no work at all is available. But he does manage to pick up a position, as a driver for an expensive call girl, Simone (Cathy Tyson). While George is just a naive, shy person, Simone is a beautiful woman with a sparkling personality, which causes some interesting moments between them. At first, George is uncomfortable around her wealthy, powerful customers, but as the two get to know each other more, he begins to like her more and more. Soon enough, George has fallen in love with her and despite her profession and the dangers that surround them, he would do whatever she wanted him to. And when she hatches a plan that places both of them in serious trouble, George is forced to decide what is really important to him.
As is the case with many of the films in The Criterion Collection, Mona Lisa is a powerful picture, but it is often overlooked by the masses. As such, I am pleased it has been issued in this series and while I am a little let down with the transfer, this is still a very solid disc. But more on the disc itself later, what about the movie, right? Mona Lisa is a dark, unflinching motion picture and while that might scare some folks off, I think anyone who wants a powerful film should give this one a look. The storyline and character don’t offer much in terms of lightness, but then again, you can’t do a film with material like this and make it a “feel good” movie. So no, Mona Lisa won’t perk you up on a rainy afternoon, but it just might make you think a little and to me, that’s a welcome notion indeed. The cast is headed by Bob Hoskins, Michael Caine, and Cathy Tyson, but the supporting crew is also more than impressive here. In the end, Mona Lisa has all the elements you need for a great film and thanks to Neil Jordan’s direction, it all comes together in perfect form. If you can handle the dark material and want to see a terrific offbeat romance film, then by all means, give this disc a once over.
At the helm of Mona Lisa is Neil Jordan, who also helped write the screenplay, as well as sitting in the director’s chair. Jordan gained a larger audience after The Crying Game, but even before that picture, he was able to turn in some excellent films, such as this one. This was his third feature as a director, but he seems to be in control at all times, very tight and effective direction throughout. I do think Jordan has evolved since his early days, but there is still a lot of talent evident in Mona Lisa, to be sure. I think this film was a wise choice for him, as he seems at home within darker material and never forces upbeat tones, which would have ruined the vision here. Other films directed by Jordan include Interview With The Vampire, Michael Collins, We’re No Angels, In Dreams, The Company of Wolves, and The End of The Affair. The cast here includes Bob Hoskins (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Long Good Friday), Cathy Tyson (Turbulence, Priest), Michael Caine (Quills, Zulu), Clarke Peters (Outland, Notting Hill), and Robbie Coltrane (The World Is Not Enough, Krull).
Video: How does it look?
Mona Lisa is presented in a 1.77:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. I’ve owned this film on laserdisc and video tape before, so I am pretty sure this is the first ever widescreen edition, which is a real treat. I am let down by the lack of an anamorphic presence, but I am so pleased to own this film in widescreen, I can’t complain much. The added resolution is missed however, as frequent instances of edge enhancement can been and that’s not good. The film’s rather muted color scheme is well presented here, although the contrast seems a little light most of the time. You can also see some wear and debris on the source print, but in the end, this is the finest I’ve seen this film look.
Audio: How does it sound?
The disc uses a mono option, which offers a crisp and clean presentation, but lacks the depth we’ve come to expect. But when you’re dealing with mono you need to adjust your scale and on that basis, this is a more than adequate track. I don’t think it is memorable by any means, but it handles the basics and in this case, that seems to be enough. Michael Kamen’s musical score seems in fine enough form here, while the sound effects are presented well, if a little limited at times. The main focus here is dialogue, which sounds sharp and is always easy to understand. This disc also includes English subtitles, in case you’ll need them.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I was pleased to find an audio commentary on this disc, which features Neil Jordan and Bob Hoskins. The two have a lot to discuss here and that means lots of information is passed, with minimal silent spaces and such. This by no means a technical commentary either, as Hoskins and Jordan talk about all sorts of topics, from the story itself to amusing anecdotes from the production. This disc also includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
