By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Since his breakout role in the 2008 Academy Award-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire,"
Dev Patel has carved out a stellar career most notably with the critically acclaimed movies "Lion" and "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel."
Now, in his directorial debut, Patel takes the helm of
“Monkey Man.” This blood-soaked revenge thriller not only features Patel as the lead actor but also showcases his skills as a co-writer and producer alongside Oscar winner Jordan Peele.
Amid the relentless violence throughout "Monkey Man," there is an intriguing social and political story—although it occasionally veers off course--which offers viewers a glimpse into India's culture and folklore. In fact, "Monkey Man" draws inspiration from the legend of Hanuman--the "Monkey God"-- a Hindu deity known for strength, loyalty, and courage.
In “Monkey Man,” Patel portrays Bobby, a man driven by a thirst for vengeance. As a child, he witnessed the brutal murder of his mother by Mumbai’s ruling class. Fed up with the rich ignoring the plight of the poor, Bobby becomes an advocate for those who fear to speak up for their rights. His mission: restore civility in a society plagued by corruption.
Despite scraping by as a boxer in an underground fight club run by the shady Tiger (played by the always terrific Sharlto Copley, "Beast"), Bobby manages to secure a job at a posh hotel/nightclub by convincing the feisty brothel manager Queenie Kapoor (Ashwini Kalsekar, "Merry Christmas") that he's a hard worker and will do jobs others won't.
His real motive? To infiltrate the elite circles frequented by corrupt figures, including a crooked cop (Sikander Kher, "Monica O My Darling") and a greedy politician (Makrand Deshpande, "Spy").
Fortunately, Bobby becomes close to Alphonso (Pitobash), a comical hustler who gives him the skinny on all the important players. As the film unfolds, Bobby’s journey becomes a kill fest, pitting him against equally skilled fighters.
Patel, who actually has a Black Belt in Taekwondo, gets to strut his stuff during some of the daring fight sequences and it's mighty impressive to watch.
Clearly, the 33-year-old actor has studied and learned from action dramas like "John Wick," "Jason Bourne" and even "The Raid." But, make no mistake, Patel puts his signature stamp on "Monkey Man" and it is flat out bananas, a deliriously blood thirsty, wild ride.
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Look At This Trailer For
"MONKEY MAN"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
