7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
George is a tough, yet also warmhearted small-time mobster recently released from prison. He agrees to chauffeur Simone, a high-priced prostitute. She enlists him to search for her closest friend, another prostitute named Cathy. During their time together, George slowly falls in love with Simone.
Starring: Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Michael Caine, Robbie Coltrane, Clarke PetersDrama | 100% |
Film-Noir | 35% |
Crime | 4% |
Romance | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The Mona Lisa’s smile has confounded viewers for 500 years. Just what does that slim smirk mean? (I’ve always thought it looks as though she’s reacting to a dirty, but not particularly funny, joke.) To men, the enigma of the Mona Lisa can be equated to the mystery of all women, particularly those who attract us. We think they’re beautiful, but we don’t understand them, and in our misunderstanding, we tend to project our own desires upon them. We try to read into their expressions and actions—in the same way that admirers of Da Vinci’s painting posit their own interpretations of that wry smile—imagining them to be a certain way, to think certain things. But imagining doesn’t make it so. Many a relationship has been ruined by men who mentally create a false, unrealistic, and unobtainable persona for their partner. This idea is at the thematic center of director Neil Jordan’s Mona Lisa, a 1986 neo-noir that evolves into a psychologically perceptive unrequited love story.
Like the other HandMade titles being released on the 24th by Image Entertainment, Mona Lisa sits on a single-layer, 25 GB Blu-ray disc, with a small file size and a low bit-rate. Extrapolate from this what you will, but subjectively, the film's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer is far from ideal. There's a good deal of compression noise on this disc, and not just during the darker scenes—although nighttime sequences look worst, as blacks are covered by a chunky mix of artifacts, film grain, and, at times, slight macroblocking. The film is noticeably in high definition—and there are occasionally crisp moments where it's easy to spot fine texture—but most of the time it looks very soft and indistinct. Although there's certainly more detail here than was present on the Criterion or Anchor Bay U.K. DVDs, the difference isn't drastic. Color is nicely balanced and reproduced, though, with strong reds and a generally realistic palette. Black levels are never truly satisfying, however, this is mostly due to the noisy compression problems and not a contrast-related issue. I can't help but feel that Mona Lisa—and the other HandMade titles being released—could look a lot better.
This is odd. The back of the case claims that Mona Lisa has a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and my PS3 confirms as much, but I can't recall hearing anything in the rear channels during the film. I even popped in a different movie afterwards to make sure my speakers were functioning properly. This track isn't front-heavy, it's front-exclusive. It's better, then, to think of this as a 2.0 mix, and as such, it sounds okay. Obviously, the ambience and immersion you expect from a 5.1 track is missing, but otherwise the film has a strong, well-balanced blend of music, effects, and dialogue in the front channels. Aside from a light hiss that accompanies a few scenes, the track is clean, dialogue is easy to understand, and there are no fatal drop-outs or crackles. English SDH subtitles are available in easy to read white lettering.
Unfortunately, aside from a theatrical trailer (SD, 2:32), this Image Entertainment disc contains none of the special features available on the Criterion or Anchor Bay U.K. releases of the film.
For all its prostitutes, sex shops, and seedy underground peep shows, Mona Lisa is a surprisingly tender neo-noir that explores the way men project their desires on women and the way women can feel obligated to conform to men's expectations. Like The Long Good Friday, Mona Lisa features a terrifically nuanced performance by Bob Hoskins, who proves once again that gangsters in movies can be more than just tough guy stereotypes. The film could probably look a lot better than it does here—the transfer is soft and filled with compression artifacts—but if you're a fan who doesn't own the DVD already, you might want to consider picking this one up. Just don't expect much, from the transfer, the audio, or the supplements. Image Entertainment made a huge score in procuring these HandMade film titles, but I wish they had put together releases with better transfers and more (or any) bonus features.
1980
1927
Limited Edition to 3000
1961
1928
1988
1966
Víctimas del pecado
1951
Le quai des brumes
1938
1948
1950
Golden Marie
1952
1947
Die Büchse der Pandora
1929
1954
Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
1955
1948
1948
Choice Collection
1958
Limited Edition
1980
Inspector Maigret / Maigret tend un piège
1958