Customer Reviews

Stormy Monday

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A slick noir piece set in Newcastle, England (yes, Sting's hometown), Stormy Monday is a little-known but beautiful film by Mike Figgis (also the director of "Leaving Las Vegas"). When guileless Irish drifter Brendan (Sean Bean) arrives in town, he befriends a shady nightclub owner Finney (Sting) and falls in love with a ill-used waitress, Kate (Melanie Griffith). As the film's off-beat, strangely elliptical plot advances, all three characters find themselves at odds with a villainous real estate developer, Cosmo (Tommy Lee Jones), who is busy snatching-up an entire portion of the city. (Presumably, Cosmo plans on turning it all into one giant shopping mall, and the film works nicely as a commentary on American-style "globalism" masking good-old American greed.) When Brendan thwarts an attempt on Finney's life (Finney is the last business-owner refusing to sell-out to Cosmo), he and Kate become bystanders in a power struggle between the two men-a situation complicated by Kate's moonlighting as a call girl for Cosmo. As the love story between her and Brendan unfolds-played out against a darkly lyrical backdrop of underworld violence-the film perfectly captures both the promise and menace of the 1980's.

How can this movie be so unknown and underrated? The cast is swell: Tommy Lee Jones makes a terrifically creepy/suave villain -- he's worth the price of a rental alone. Melanie Griffith is quite appealing (and how often is that the case?) Sean Bean has one of his earliest starring roles, and he's great, and Sting rounds things out in a role tailor-made for him: jazz club owner. The movie is full of clever moments and artistic touches. If you like a good suspense drama with romance, and especially if you like nightclubs and slick jazz, this is a fine choice.

The director, Mike Figgis, later gained fame for directing LEAVING LAS VEGAS. STORMY MONDAY is more entertaining.

One of Mike Figgis' first films, Stormy Monday fuses an intriguing mix of American greed, crudeness, and innocence with British coolness, toughness, and civility. But added to the mix, interestingly enough, is a Polish element (more on that later).

One American is Melanie Griffith as a cocktail waitress and vaguely defined moll (or former moll) of the other, Tommy Lee Jones, a ruthless moblike businessman who plans on making Newcastle, England his own--commercially, of course. (Political takeover is a little hard to imagine circa 1988). Melanie emits a sexy blend of sensuality and innocence, pretty much irresistible. The British are Sting, as the owner of a club (a role he neatly reprised in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels), and Sean Bean as his cleaning person/gofer. Both are civil and, as it happens, tough as well. And Sting's coolness is in the ultra category, a real neat piece of work.

Sean and Melanie meet and then do a whole lot more; they do the romantic thing, all the while being pursued, as is Sting, by Tommy's henchmen. Tommy plays rough, as it turns out. The mingling of Yank and Brit romantically (Melanie and Sean) is paralleled by battling of Yank and Brit commercially (Tommy and Sting).

The Polish element? Melanie's character is half Polish, and, as well, the band slated to play in Sting's club has an accident so the Cracow Jazz Ensemble (or some such), all Poles, steps in instead, among which is Andrej, a sympathetic band manager, the only one who speaks English. Andrej is destined to play a critical role in the film, but rather than provide a spoiler here, see the film to understand what this means.

Violence plays a large part in the proceedings, as is obvious from the above description. This is a well-plotted film that put Mike Figgis on the map. Doesn't hurt that he not only wrote and directed it, but also composed the music for it, an effectively moody jazz score.

Recommended.

Im a big Sting nut, and I have to say that Stormy Monday is Sting's best acting Movie! The preformance he gave to this movie made him like he was in the movie business his whole life! Not Music.

Its special to see that the setting was in Newcastle, England (Sting's hometown)

Tommy Lee Jones(fugitive) and Sean Bean(Golden Eye) both did a excellent job!

Stormy Monday is the title to a song that is played at the end of this film. This is the story of Brendan played expertly by the young, brash, handsome and swaggering Sean Bean with an earing in his ear, wearing tight blue jeans and browsing job listing, he becomes an employee of "Sting" at a club. And meets Kate, whose boyfriend, Cosomo played by Tommy Lee Jones, is a real estate tycoon who is trying to buy up the town! Its a story of lost love, the love that is lost and destroyed between Kate and Cosmo and its the new love between Kate and the wonderful new man that she has found, Brendan. Its Sean Bean at his best, he is an excellent choice for Brendan, he sports an earing, and can play musical trivial pursuit with Sting, which is funny to watch. If you are a fan of Melanie Griffith, you will enjoy her performance as Kate, and Tommy Lee Jones does a calm, and cool job as a real estate developer.
If you are a fan of the wonderful british actor, Sean Bean, this is a must see film! Enjoy it, its hard to find, and its one of his best roles! And yes its also nice to see Sting as the club owner too!

Because I like the genre (film noir) I sought out this film on advice of a friend. Although, at the time, it was scarce, I am glad I persevered! The cast is a surprise - imagine Sting as the standout in a dark drama! He nearly steals the show! The setting is interesting and the direction superb. This is one of those films that lets you fill in the blanks and causes you to concentrate on each scene so as not to miss a nuance or clue. I found that the second viewing was more than twice as entertaining! I have now seen it four times; each time very enjoyable. Sean Bean was an unknown to me when I first saw the film, but has now become just about my favorite actor - you can see him at his present best in LOTRFOTR as Boromir. In Stormy Monday, made in 1988, he plays a young, blonde, strangely naive fellow with a mystery past (never revealed). Tommy Lee does his expected great turn as the villian (among several in the tale), while Melanie Griffith makes the most of a role-type for which she is well known, the girl-gone-wrong who overcomes her bad luck. You will find a lot to enjoy in this dark story and a chuckle or two also - from the wild Polish rock band!

Having seen "Stormy Monday" many years ago, I was completely enchanted with this small and interesting picture. Nowadays, it is commonplace for every self-aware "cool" British crime drama to be embraced by American audiences. But in 1988, this stylish film from Mike Figgis was a bit more unorthodox. Where else can you get Sean Bean, Sting, Tommy Lee Jones, and Melanie Griffith together? It's such a weird amalgamation of acting styles, and yet somehow it works.

This, I suppose, is a gangster flick at heart. But what I like about "Stormy Monday" is that the familiar crime elements are downplayed. There is action when needed, and some brutality--but you've also got a credible romance, a peak at the Polish subculture, a commentary on American commercialism, and a loving tribute to jazz. Music plays just as great a role in setting the tone of "Stormy Monday" as the plot does. It's cool and leisurely and the picture flows over you in comfortable waves. This movie doesn't try too hard, it's not designed to be in your face--it's subtle and smart.

Sean Bean is great in the lead. Bean is someone I've always admired, but he never really connected in American roles as a leading man. Forever the villain or sidekick here--you have to turn to his British resume for his greatest performances (check out the Sharpe's saga). Melanie Griffith is subdued and believable in a somewhat sketchy part--we never know quite what she does. Tommy Lee Jones provides his usual bravado. And Sting is surprisingly good. For someone who only flirted with acting, this picture will show you a potential that went unrealized.

"Stormy Monday" is definitely a small picture, but very worthy. It's an effective mood piece--one that may initially seem a bit slight, but it's effect lingers with you. KGHarris, 11/06.

This is one of those sleeper films, meaning a good one that is not very well- known.....but should be. I really liked this modern-day film noir when I first saw it a dozen years ago and stlll do today, even with four viewings.

The movie has all the features of a good noir, most of all a feeling of impending doom throughout, which a good noir exhibits. You know some bad things are going to happen, but you just don't know what and when. That uneasy mood runs throughout the film.

Add some tough characters, great cinematography (nice colors, too, in this case) and even a good blues music score and you have an interesting film. The story here revolves around a ruthless American businessman trying to buy up an entire block of the businesses in one area in Britain.

There's humor in here too with a goofy Polish jazz band, which looked and sounded just awful, and just enough action throughout to keep from getting too talky. Tommy Lee Jones, Melanie Griffith, Sting and Sean Bean star and all are fascinating to watch.

A slick noir piece set in Newcastle, England (yes, Sting's hometown), Stormy Monday is a little-known but beautiful film by Mike Figgis (also the director of "Leaving Las Vegas"). When guileless Irish drifter Brendan (Sean Bean) arrives in town, he befriends a shady nightclub owner Finney (Sting) and falls in love with a ill-used waitress, Kate (Melanie Griffith). As the film's off-beat, strangely elliptical plot advances, all three characters find themselves at odds with a villainous real estate developer, Cosmo (Tommy Lee Jones), who is busy snatching-up an entire portion of the city. (Presumably, Cosmo plans on turning it all into one giant shopping mall, and the film works nicely as a commentary on American-style "globalism" masking good-old American greed.) When Brendan thwarts an attempt on Finney's life (Finney is the last business-owner refusing to sell-out to Cosmo), he and Kate become bystanders in a power struggle between the two men--a situation complicated by Kate's moonlighting as a call girl for Cosmo. As the love story between her and Brendan unfolds-played out against a darkly lyrical backdrop of underworld violence--the film perfectly captures both the promise and menace of the 1980's.

Interesting film, with the story actually focusing on Mr. Sean Bean, rather then Tommy Lee Jones and Mrs. Griffith. The performances are well done. Sean Bean and Sting are very well with the charactors, however Mr. Jones is not convincing as the villan. The whole idea that such violence would erupt over one man's need for a nightclub is a little unbelievable. However, watch it to see the highly watchable performances of Melanie Griffith and a young Sean Bean.