Mona Lisa challenges the audience to see the under-world of London as having a personality. That personality is front-and-center with George, an ex-con (or whatever a convict equivalent is on that island – I am too uncultured to know), who takes us through a voyage of the black market of sex.   Is it any wonder that the oldest profession in the world involves providing men pleasure?....

  Swirling in the vortex of another male sophomore production, Revolver encapsulates – or at least tries to – sentimental verve. In that, the bloodshed and outlandish machismo actually serves a purpose beyond scintillating teenage boys.   Masterfully, Mr. Ritchie does not reveal his hand until the closing credits. He is indeed attempting to ‘con’ his audience amidst....

  Noir films have a certain sensation about them, where too much investment in the effort creates predictability, and a repellant and detachment from the film observer. Indeed, good noir depictions do not try to work within the theme at all. The only connected dots between the treatment and the genre is simply a story involving the police.   Elliot Gould plays an....