‘Stormy Monday’, directed by Mike Figgis and starring Sean Bean, Melanie Griffith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Sting, set in Newcastle, England, is a great little British neo-noir movie. The film’s title is taken from T-Bone Walker’s famous number, “Call it Stormy Monday”.

The storyline where a small bar owner stands his ground against a powerful mobster is a recurring theme in classic noir and neo-noir movies. ‘Pickings’ is one such movie that comes to mind. In ‘Stormy Monday’, the setting of this is moved to Newcastle, England, and the powerful mobster is a powerful American entrepreneur who is looking to take over, not just the bar but the whole neighborhood. The plot also packs a love story that unfolds in this backdrop. Jazz music is also blended into the theme and in the film’s background music. Director Mike Figgis himself composed the background score for ‘Stormy Monday’.

After seeing an ad for an open position at a Jazz Bar, a young man, Brendan (Sean Bean), arrives at the bar seeking employment. The owner of the bar, Mr. Finney (Sting of Police fame), is initially not too impressed with Brendan, but Brendan surprises Finney with his knowledge of Jazz. Finney immediately hires Brendan to do janitorial work and help out with other odd jobs.

Meanwhile, a powerful, influential, and unscrupulous business magnate, Frank Cosmo (Tommy Lee Jones), arrives in the city amid great fanfare. Frank has grand designs and begins to put his plan into action by meeting a local politician. Elsewhere, an American woman, Kate, receives a call that Frank is in need of her services. Kate, who is working in Newcastle, is not happy as she is not too keen on working with Frank from her past experiences with him.

Finney tasks Brendan to pick up a team of Jazz musicians from the airport and bring them to a hotel. Coincidentally, Frank is also being felicitated at that very hotel at an event. Kate too is at the event, acting on Frank’s orders to escort one of his business associates.

Later that evening, Brendan stops at a restaurant for dinner and meets Kate for a second time after having bumped into her earlier that morning. While Kate is away, he overhears a couple of men at an adjacent table speaking of causing injury to Mr. Finney.

Brendan asks Kate out for a drink later that night. Kate accepts, and while the two are at a pub, Brendan tells her that he has an errand to run and will meet her later that day.

Brendan finds Finney and warns him about what he overheard. He then goes back to meet Kate. As a romance blossoms between Brendan and Kate, Frank sets his eyes on Finney’s bar. However, Mr. Finney has no intention of giving away his bar. Does he have a chance of holding his own against a powerful, relentless, unethical American business magnate who wields so much power and influence in his neighborhood? Frank also learns that Kate is dating an employee of Mr. Finney. He is not too happy about that too. The stage is set for an explosive sequence of events. Can Brendan and Kate save themselves from Frank’s fury? The rest of the plot answers these questions.

Packing numerous noir elements, Stormy Monday is a riveting, interesting watch. Interestingly, while most of the movie’s posters have mentioned the names of Melanie Griffith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Sting, the name Sean Bean has been pushed to the background, thanks to the stardom of the other main actors. I thought he did a decent job for the role he played. Tommy Lee Jones excels as the evil business magnate, and Sting too impresses as the determined bar owner. The scene where the two of them have a confrontation with the bridge in the backdrop is one of my favorite scenes in the movie. Melanie Griffith is charming as Kate. Kate may have had a shady past, but the audience still sympathizes with her. The chemistry between Kate and Brendan is impressive. The Jazz music in the background helps to enhance the movie.

This is a hidden neo-noir gem and should be on your must-watch list.