Dev Patel is Monkey Man in a bold Hindi revenge picture. Although it is not a Bollywood production. Despite being a Hindi movie, Dev Patel has stepped away from the musically inclined films so beloved by Indian audiences and the rest of the world.
Patel, who started out on British television in the critically acclaimed, and much criticized Skins is a UK product. His bona fides include: Lion, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Slumdog Millionaire, to name but a few of his impressive credits.
The Story
Kid (Patel) has a loving childhood. His mother tells him the tale of the Hanuman (monkey man) and his life seems pretty good. Fast forward to the present and Kid is grown. He fights (to lose) to earn a living. He discovers a way to find access to the people who killed his mother.
The story behind the story (Monkey Man’s childhood tragedy.) serves to set up this character. Kid, it seems, fights to lose as a sort of training. As the film progresses he gets beaten to a pulp.
Repeatedly.
And yet.
He rises each time to fight again. His punishing journey makes the viewer wince. His character has been called “the Indian John Wick.” It is somewhat apt, although, like Wick and Timex he can “take a licking and keep on ticking,” the death that sets off the chain of events is his mum, not a pet.
There are also no intricate shooting sequences featuring a double tap pistol finish. There is, however, some brilliantly brutal fight sequences. These all show just how bloody hand to hand combat can be.
The Cast and Characters
Sharlto Copley is Tiger. A fight promoter who may be good at his job, but would completely suck as a mate, uses Monkey Man to earn money. Tiger makes out but stiff’s Kid, aka Monkey Man.
On a side note here: Copley has got to be one of the busiest actors going at the moment. He is in four movies at the time of this review and has an upcoming feature about to go through post production. Considering the South African actor hit it big way back in 2009 with District 9, he has continued to be continually on our screens. This is a good thing.
Sikander Kher is Rana, the corrupt and evil Police Commander who murders Kid’s mother. Ashwini Kalsekar is Queenie his wife, another individual who is as evil as he.
Makrand Deshpande is Baba Shakti the “holy man” behind the corruption.
Also present in Monkey Man are India’s Hijras; the officially recognized 3rd gender, Kid is rescued by a Hijra; Alpha (Vipin Sharma) when his mother is murdered. These third gender warriors step up to help Kid in the film’s finale.
The rest of the cast include many from Bollywood studios. All are excellent in their field and all bring something to the table.
But leave us not be deceived.
Monkey Man is not about the acting so much as it is about the fighting.
The Fighting
The fight scenes are gloriously brutal. Kudos to fight choreographer Brahim Chab (Who also played King Kobra.) and fight coordinator Udeh Nans who (No pun intended.) knocked this one out of the park.
The Creators
Dev Patel came up with the story. (It took him eight years to write.) He then co wrote the screenplay with John Collee and Paul Angunawela. Patel also directed the feature. *Side note: Patel directed and “fought” in the feature with a broken hand.*
Cinematography was down to Sharone Meir who absolutely nailed this one and the editing was done by Joe Galdo, Tim Murrell, and Dávid Jancsó. Their work made this a visual feast.
The verdict
Mike’s Film Talk give this one a full 5 stars. Patel shines as the titular hero. The fight scenes feel almost as beautiful as any Bollywood musical number and the revenge, best served cold, is spot on.
In terms of score, the film’s music was a mixture of cultures and spot on mixes of genres.
Monkey Man is now available online via Amazon, Vudu, YouTube et al, to rent or buy. In keeping with 2024’s theme of choreographed violence, Monkey Man delivers a winner.
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