A young man, under the name Kid, ekes out a living in an underground fight club in order to unleash a campaign of retribution against the men responsible for his mom’s murder.
The take
Often deemed as South Asian John Wick, Monkey Man, of course, has plenty of the stylish action that’s been captivating today’s filmmakers and audiences alike. Dev Patel, now writing and directing alongside leading the film, created a crazy combination of action sequences that mess around with perspective, that’s fuelled by insane choreography, and that take the best from the action thriller greats, but it also mixes in such unique ways, with his one man crusade expanding into an unforgettable folklore-inspired counter campaign against a corrupt, nationalist administration. It’s not a perfect film, but Monkey Man is such a bold debut that marks Patel as a director to watch.
What stands out
The action sequences are great, but to be honest, what strikes me the most is the tabla-scored training montage… It’s just a fun and playful twist to that genre staple scene.
Comments
Add a comment
Your name
Your comment
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
Lust, Caution (2007)
A wartime spy falls for a collaborator in this erotic espionage drama
7.3
Jawan (2023)
A wild and intense ride with the King of Bollywood at the helm as a modern day anti-corruption hi-tech Robin Hood
6.9
Jaane Jaan (2023)
A Hindi thriller that keeps the suspense of Japanese novel
7.6
Khufiya (2023)
A complex Hindi spy adaptation where world power interventions trigger a slow burning revenge operation
7.0
Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva (2022)
Bollywood launches their own response to the MCU, though it’s held back by the writing
5.8
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2002)
Two boys bond with the village seamstress through banned books in this coming-of-age historical drama
7.2
Silenced (2011)
A brutal and harrowing exposé of the schoolwide abuse case that sparked outrage in Korea
9.0
Being Julia (2004)
A middle age crisis leads to a star finding her spark in this insightful comedy
7.1
My Old Ass (2024)
A pleasant mix of comedy and coming-of-age that may or may not leave you in tears
8.0
Short Sharp Shock (1998)
Three friends take to the streets of Hamburg in this multicultural crime drama