Dev Patel puts in a career-best performance
Monkey Man is the new revenge movie written, directed by, and starring Dev Patel as an anonymous underground fighter who conceals his identity by wearing a monkey mask. It is essentially a very simple story: A man seeks revenge on the corrupt police chief who murdered his mother. But the setup is quite unique, as the man known as the Kid (or Monkey Man) rises through the ranks at a club to get access to the perpetrator. The tense build-up is perfectly paced, and once the reasons for the Kid’s actions become clear, the action is satisfyingly brutal and excellently choreographed.
Dev Patel burst onto the scene in Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning hit, Slumdog Millionaire, and this is world away from that movie. It shows what range Patel has as an actor, as well as his talent for directing, with its very trippy shots and interesting and different choices.
Sure, there’s a lot of inspiration from the John Wick movies, but interestingly, the protagonist doesn’t tend to kill with the use of a gun, in contrast to Wick, and actually fails in his attempts to use a gun, paving the way for a more earned brand of killing. It totally works for the movie and makes it stand out when compared to other entries in the revenge action thriller sub genre.
It also doesn’t pander to Hollywood’s obsession with leaving things open to endless sequels, with an ending that satisfies and feels complete. The setting is almost like a character in itself, as it takes place in the fictional, Mumbai-esque city of Yatana. It’s a cesspit of grime and corruption, and feels unlike anything we’ve ever seen before in a mainstream movie. It’s also worth mentioning a superb supporting performance from Sharlto Copley as Tiger, the man who hosts the underground fights that Patel’s anonymous character takes part in. He isn’t in the movie much, but when he does turn up, he steals the show.
Patel truly has evolved as a filmmaker with this stylish action romp, which will have you thinking about it long after the credits have rolled. Monkey Man is one of the best movies of 2024 so far!
Read More: Monkey Man Ending Explained
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Episode Rating - 9/10
9/10