Stormy Monday

Director Mike Figgis's stylish 1988 British gangster drama stars Melanie Griffith as Kate, an American waitress working in a British pub who takes the occasional escort job for Cosmo (Tommy Lee Jones), an American developer with a shady past who uses thugs to intimidate a jazz club owner (played by Sting) into selling out. Sean Bean appears in his first leading role as Brendan, an Irish newcomer to the city who takes a job at the club, starts dating Kate, and throws a wrench into Cosmo's plans, which in turn marks Brendan as a target. Figgis sets the film in the Northeast England industrial city of Newcastle (his hometown), where cinematographer Roger Deakins achieves a romantic look, while the jazz score composed by Figgis adds to the dreamy quality. The plot is secondary to the atmosphere, characters, and style, all of which created a different kind of British gangster drama. Bowing on high-def in a Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, extras include a director audio commentary, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and a booklet. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)