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Okay, Mona Lisa (1986) - Anyone Else Obsessed with That Score?

Alright soundtrack peeps, just finished re-watching "Mona Lisa" (1986) – bleak, British crime drama with Bob Hoskins and Cathy Tyson. The movie itself is pretty great, gritty as hell, but man, the SCORE. I can't find much info on who did the original music – says Michael Kamen did the main score, but there are cues of saxophone music during a lot of simone's scenes. Does anyone know who's credited as the saxophonist? It perfectly captures the mood, you know? That feeling of being lost and kinda sleazy, hanging out in the red light district. I was especially fascinated with the track that plays when George (Hoskins) is driving Simone around, particularly when they're going to those really dodgy clubs. It's got this slow, almost jazzy vibe, but with a real undercurrent of danger to it. It's not fully a jazz score, but there's definitely this lounge atmosphere to it. I remember when I watched it as a kid, I thought it was just the music that was actually playing in the clubs, but now I realize it's part of the underscore. That music really amplified the contrast between George's rough exterior and his growing feelings for Simone, I think. Has anyone else dug into the score for this one? I think its a score that is really underappreciated, and the saxophone cues make some of the scenes feel a lot more desperate. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it, especially if you can point me toward more info about the score composition!

hughesreviews
2 months ago
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