#107 - Mona Lisa

Didn't mean to get this far behind - sorry - think it's been a few weeks

#107 was a bit of a concern to find on Netflix before we got the Criterion Channel up and running - a Neil Jordan film starring Bob Hoskins and in her debut role, Cathy Tyson. 

Bob is a small-time gangster out of prison who gets the job of driving around Cathy Tyson, a high class call girl.    I thought both actor and actress were perfect for the role -  It is a little interesting that she also reminds me of Dil, the transgender character from Neil's film a few years later, The Crying Game - (sorry if I spoiled that for you) -  The story goes on with conflicting feelings about who the characters are and how they feel about each other. 

The song, Mona Lisa, by Nat King Cole, is all over the soundtrack, and in a way, it's perfect for Cathy's character.   Like the Mona Lisa, she isn't an easy character to read - you don't know if she loves you, is using you, or wants to shoot you - like the famous painting to some degree, we don't know what she's smiling about or what the mystery is behind the character, but it doesn't take long for us to start rooting for Bob Hoskins - (as George, the center of the film as Neil puts it) - to hopefully get the girl and get out of the business.

The CC has the director's commentary which i'd like to come back to and in one of those funny twists, because the film takes place in the 80's, we get some Genesis soundtrack as well which I did NOT expect - :)

A nice film - and I guess Bob was up for an Oscar but lost to Paul Newman - not in print on Criterion anymore but maybe out on blu-ray or up for a re-release at some point

RB