Mona Lisa 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.5

Mona Lisa 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 26, 2026

Bob Hoskins received a well deserved Academy Award nomination and actual wins at both the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes for his nuanced, visceral performance in Mona Lisa as grizzled ex-con George, who after getting out of stir ends up as the driver for high class call girl Simone (Cathy Tyson). This seminal neo- noir is long on mood and style, but it also features an invitingly complex narrative, at least in terms of its detailing of a number of mismatched characters, all in a kind of grimy and disturbing London. Mona Lisa had a relatively early 1080 release from Image Entertainment, followed by a Region B 1080 release from Arrow Films, and then another 1080 release from Criterion in 2021.

All three of the above linked releases feature reviews with plot information, lists of supplements and assessments of video and audio quality.

Mona Lisa 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: This release does not include a 1080 Blu-ray, so these screenshots are taken directly from the 4K UHD disc and downscaled to 1080 and SDR. Color space in particular is therefore not accurate. Since this release does not include a 1080 disc, the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.

Mona Lisa is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with an HEVC / H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the presentation:

Mona Lisa was exclusively restored by Arrow Films, and is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with original mono audio.

The original 35mm camera negative was scanned in 4K resolution. The film was restored in 4K resolution and graded in HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Scanning, grading and picture restoration was completed at Silver Salt Restoration, London.

The soundtrack was remastered from the original mono mag reels by the BFI. Additional audio remastering was completed by The Engine House. All materials for this restoration were made available by Handmade Films via the BFI.

This restoration of Mona LIsa has been approved by Director Neil Jordan.

As mentioned above in my introductory comments, there's an unabashedly dirty, grimy feel to a lot of the location work, and that quality is emphasized by Roger Pratt's cinematography. The opening optically printed credits sequence understandably offers a bit less clarity and a bit more grain than some of the rest of the presentation, but that said, there is still some very heavy grain in evidence throughout, not necessarily always due to lighting conditions. In fact, some of the heaviest grain can be spotted against brighter backgrounds in some of the more brightly lit outdoor material. All of this said, while occasionally chunky and yellow looking, things are surprisingly tightly resolved throughout this 4K presentation, something that's especially commendable given some of the compression challenges that dim lighting and smoky or misty environments must have presented. The HDR / Dolby Vision grades offer some distinctive pops of color, though it's salient to note that quite often the production design doesn't feature especially vivid tones, as in the clothes shopping sequence, where neutrals are prominent. That said, there are a number of really evocative uses of red, beginning with a door in the opening fight scene, and then the interior of the car George gets into. Later club scenes also have some very gorgeously suffused reds, and selected nighttime scenes can have some almost cobalt blue tones. A fun use of green circa 38 minutes in also has decided pop. Detail levels are generally great, especially in some of the outdoor daytime material, though on the flip side some of the most dimly lit interior scenes can have a bit of murkiness and not a wealth of shadow detail.

Mona Lisa 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Mona Lisa features an LPCM Mono track which I'm sure is very similar if not outright identical to the well received tracks on the Region B Arrow release and the Criterion release. The Genesis track is nicely full bodied, and in fact all of Michael Kamen's score sounds well balanced and fluid. The busy urban environments offer a wealth of ambient environmental effects, probably most noticeably in outdoor scenes, but also in some of the crowded interior moments. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Mona Lisa 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary by Neil Jordan and Bob Hoskins


• Interviews

Neil Jordan (HD; 19:57)




Stephen Woolley (HD; 13:36)




David Leland (HD; 19:01)

• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:32)

Arrow's insert booklet contains an essay by Mike Sutton and the usual technical and cast and crew information. Packaging features a slipcover.

Mona Lisa 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As Casey Broadwater mentioned in his now long ago review of the original Region A 1080 release of Mona Lisa from Image Entertainment, despite its inherent seediness this is an exceptionally and unexpectedly tender tale a lot of the time. Arrow's 4K edition sports solid technical merits and some appealing if not bounteous supplements. Highly recommended.