Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon

Although almost completely void of any special effects, this movie is saturated with auditory and visual aesthetics, which are mostly centered around night life, and viewed through the realistic perspective of a wide angle lens, that isn't shy of getting too close and personal.

Plot is original, enjoyable and entirely basic, with emphasis given to "enjoyable", there are no points of high tension, just different music tracks the characters seem to 'swim' through as if guiding the scene. In a very chill fashion, almost dream-like.

The character performance is incredibly realistic, bold, and does a great job in making you view the daily happenings of their extraordinary lives in their original points of view.

Overall, a very entertaining watch. And listen.

In slick, original drama-thriller "Mona Lisa And The Blood Moon" Jeon Jong-seo escapes a mental asylum to New Orleans' seedy, steamy side where she's taken in by the 'colourful' likes of street-punk Ed Skrein, skanky exotic dancer Kate Hudson, & Hudson's kid Evan Whitten... as tired beat cop Craig Robinson hunts her down. Writer / director Ana Lily Amirpour's screenplay is unexpected, fresh & with terrific characters (tho some MAY bemoan the non-traditional plot) and she elicits superb performances (esp the understatedly outstanding Jong-seo) against a richly stylish backdrop (inc pulsating soundtrack). Excellent film-making from an upcoming potential master.

This indie like flick shows you can take a minimal plot, minimal lines from the main character Mona Lisa, combine it with good acting and make a hit to rival Hollywood blockbusters. Kate Hudson was bomb also, totally didn't expect to see her in this sort of role, her best performance since Fools Gold. It was one of those unexpected and much appreciated movies, glad I took a chance. I loved that the questionable parts were not overly explained, I like making my own assumptions of what's happening, it makes it personal. As a 90's raver I was digging the soundtrack, the look & the overall feel of the whole movie. Made me wanna get out the blacklight & drop a tab lol Well done to the writer & director. Thank you sirs may I have another? See you in the sequel, I hope!

... which really is just as rare it sounds. If you missed the 70s through an accident of birth, this little gem can remedy that. From literally the first frame of the film (which immediately bypasses the standard, sequential, "Dramatic Acts") it is clear that this is more a theme park ride, and less a traditional narrative. Director Ana Amirpour, known for her love of reversing and twisting traditional gender roles, seems to delight in this story of an asylum inmate (whose crimes are never fully explained) who also has a super power (the origins of which are also never fully explained); and who -- in a bizarre twist on the PINOCCHIO tale -- just wants to a regular girl. Good luck with that. The first lesson the audience learns about the young lady is, never offer her a choice between "the easy way and the hard way." You won't like her pick. Amirpour is one of a handful of indie auteurs who has a true genius for color and scene setting. Which only adds to the experience. If you keep your expectations in check, a very watchable effort. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon is pretty cool and original movie. I love the premise and the setup. It has a distinct visual style and some interesting music to further differentiate itself.

I enjoyed all of the characters, even the bad ones. It has a good cast giving good performances. Kate Hudson is nearly unrecognizable. And the child actor does a great job playing endearing. I'm normally annoyed by child characters, but he made me root for him.

The reason I didn't rate this higher is because it doesn't seem like it has anywhere to go past the premise and setup. I liked the conclusion but it doesn't feel like it escalates enough through the middle part.

But I think I would watch this a second time and would definitely be interested in a sequel.

(1 viewing, 7/16/2024)