Mona Lisa

1986

1h 45m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

268

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46 Images

Crime

Drama

Romance

Thriller

George is a small-time crook just out of prison who discovers his tough-guy image is out of date.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.

Directors

Neil Jordan

Writers

Neil Jordan(screenplay by)

David Leland(screenplay by)

Stars

Bob Hoskins

Cathy Tyson

Michael Caine

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Videos1

Trailer
Watch Mona Lisa (1986) - Original Trailer

Photos46

Top cast

George

Simone

Mortwell

Thomas

Anderson

Cathy

Jeannie

May

Self

George's Wife

Raschid

Tim Devlin

Girl in Paradise Club

Pimp

Hotel Waiter

Pornshop Man

Busker

Busker

Directors

Neil Jordan

Writers

Neil Jordan(screenplay by)

David Leland(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews3

Review

Featured review

7/10

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 want him any more, and so he is relegated to driving high class hooker “Simone” (Cathy Tyson) from one wealthy client to another, whilst his ex-wife ensures that he isn’t welcome at home or to see his daughter. Initially, he isn’t too impressed with his new charge but the more he works with her the more they gradually begin to understand each other and he falls, a bit one-sidedly it has to be said, in love. As that relationship becomes more trusting, “Simone” takes him into her confidence more and asks him to help track down another, less expensive, prostitute “Cathy” (Kate Hardie) who’s earning opportunities are more limited and her drug dependency makes her even more vulnerable on the unforgiving streets controlled by the sordid and scheming “Mortwell” (Michael Caine). Pretty swiftly, “George” finds himself embroiled in a scenario that is pitching him against his own, in defence of a woman who has an altogether different agenda and it’s a dangerous straddling position to escape from. There is something tragic about this story and both Hopkins and Tyson play their roles poignantly as the threads of their completely differing lives gradually entangle. He has to come to terms with an unfamiliar side of his erstwhile friends, of his city and of himself that shows us a grimy, seamy and brutal industry that saw some amass wealth at the expense of the vulnerable. Neil Jordan has written potently here, sure, but there is also some humour peppered throughout the drama and a solid supporting cast help add richness to a plot that’s full of twists, turns and even some Elton John specs. It has dated a little, but is still well worth a watch.

Geronimo196721 Apr, 2025