Do You Know Any of Their Names?
4 / 5
Directed by Dev Patel.
An anonymous young man unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systematically victimize the poor and powerless.
Monkey Man is soaked in tradition and fuelled by rage. A ferocious debut by Dev Patel that was almost lost (and dropped) to Netflix before Jordan Peele saved the film and convinced Universal to give this the big screen experience it deserves.
You can feel the grime, blood and sweat on every frame. The action leaves you gasping for air, taking inspiration from modern fast-paced and long-established precise fight choreography. It feels like a true love letter to action cinema that isn't afraid to take a punch.
Inspired by the Hindu legend of Hanuman who symbolises loyalty, strength and discipline, the film isn't afraid to shine a light on the caste system in India and the cultural exploitation that comes with it. Using this as the spark cements this larger-than-life film in reality and gives the story, as well as the main character's journey, an extra level of passion and spirit.
There were some issues with pacing in the first half of the film but fortunately, this is forgiven by the time the insane final act arrives. Monkey Man has arrived out of nowhere and won't be forgotten in a hurry.
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