Posted on Saturday, 2 July 2011

MONA LISA (Jordan, 1986) - This movie felt a bit divided to me: it’s partly a grim look at prostitution in London, and partly a Tarantino-esque avant-la-lettre gangster comedy, especially in the scenes between Bob Hoskins and Robbie Coltrane (who is, incidentally, the only really “good” character in the film). I loved the second aspect, but was very uncomfortable with the first, as I was never sure just where the film stood. Hoskins, for instance, is the putative hero, and he definitely looks heroic in comparison to the thoroughly evil baddies, but it often seems like he’s got a frightening misogynistic streak. I never felt comfortable with this movie, which of course might be seen as a positive instead of a negative point, but it stopped me from fully enjoying it.

MONA LISA (Jordan, 1986) - This movie felt a bit divided to me: it’s partly a grim look at prostitution in London, and partly a Tarantino-esque avant-la-lettre gangster comedy, especially in the scenes between Bob Hoskins and Robbie Coltrane (who is, incidentally, the only really “good” character in the film). I loved the second aspect, but was very uncomfortable with the first, as I was never sure just where the film stood. Hoskins, for instance, is the putative hero, and he definitely looks heroic in comparison to the thoroughly evil baddies, but it often seems like he’s got a frightening misogynistic streak. I never felt comfortable with this movie, which of course might be seen as a positive instead of a negative point, but it stopped me from fully enjoying it.

2 notes

  1. notesonfilms posted this