2. Symbolic Story Newcastle In The 80s
The central plot of Stormy Monday is a criminal deal gone wrong. Tommy Lee Jones character Cosmo is a powerful and rich American investor, who is seeking to exploit the city of Newcastle for his own gain. Stings character Finney is the one standing in his way, remaining loyal to the area he has grown up in and learnt to trust. Sean Bean and Melanie Griffiths love story weaves its way through the Noir gangster plot as the film unfolds. The story itself can be considered symbolic for a number of aspects. One symbolic interpretation of the film is the local resilience of the people of Newcastle against unknown and outside exploitation. The film was made in 1988, as the North East of England was still reeling from the effects of the Conservative Governments destructive political measures. Prior to 1988, the region had seen its position as an industrial powerbroker ruined; as mines and steelworks were closed, and thousands were left jobless. At the start of the film we are introduced to Brendan as an obviously skilled unemployed worker, forced to seek employment as a cleaner for Sting. The role which Tommy Lee Joness character Cosmo brings is symbolic of the outside aggressor, attempting to exploit Newcastle through ulterior means. He is the brash American, the outsider who gets what he wants when he wants it. As the film progresses we see the resilience of the locals succeed, and ultimately Cosmo and everything negative which he represents, is forced to leave Newcastle. As Stings character aptly puts it, in his Geordie accent, Enjoy the flight.