A Reel Review: MONKEY MAN

In 2008, actor Dev Patel was introduced to the Western world in the Oscar-winning SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. This year, Patel steps in front of and behind the camera and introduces the East to the world in the one-two punch of MONKEY MAN. 

 

An anonymous man known only as Kid (Patel), spends his nights fighting in illegal combat under the moniker (and mask), of Monkey Man…which is his gateway into the dangerous underworld where he is seeking revenge for the death of his mother. 

 

Directed and co-written by Patel, MONKEY MAN on the surface is a standard revenge tale. Kid is looking to avenge his mother’s death, which came at the hands of a corrupt chief of police. Kid enters a high-rolling hotel under the guise of a kitchen worker, and makes his way closer to his enemy where he plots his kill. 

 

It’s a plot we’ve seen and heard of before, but not quite like this. Patel injects much of his Indian heritage into the film, drawing upon the folklore and legends that he grew up with to draw a line between the Kid and Eastern beliefs. There is a rich mythology hanging over everything and it really works. Patel is also not afraid to play with structure; when the film begins Kid is already well into his plotting, and the story of how he got there is brought to us in well-timed flashbacks…how his mother met her bloody end is not fully revealed until nearly the very end. 

 

On a broader scope, MONKEY MAN is taking place during a time of great political turmoil, and Kid’s actions ultimately have huge ramifications for a lot of people. Patel also takes a harsh look at India, drawing a line between the rich and the poor and India’s unwanted peoples.

 

Once the punches start flying, it is no-holds-barred. The action is bloody, brutal, and relentless; from the fighting ring to bathrooms to city streets…MONKEY MAN is a rapid-fire assault on the senses, and we can feel every punch. Patel puts in a remarkable performance, in both physical and emotional. Sharlto Copley shows up in a extended cameo as a ring announcer and is a hoot. 

These days there is a lot of talk about who should be directing what kind of movie, and those talks are usually based around gender or skin color. In MONKEY MAN, Patel proves that it’s not just about color or gender, but about culture, and makes this punch-out action flick a knockout. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it