The Mosley Review: Monkey Man
Vengeance driven films are a cornerstone of the action genre and it’s good to see more of them popping up her and there. Yes, we had the John Wick saga that started out that way and became the new standard for the genre and for action sequences in general. It actually showcased the artistry in stunt performers and actors doing their own fight scenes. What's slowly creeping back into the spotlight is the brutality of these type of films. It’s always amazing to watch the lead character kick ass, but the more realistic and blood soaked it is, the more you see feel the rage and justification behind it. That's what this film does in such a old school way that I appreciated. The story itself is simple and yet expansive with its many locations, highlighting of the darkside of the drug fueled VIP parties and a surprisingly spiritual look into ones motivations. The film truly takes its time to develop the rage, the character growth and the plotting that most films today shy away from.
Dev Patel is always outstanding and as Kid / Bobby / Monkey Man, he really delivers a vastly layered character that is pure in his quest for vengeance. I loved the growth of him being a not so great brawler that once an opportunity presents itself, he seeks out his target in a elaborate way that includes his environment. He was a creature of his environment and I loved that he was unrelenting. The amount of focus, pain, sadness and sometimes joy in his eyes as he reaches his ultimate goal was so immersive and haunting. Sharlto Copley is always great and as his fight handler, Tiger, he was the perfect showmen and scummy promoter. Pitobash was fun as the mid level gangster, Alphonso. I liked the small amount of chemistry between him and Bobby and how they sort of became friends amongst the madness. Vipin Sharma was great as the spiritual leader, Alpha. He represented the more internal struggle that Bobby goes through and his words of wisdom and sorta medicine man feeling to his character was cool. He was that classic motivator to the hero trope that ultimate helps re-ignite the fire within. Ashwini Kalsekar was truly a mean and powerful business woman as Queenie Kapoor. There was a special kind of venom to her that made her one of the most unlikable characters and shows her excellent acting skill is. Sikandar Kher was a brilliantly menacing villain as Rana Singh. The man was the scum of the earth and one of the most brutal men to ever grace the screen. I loved the fights between him and Bobby as they are truly the most personal, brutal and satisfying.
The score by Jed Kurzel was pulse pounding, ethereal and sometimes soothing in the flashback moments of innocence. It really kicks off in the fight scenes and in a specific portion during the finale fight sequence, I loved that it took a much more melodic tone instead of the traditional fast, electronica beat. I loved the gritty and grimy visuals of the film and especially how the action was shot. Yes, shakey cam is used, but it is the most steady shakey cam ever and nothing is truly lost in the impact of the hits or use of weapons. The tuk tuk chase sequence was awesome and fun. The sound design in the film was top notch and you feel the impact of the very meaty punches, slices and stabs along the way. This was a truly fun, dark and engaging blood soaked revenge story that knew the assignment and excelled with the right amount of spirituality added for extra credit. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
