Monkey Man

Literally can't wrap my head around those saying this film is formulaic or been done a million times.

The careful, inclusive, radical political commentary with a collectivist message alone sets it apart in the genre; the creative, fresh, daring, deftly masterful cinematography, hypnotic soundtrack, snappy choreography, and impeccable sound design take it into a stratosphere all it's own. It's a bold political piece as well as a tender, brutal love letter to action movies as a genre and cinema as a whole.

Add to this the complications they ran in production with COVID, cameras breaking, no funding - this is a goddam masterpiece. Dev had to shoot parts of the film on his camera and they had to glue breakaway tables back together so they could use them again.

Never before in my life have I been so utterly transported by and emotionally invested in an action flick, despite being a huge fan of the genre. That this film is still not released in India and may never be is a testament to Dev's commitment to his message and refusal to water it down. Kudos to Jordan Peele for producing so it could remain intact

I am absolutely on the edge of my seat to see what Patel does next.

>Stop feeding that dog. Its gonna keep coming back expecting more. It just gives her hope.

Far from a simple debut for Dev Patel, this movie will be on my memory for a long time. This is a breath of fresh air over the so beaten up action movie genre. Here you will not find a bulked bulky manly male, capable of fighting an army without a single scratch. Instead, you will find a sensitive, hurt, sad man, who can see the grand scheme of things, but fails to understand his own role in the whole mess, so he simply STFU and moves on with the roles that life will present to him, while dreaming of some day achieving his goals (much like every ordinary man nowadays, if you ask me: hurt, lost, unable to deal with his feelings, raging war against shadows because of that).

It is impossible not to see some influences, especially John Wick as many have pointed out. But it stops at that: influence (mostly in regards of the fighting scenes and some visuals) and that is it. Although the movie may seem "formulaic" at first, give it a second thought, pay closer attention to the details and the background. The story being told here is much deeper than a simple "revenge movie" as it may seem on the surface.

[spoiler]The opening quotation above is one of the most interesting scenes I have seen here. So much is told with so little, there is a lot of subtext in such a small, simple scene. Up to this scene, it is almost impossible to say if Monkey Man was looking at the woman or his nemesis, romanticaly interested or studying his next move. The second time the Monkey Man goes into the penthouse and sees the same woman with the policeman, a very known music starts playing in the background: Roxanne by, not ironically, The Police. Although the song depicts a man who falls in love with a prostitute and wants to "save" her from this life, later we see that the Monkey Man has a much greater goal than just simply "save the girl" or "avenge his mother".[/spoiler]

[spoiler]When he gets to the temple, he meets Alpha, his savior (who, pay attention, is "male and female; neither and both" - "Alpha", commonly associated with the most masculine attributes in the '4chan redpill groups', here is a transgender woman). Alpha then leads the Monkey to "remember who you are". Later, the Monkey returns her the favor after giving them the money to save the temple (a note reading "Time to remember who YOU are"). This is what will lead to the hijras in assisting the Monkey at the end: "We [the hijras] were warriors before they drove us here", told him Alpha, and after remembering that, the hijras took arms and helped him with his plot. When the prostitute also comes to his aid, he barely looks into her eyes, not because he doesn't feel anything, but because he cannot stop a bigger plan because of a romantic interest. Also, when confronting Shakti, the Monkey only asks two questions: "Do you even know my mother's name? Do you know any of their names?". It may all have started because of his mother, but his goals were political, rather than simple revenge.[/spoiler]

Yes, the movie is filled with political analysis and criticism, and heavy doses of social commentary, all boiled up the ultimate level: the personal level. And that is the point of the movie. Politics IS personal. Society IS personal. Both affect our lives from macro to micro cosmos, so the macro should also be affected by the micro cosmos, even if a single man needs to start a revolution. [spoiler]But above all, the movie is a kick in already hurt manhoods out there: the silent type is not strong alone, and can only achieve his goals with the aid of women, be them cis or trans. Deal with that, _macho_[/spoiler].

>All your life you have been fighting to feel pain. You need to fight for a purpose. Fight... for all of us.

While the story is not to the most liking, I've enjoyed each and every part of this movie. John Wick should take notes. Aha!

The story behind this movie and how grueling and hard the production worked to finish this movie all while shooting during COVID, is truly a miracle this movie got made.

First time director Dev Patel (a very handsome man 😏) really pulled off something special. You can feel the blood sweat and tears poured into this movie. The cinematography was great. The action and choreography was great. The practical effects were great. The story was great.

An amazing action film to be remembered for a long time to come. Fantastic action + a very moving political story about the corruption in India all made me cry. Also the training montage with Dev and the wonderful drum music in the background while also surrounded by the trans community in India (a very controversial subject in India [also the world]).

There is not one single negative thing I can say about this movie. Just an absolute masterpiece from start to finish. Bonus points for getting Sharlto Copley in this movie. That man truly just loves acting for the love of the game not just the money.

I look forward to what Dev does in the future. :)

Slightly too long, but pretty much every other element of 'Monkey Man' is more than enough to compensate.

I had a very good time watching what is Dev Patel's directorial debut. He himself is outstanding, having portrayed the role of the titular character perfectly. I had only seen the guy in two films ('Slumdog Millionaire' & 'The Last Airbender') prior to this, so very much happy to see him act further. An excellent job from him on and off screen, I'm happy that he managed to get this made in the end.

As noted, I do think the run time could've been trimmed a little. It's not a major issue of mine, at all, but at a few moments I did feel my interest wane a bit. The story itself is a good one though, one that is entwined with a lot of fight (literally) but a lot of feeling too. Visually, it's a beauty. As for those behind Patel, Pitobash and Vipin Sharma are positives; Ashwini Kalsekar does well too.

Most definitely worth a watch, especially on the big screen! I enjoyed myself, all in all.

3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Monkey Man’:

1. I haven’t seen fight scenes this amazing in a very, very long time. Some of the absolute best, and they kept me on the edge of my seat. Brutal and so badass.

2. Dev Patel. Looking sexy AF. And the fact that he directed this film — where style seamlessly meets substance — makes him a whole lot sexier. Spectacular job.

3. I love love love that there was trans representation in this! AND that they literally kicked a whole lotta ass. Again, if I couldn’t love Dev Patel any more _(see thought #2)_.

Told the ol'lady this was a documentary on the band the Monkeys... movie night rules

In "Monkey Man," we're taken on a journey through the complex tapestry of contemporary India, where the film dives deep into the harsh realities of poverty, inequality, and societal divisions.

What struck me most was how the movie vividly captured the essence of life in India, from its vibrant energy to the struggles faced by the different societal classes. Scenes of families sleeping on pavements and working children painted a stark picture of the everyday challenges millions of Indians endure. While the protagonist's journey doesn't explicitly focus on the hardships of the less privileged, he understands and provides a poignant commentary on Indian society's harsh truths.

Alphonso: But your living the life bro
Alphonso: we are rolling with the kings now, huh
Kid: they don't even see us
Kid: they are all up there living, and we are stuck here in this
Kid: that's no life bro
Alphonso: So what are you gonna do about this huh, monkey man

The film's authenticity and attention to detail are commendable. The filmmakers succeed in creating a world that feels lived-in and genuine, from the bustling streets to the cramped living spaces, capturing the essence of urban India.

I found the portrayal of the politician and his endorsement by Baba to be particularly insightful. It reflects a common phenomenon not only in India but also in other countries like Sri Lanka. The film's exploration of blind allegiance to leaders without critical thought serves as a stark reminder for individuals to think independently and avoid becoming mere followers.

Moreover, the film subtly reminds us of a universal truth: regardless of our backgrounds or social statuses, we all face struggles, especially when confronted with mortality. This observation resonates deeply, transcending societal divides and highlighting our shared humanity.

“when the pain has finished teaching you it will leave you”

an amazing good time with heart and soul, aesthetic depth, and righteous violence