MovieChat Forums > Mona Lisa (1986) Discussion > Hoskins character not believable

Hoskins character not believable


Liked the movie very much, but found Hoskins character (not his acting) unbelievble. He is supposed to be this tough, middle-aged ex-con and yet is completely ignorant of the world of prostitution - what the women do, how brutal the pimps are, how perverted the johns can be. He's supposed to be a man of the world, yet walks blindly into the an unrequited and impossible love. The film's grittiness and realism and the actors' performances save the it for the most part, but this bugaboo costs it at least one rating point in my book.

It's amazing, Molly ... the love inside ... you take it with you ...

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hmmm, I think hes ignorant of prostitution to a certain extent, perhaps because he's been locked up for so long...I'm not to sure, perhaps it was an aspect of the criminal underworld he chose to be ignorant of on purpose

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Possible - and he's not American.

Do you know that guy?
No. But he's a dick.

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[deleted]

Hehehe good point about the head! Fear the short people, they can give you one helluva Glasgow kiss :S

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And you have to be American to understand prostitution...?!

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You mean prostitution was invented while he was away?! Damn those crafty bastards!

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LOL, good one - but isn't it indicated that Mortwell only got involved in pimping while George was inside? If it wasn't part of his boss's business before, that would explain why he didn't know much about it.

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Just because he was a small time gangster did not mean he knew all aspects of criminal life.

Its that man again!!

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Perhaps George just wasn't aware of the changes in local prostitution between the time he was in and got out. Also, George's clumsiness in dealing with this type of stuff may imply he worked in other corners of the crime world - he does complain about his driver's job not being what he expected to do after he came out.

And he has changed too; he has a daughter now, perhaps he has a new perspective on things - some of the girls on the street are his daughter's age, perhaps this causes more sympathy for them, as he imagines any of those could his daughter.

Tu sei la prima donna del primo giorno della creazione.

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I think it's reasonable that George not be overly familiar to the prostitution scene, despite his criminal background. It seems to be an area of Mortwell's business that he wasn't originally involved with. It could stand to reason that before he went to prison, George was an enforcer - collections and whatnot - and when he gets out he's relegated to another side of the business, something less involved.

He's not a smart guy, and while he has a violent temper and the wherewithal to deliver a solid beating, he has a good heart and is a little naive, simple and absolute, about things. He seems to have traditional values and morals when it comes to sex, romance, relationships -- not to mention that he was married before he went in -- so it's perfectly reasonable that he intentionally steer clear of red light districts, peep shows, prostitution and their seedy, personal details even if he were peripherally involved in a professional capacity.

George is the audience's representative for these scenes, we're seeing this stuff through his eyes and he's clearly repelled and confused by it.

He's willing to enter into that world, indirectly, because of his daughter. Unable but willing to dote on her with fatherly affection, those emotions become redirected at Simone - but mixed with an attraction that outweighs whatever judgment he has pertaining to her lifestyle. He wants to do whatever he can for her because at that time he's unable to connect with his daughter.

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Basically, in response George went to prison for Mortwell, thats why Mortwell owes him. Also Thomas tries to dissuade him for going back to Mortwell- if he was a hardened criminal Thomas would ditch him.

George is Thomas' hero, and for a reason. He's a good man, but gone with a bad crowd.

Also, IBH27... just wondering if you noticed that George's violent behaviour decreases after he begins to bond with his daughter and finds May. He makes out he's going to kill Anderson, but he actual begins to use mental reasoning and ability, rather than just beating the cr*p out of him.

Also, I reckon he cannot connect to his daughter for 2 reasons
1. she doesn't need him, she's coped for seven years without him. -although obviously she wants him in her life, its just what George percieves,
2. Simone is a block between them, when he first sits outside her school, he is interupted by Simone. Then she seduces him into looking for Cathy, distracting him from Jeannie

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From the very people who slunk away from these boards with their tails between their legs, after it became obvious they were liars--even to them.

Just like a bunch of little whipped puppy dogs.

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[deleted]

IMO george is acting so disgusted by the world of porn and prostitution because he has never experienced this sector in crime before ,despite working for a gangster (michael caine)

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It's mentioned in the film that Mortwell got into prostitution while George was in prison. That's the reason he doesn't really have a use for George; it's not the racket he used him in before and he probably knew he couldn't get George to go along with the crap he was dealing in.

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[deleted]

This is true, my brother-in-law for one.

Life is just one damned thing after another - Elbert Hubbard

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Everything you write OP makes Hoskins's character all the more believeable. Many criminals have codes of conduct and things they won't engage in. He clearly has not been involved with prostitution before and even if he had, why would he imagine the horrors for some prostitutes? I don't see how 'being a man of the world' would ever prevent someone from falling in love or unrequieted love. He hasn't given up his heart.

You'll like these, you'll really dig them and all that pimply hyperbole

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I found it more curious that he had to acquire a firearm via some auto mechanic, even though he was a mob flunky...



"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

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