Monkey Man Reviews

Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) directs, stars in, and co-writes Monkey Man, working with screenwriters Paul Angunawela and John Collee (Hotel Mumbai). What they create is a surprisingly good film that starts as a gripping drama but morphs into a thrilling action film worthy of any Hollywood blockbuster in the final act. Kid (Dev Patel) lives a meager life as the fall guy in fixed fights run by Tiger (Sharlto Copley). But he has bigger plans - to get himself into the Kings organization to exact revenge for the murder of his mother and displacement of his community. To do so, he bribes his way in, using his street smarts to work his way up to the VIP room. But this does not work out as planned, and he finds himself a fugitive from the powerful men and women he was targeting and the local police. Now, Kid must regroup and find some way to continue his quest, not only for himself but for all the overlooked people of his city. Patel, Angunawela, and Collee create a great anti-hero in Kid, basing his trials loosely around the spiritual journey of Harano - The Monkey King, spending a lot more time building a backstory than most movies of this kind. The main character is well-defined, and the rest are sufficient for what they are - the audience doesn't need to know much more about the corrupt characters other than the depth of the corruption, and those supporting Kid are fine as motivating factors. Kid's quest for vengeance is reminiscent of John Wick, but instead of fighting for personal reasons, Kid ultimately ends up fighting a system that is oppressive to lower castes. This and the character's lack of initial skills add an additional element to the film, making it more than just a fight-fest. There is often an advantage to the director also being the star when the story is good, and the character has a defined role. In his directorial debut, this is the case with Patel, ensuring the character remains fully fleshed out. Copley's fight promoter is perfect - part ring announcer, part carnival barker, and all sleaze.The visuals are equally a star of the film, as is Patel's acting. The vast difference between the haves and the have-nots, and how closely side-by-side they exist, is made clear through lavish locations and gutter-slum filth. The cinematography for these is expansive and defining. But this isn't where the expertise ends; impressive camera angles, use of light and shadow, and the occasional trick shot set the mood for every scene. The fight scenes are sometimes a little frenzied, but in at least the earlier ones, they are much more realistic in their pace and effect. Sprinkled throughout the film is a soundtrack that mixes Western and Eastern music to good effect, although it sometimes ends abruptly. With Monkey Man, Patel bombastically shows the inequality that continues to plague India while maintaining an engaging and entertaining story. He isn't monkeying around when it comes to providing a quality film and performance.