Mona Lisa (1986)

The film is an assured London-set thriller about the need to love, triggered by Hoskins being assigned as chauffeur to an elegant prostitute played by Tyson. It delivers one of the most affecting love stories in recent cinema, with a slow descent towards hell and an extraordinarily touching performance from Hoskins at its heart.

The critic welcomes the film as a glorious, bittersweet adult diversion with controlled lyricism, strong humanism, and vivid storytelling centered on an unlikely romance amid London's underworld.

The critic praises Neil Jordan’s intelligent fusion of gangster thriller and love story set in Thatcher’s Britain, highlighting its exploration of class, race and sexuality. Bob Hoskins’ powerful performance as the downtrodden George is singled out as lifting the film into a Scorsese-like parable.

Hoskins conveys deeper emotion than usual as the gangster's chauffeur madly in love with Tyson's detached prostitute, bringing rich pathos to the plot. Jordan directs with great flair and insight, with Pratt's photography lingering in the mind, capturing 1980s soullessness in a moving and thought-provoking experience.

The critic praises Bob Hoskins' great performance as the ex-con George and the film's strong atmosphere and character work, noting the central relationship and supporting turns by Cathy Tyson and Michael Caine.

The critic notes that the film wraps complex themes of race, class, and identity in a brisk thriller. Bob Hoskins' performance stands out as the film's core, giving the story a redemptive glimmer amid its dark underworld.

The review pairs the film with Top Gun and focuses on its brutes and tone in the context of contemporary cinema.

The early sections are praised for their off-kilter comedy, noir elements, and the chemistry between Hoskins and Tyson. The later thriller plot is criticized for becoming generic and regressive in its sexual politics.

The critic calls the film classy kitsch that is smooth and fun to watch for its performances and visuals but ultimately insubstantial and lacking in excitement as the story runs down.

The critic praises the film's late twist that keeps viewers guessing, its gritty authenticity, and strong performances, particularly from Bob Hoskins and Michael Caine, while noting deeper themes of isolation and manipulation in a brutal world.