STORMY MONDAY

UK, 1988, 93 minutes, Colour.
Melanie Griffith, Tommy Lee Jones, Sting, Sean Bean, James Cosmo.
Directed by Mike Figgis.

Stormy Monday is a British thriller written and directed by Mike Figgis. It was well received critically and was a popular entertainment.

It is reminiscent of the films of the '40s - the business deals, the gangsters and the nightclubs, politics and finance. It is set in Newcastle-on-Tyne? and was filmed in the city. Tommy Lee Jones is a shady American businessman trying to muscle in in the city, but well received by the city authorities. Melanie Griffith is his mistress who wants to move away from him. Sting is the owner of the club. Sean Bean (about whom the film revolves) is a young Irishman looking for a job, who becomes involved in the political and violent tangle.

The film weaves together its various strands very intricately and well. Characters are well-drawn and there is an atmosphere of moody tension.

1. Effective thriller? Memories of the film noir and gangster genre? US and UK collaboration? A thriller of the '80s?

2. The use of Newcastle-on-Tyne?, overview, the streets, the hotels? Atmosphere? The musical score and the blend of American and British overtones?

3. The title, the mood, the lyrics of the final song?

4. The introduction with Kate waking up, Brendan beginning the day, Tony and Patrick, the gangsters, travelling to Newcastle, Newcastle in America Week?

5. Brendan as the centre of the film: age, background? Getting up, listening to the radio, the Polish ensemble? His job-searching, interview, knowledge about jazz, Finney employing him, sending him to the airport to pick up the Poles? His bumping into Katie and knocking her over? Her seeing him in the hotel? His cleaning the club? Meeting Katie at the meal, going out with her, the drink, telling the life story? His overhearing the violence towards Finney? Going to warn him, not allowed in the fashionable club? Warning him at midnight, going at 8.30, having breakfast? Finney thinking that he was part of the set-up? His work, Finney inviting him in to see the gangsters, selling their car to him for a pound, the brutality? Taking Katie to the Polish show? Their being bashed? Going back to the hotel, in love, decision to leave, returning, the irony of the explosion killing the Pole? The confrontation with Cosmo and the gun? His going off with Katie?

6. Katie and her work for Cosmo, under his orders, Bob's phoning, shopping for the outfit, bumping into Brendan? Meeting Cosmo, her disdain of him? Her second job, the manager criticising her? Brendan and the meal, the gangsters and their rough attitude? Going out, her story to Brendan? Staying the night with him? The reception, sitting next to Perry, her attack on him and leaving? Losing her job? Going with Brendan to the Polish reception and enjoying it? Memories of her family, her father? Their being bashed by Bob and his assistant? Washing Brendan, lovemaking? Their decision to leave, going back, the confrontation? Her leaving Cosmo?

7. Finney and his clubs, employing the Poles, talking to Brendan, employing him, the social and Brendan warning him, his being with the girl, his wife? 8.30, the interview? Giving Brendan an education by his interview with the gangsters? The car? His talking to Cosmo on the bridge, doing a deal? About the sign, the confrontation with Brendan? His tearing up the agreement?

8. Cosmo and his smooth style, dealing with people, with Bob, with Katie, deals, the English, wanting things arranged? Employing thugs? Finney telling him about his shady background? The reception, the decorations, his dislike of the band, the national anthem, watching Katie? His speech about England needing surgery and the Americans helping? His talking with Finney on the bridge, in the atmosphere of American Week? Bob and the bashings, the setting up of the exploding device in the car? The signing of the document with Finney? Brendan and the gun? His cool? The tearing tip of the agreement? His getting out of Newcastle?

9. The thugs, the train, their talk in the restaurant, their arrival, standover Finney, his beating them at their own game, the torture, their ringing Cosmo? Bob as henchman, as a thug as well as a businessman? The killing of the black guard? The arrangements for the disappearance of his body?

10. The British, the reception and its preparations? The hotel manager, the lack of band, the Poles and their jazz improvisation, Perry and his deals? Needing American money?

11. American and British relationships, Britain wanting money, the need for surgery and Britain's decline, the gentlemanly business dealings of the Americans, wanting to make money? The speeches? The celebration of America Week, the elaborate parade in the streets, flags, etc?

12. Finney bringing in the Poles, the contrast with America week? At the airport, the officials at Customs, their playing at the airport, the hotel, the Polish reception and their popularity, at the reception and their improvisation, playing at the club, the manager and his relationship, the irony of his death Instead of Brendan and Kate?

13. The style of the film, stylish thriller? Characters, action, the intricate web? Themes and mood?