Review of Mona Lisa (1973) by Nate L — 13 Feb 2012

Before Neil Jordan gave us a new take on the song "stand by Your Man" in "The Crying Game," he directed this strangely tinted story of ex-con George (Hoskins) trying to re-establish himself in teh criminal world at the same time he tries to connect with his estranged daughter. Micahel Caine gives a great performance as the quietly scary mobster helping George by having him drive one of his "girls" (Tyson) to her "dates." Still, perhaps the most fun here is to watch Robbie Coltrane play George's friend, a guy who's convinced he's one big idea away from striking it rich with some of the strangest merchandise concocted.

The payoff to this movie is that, in the end, everyone gets what they either want or deserve although it may not be what we think it is at the start.