Dev Patel puts the spotlight on India Monkey man
Dev Patel it’s not the first that comes to mind when we talk about action cinema. However, it is in this genre that the actor decided to take his first steps as a director Monkey man. A first feature film co-written with John Collee and Paul Angunawela, who highlights India, its culture and its Bollywood talents (starring Sikandar Kher, Pitobash and Sobhita Dhulipala), referring to the current political situation. In fact, it is difficult not to think of the power in power since 2014 and led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, involved in recent years in the illegal demolition of Muslim houses and places of worship when the past of the hero embodied by Dev Patel is discovered.
We immediately understand that the boy lost everything when the police razed his home village following Baba Shakti’s orders, a ruthless guru which has control over the Indian government. And he is not the only victim since, years later, other minorities are still in the sights of the authorities, such as the transgender community. Now an adult, the man, who calls himself “Bobby”, prepares his revenge. A personal revenge, which will also become that of those left behind.
Obviously we have no doubts about the intentions of Dev Patel, who wants it too honor your culture (the British actor is of Indian descent) in an authentic way, rather than highlighting a country’s institutional problems, convening an action cinema he admires. Even as a director he doesn’t play intelligently, but he demonstrates a sincerity in his approach that needs to be recognized. However, despite his efforts and his precision in front of the camera, Dev Patel fails to completely convince Monkey man.
An action film without nervousness
The fault in the first place lies with a heavy and predictable story, approached with the subtlety ofa production by Luc Besson and EuropaCorp – Guy Colombian (2011). This is evidenced, for example, by the use of flashbacks. To which is added a small vibration Jean-Claude Van Damme who could have worked if Monkey man it wasn’t that serious. Like the ridiculous formation of Bobby hitting a bag of rice following the rhythm of a percussionist with his tabla. Stretching his film over two long hours, we get the feeling that Dev Patel would like to go beyond the B-list phase, but it has too many features. Monkey man lacks pace and energyeven if it wants to be a nervous action film.
Of course, Dev Patel finally lets loose in his finale, with violent and bloody action – in good memory of The raid 2 (2014), but without coming close to Gareth Evans’ film. It is also necessary to highlight the director’s attempts at staging. Even if not everything is always successful and legible, he deserves credit for his way of capturing violence through camera movements and editing, as well as through the actors’ performances. The last act of Monkey man this is, for us, much more satisfying than most of the action scenes in the saga John Wickwhich we considered rather overrated on this point. Still insufficient make this revenge film, which doesn’t worry about moral issues, a memorable work.
Monkey man by Dev Patel, in theaters from April 17, 2024. Above is the trailer. Find all our trailers here.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
