Monkey Man

[Drunk Monk]

Monkey Man. April. Directed by and starring Dev Patel.

Another film made just for DM.

fair call. I luved this. 

It's got a lot going for it. Set during Diwali (when we were in India) there's great mythic references to the Ramayana. There's engaging storytelling that goes a lot of places, from abject looks at poverty to hallucinations, with comments on class, cults, religion, and politics. There's an astonishingly brilliant canoe from one of my favorite musicians. The soundtrack is pitch perfect all the way. 

Then there's the choreo. The ultravi is nuts. Super sanguineous, brutal, grisly, gruesome fun - got an genuine 'oh shit!' out loud from me at one scene. The choreo is brilliant, kinetic, complex oners, lots of breakage, Dev totally sells it. Remember he was a TKD champ who competed on the international level. He's got skills. And he delivers. Much of the action and stunts are him. And when the action takes off, it's ballistic and balletic. The first action sequence starts around 40 mins in and the movie just explodes. What a ride. 

Totally D00M recommended (but not for the faint of heart). All D00M should see 'another film made just for DM.'

Seen on Peacock.

[thatguy]

There's an astonishingly brilliant canoe from one of my favorite musicians.

Tell us more about the brilliant canoe!

--tg

[King Bob]

TG, You're the one with the brilliant canoe - all that interlace carving.

I gave ours away years ago to a friend's daughter's boyfriend.. Unfortunately I later found out that one of our close friends wanted a canoe; I wish I could have given it to him.

[Drunk Monk]

monkey canoe is a damn dirty euphemism 

more films need to be made just for DM

[thatguy]

monkey canoe is a damn dirty euphemism 

more films need to be made just for DM

Like “a little man in a boat”?

—tg

[Drunk Monk]

More like motor boat but instead of a motor, it's a monkey.

Srsly tho, Monkey Man is a tasty bit of ultravi.

[Greg]

Now on Amazon Prime.

I enjoyed. Really great atmosphere throughout. The fight scenes were totally over the top. I'm glad nothing bad happened to the dog. I saw a lot of echoes of what is going on in our country as well as in India. The fighting nuns scene made me chuckle. I really liked the trans nun/abbess/abbot and her relationship to Shiva. I thought the 30 days to super hero fighter was a bit contrived, but I'll allow. Although there was finally a touch of humor with all the woman watching a shirtless Dev training.

I will second DM's recommendation.

Cournter point: The Queen left about twenty minutes in. When I came to be later, she asked if the film ever got less depressing.

[thatguy]

I found it OK, but not particularly great, in spite of looking great. A revenge film, like Death Wish with a lot of other themes thown in. I think some of the humor, eg the tuk-tuk could have been stronger. The starkness of poverty, was truly depressing. Points for the ax fight. I agree with Greg - punching a bag of rice to a tabla soundtrack seemed to imbibe Bobby with many more defensive skills that I would have expected. 

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

Interesting point about the transition from ordinary to superhero. In general, this happens very quickly in Indian cinema. I think it has something to do with their cultural perception of how gods and the Rivne Al can incarnate in any being, and that possession is instant. They don’t dwell on the shock an individual might have from such a metamorphosis. It just happens and they move on. 

Diwali falls on Halloween this year.

[Greg]

YOU SHOULD BE THERE!

[Drunk Monk]

where? the cheese shop? 

why yes. i'm outta cheese right now.

[Greg]

EEWWW! Once is enough.