1. Portrayal Of Newcastle
The director of Stormy Monday, Mike Figgis, captures the city of Newcastle perfectly. The cinematography of the film is outstanding, to say the least, in its portrayal of the cityscape. The Tyne Bridge over the river serves as a brilliant setting for a meeting between Finney and Cosmo. Depictions of The Royal Station Hotel and Central Station mirror scenes set in the more well-known New York city, and other American-based films. The night-time scenes of the Quayside, and the many glowing nightclubs and bars, reflect the Noir genre of the film, but also portray an element of sophistication and mystery. Overall, for a film which was filmed on location in Newcastle, and features no other setting; Stormy Monday manages to capture every angle and aspect of the city in a way which shows off the North East of England to the world.
Conclusion
Stormy Monday is a well-produced, symbolic film, with a strong cast and filmed in a memorable style. The film provides an insight in to the acting talents of Melanie Griffith and Tommy Lee Jones, and shines a light on Sting and Sean Bean. The portrayal of the city of Newcastle is like no other on film, and the film is worthy of its critical appraise and global attention. As a British film, Stormy Monday is great, as it proves that a complex and intelligent story can be woven into the realistic and familiar setting of a North East city. As a purveyor of Tyneside, and amongst similarly-set pieces of cinema, Stormy Monday is the best Geordie film.