-Written by Kyle Bain.
When a young man (Dev Patel) seeks revenge for the death of his mother, he encounters dangerous people with skills and connections that will make his goal incredibly difficult to achieve. This Monkey Man must look inward and learn about who he truly is in order to find success–and the blood-soaked journey on which he will embark will be one for the ages.
Patel poured his heart and soul into Monkey Man, a film that he wrote, directed, starred in, and produced–and it’s clear the passion that existed within him as he brought this film to life. Patel is a spectacular actor that hits all of his marks, just as anyone would have expected him to–but he steps beyond the talented actor that we all know and into a place that allows him to make all of the calls throughout production. From the use of light to the score, and the cinematography to choreography, Monkey Man finds ways to enthrall viewers throughout its duration–and Patel is behind every major decision made, proving him to be one of the most talented individuals in Hollywood.
Monkey Man is a film that visits nearly every corner of Indian culture, bringing the ideals and beliefs of the young man seen in the film (a young man whose name we are never provided) to life. These things are integral to the narrative, but the reality is that the film is driven forward by action. Action films are hit or miss for me, as they can sometimes lack substance and be difficult to invest in–but not Monkey Man. Firstly, the choreography is spectacularly developed, as these fights feel real (at least more so than the films that typically make their way to the big screen), and even in the moments in which viewers may have to force a suspension of disbelief, they are able to do so relatively easily, as just about everything else throughout the film has played out in honest and believable fashion. Patel ensures that viewers are connected to our nameless protagonist before the action ensues, and this connection breeds intrigue and acceptance.
Furthermore, Director of Photography Sharone Meir captures almost the entirety of Monkey Man using close-up shots. Rarely does he explore long shots or wide shots, and as a result viewers often feel dizzied by the things occurring in the film–particularly during the action sequences. We feel like we are present in these moments, physically in the film beside Patel, and like nearly every other decision that Patel and his team make throughout the course of Monkey Man, this works to reel viewers in and allows us to become invested in the story and the characters.
In 2023 RRR put Bollywood on the map in the United States in a way that it hadn’t been before–and in a lot of ways I believe that RRR’s success sort of paved the way for Monkey Man. Patel takes full advantage of this opportunity and develops a film that is steeped in Indian culture, that brings to life a side of cinema that isn’t often seen in the mainstream. He explores parts of the world in authentic ways, and he creates a film that appeals to cinephiles and casual filmgoers alike. Action packed, socially relevant, beautifully acted, and visually stunning–Monkey Man is all that it promises to be, and it’s a film that you need to see.
Directed by Dev Patel.
Written by Dev Patel, Paul Angunawela, & John Collee.
Starring Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Adithi Kalkunte, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar, etc.
8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
