Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa

1986
Movie
105 min
English

George is a small-time crook just out of prison who discovers his tough-guy image is out of date. Reduced to working as a minder/driver for high class call girl Simone, he has to agree when she asks him to find a young colleague from her King's Cross days. That's when George's troubles just start.

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Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes94%
Metacritic80/100
Google Users86%
Director: Neil JordanGenres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

A recently released ex-convict, George, is hired by a local gangster to act as a driver for a high-class call girl named Simone. As George gets drawn into Simone's dangerous world, he becomes increasingly protective of her, leading to a confrontation with the criminals who control her life. The film explores themes of loyalty, obsession, and the murky underworld of London.

Critical Reception

Mona Lisa was critically acclaimed upon its release, with particular praise directed at Bob Hoskins's performance and Neil Jordan's direction. It was seen as a stylish and gripping crime drama that elevated the genre with its complex characters and atmospheric portrayal of London's underbelly. The film achieved significant commercial success and garnered multiple award nominations.

What Reviewers Say

  • Bob Hoskins delivers a tour-de-force performance as a complex and sympathetic ex-convict.
  • Neil Jordan's direction creates a moody and atmospheric neo-noir.
  • The film is a compelling blend of crime thriller and character study.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight Bob Hoskins's exceptional performance and the film's compelling, dark narrative. Many appreciate the gritty atmosphere and the emotional depth of the characters, finding it a standout crime drama.

Awards & Accolades

Bob Hoskins was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. The film also received nominations for BAFTA Awards and the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Fun Fact

The distinctive name 'Mona Lisa' for the film was inspired by Nat King Cole's famous song, which plays a significant role in the movie's soundtrack and thematic elements.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Bob Hoskins is entirely convincing as the increasingly conflicted and crotchety petty criminal “George” who has just been released after a seven year stretch as a guest of Her Majesty. He has been released into a world that doesn’t really w...
Peter McGinn

Peter McGinn

I had watched this movie many years ago, but not to remember much of it, so with the fairly positive ratings and Bob Hoskins, it felt like a safe bet. But there wasn’t as much humor as I thought I remembered, and the plot of a guy trying to...
JPV852

JPV852

Really good British neo-noir featuring great performances from Bob Hoskins and the lovely Cathy Tyson who share some nice scenes together and a pretty melancholy ending. Michael Caine is great as a classy scumbag (seems like he played many ...