Orlando_Gardner
Joined Mar 2004
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Reviews40
Orlando_Gardner's rating
A really enjoyable and at times moving actioner, with a good heart and enough social commentary to elevate it above the ordinary.
First time director (and kudos to him, this is a brilliant debut film) and star Dev Patel shows here that he is a director to watch and a bonified movies star. The boy has chops. Here he plays Monkey Man, an underground street fighter just striving to make a living in the slums of India but with a burning desire for vengeance. As the film progresses we are slowly introduced to both the target(s) of his vengeance and the reasons he is crippled by it.
You've seen this all before in a hundred films of its type but this has enough style and substance to it to stand out from the rest. The fights scenes (especially as the film progresses and our protagonist improves) are dynamic and kinetic, the camera never stops moving. But there are enough quiet, still, thoughtful moments here to raise this film above the usual chaff. The flashback scenes are filled with warmth and beauty and show a real eye as a director. The film uses music exceptionally well to add both gravitas and levity to scenes where needed.
With influences from western cinema, Indian cinema and especially 90s East Asian action flicks this film has enough pace and action for the fight movie fans but also enough of a story and heart for the general movie goer. You'll be rooting for our eponymous Monkey Man to get his vengeance. As I said a really excellent directorial debut from an already established young, proper movie star. The future really looks bright for Mr Patel.
First time director (and kudos to him, this is a brilliant debut film) and star Dev Patel shows here that he is a director to watch and a bonified movies star. The boy has chops. Here he plays Monkey Man, an underground street fighter just striving to make a living in the slums of India but with a burning desire for vengeance. As the film progresses we are slowly introduced to both the target(s) of his vengeance and the reasons he is crippled by it.
You've seen this all before in a hundred films of its type but this has enough style and substance to it to stand out from the rest. The fights scenes (especially as the film progresses and our protagonist improves) are dynamic and kinetic, the camera never stops moving. But there are enough quiet, still, thoughtful moments here to raise this film above the usual chaff. The flashback scenes are filled with warmth and beauty and show a real eye as a director. The film uses music exceptionally well to add both gravitas and levity to scenes where needed.
With influences from western cinema, Indian cinema and especially 90s East Asian action flicks this film has enough pace and action for the fight movie fans but also enough of a story and heart for the general movie goer. You'll be rooting for our eponymous Monkey Man to get his vengeance. As I said a really excellent directorial debut from an already established young, proper movie star. The future really looks bright for Mr Patel.
On seeing the IMDb rating I have to say I was a little confused. This is by no means a 5 star (IMDb rating) film. Ok so maybe it's not an 8 per se either but definitely not as low as 5. Then on reading the reviews I got a bit more of a picture on why the scores were maybe so low. I think it's because I have not seen the trailer. I went into this completely blind (other than dystopian near future and Kano) and enjoyed it immensely.
This isn't the urban dystopian thriller that maybe some expected. Instead it does what all good sci-fi does. Uses it's future setting as a platform to comment on some contemporary issues. The issues here being dispossession, disenfranchisement, capitalism, social disparity, gentrification and what all these things do to the people who live in poorer areas.
The story is a quiet one about a boy who loses his mother and is set adrift in the world. A world here which doesn't seem to have the social or community parachute that a boy in this situation needs. This is obviously a world that mirrors exactly where our own is going. Social support structures giving way to corporate greed and corporate needs. It's also a story about what this sort of environment does to men who grow up in these poorer environments.
It may be a bit slow paced and mediative for some people but I found that the pace let the story breathe. There's time to get to know the characters and their motivations. It's believable world building (of a future we're almost at) on an obvious low budget is commendable. Ably directed and phographed. And the acting from all involved is excellent, especially Kano and young Bannerman.
All in all I found it an enjoyable watch with a pertinent message about where continued capitalist growth will lead to greater disparity, and thus hostility, in our world. While also delivering a quiet and powerful story of a boy trying to find some connection in the world.
This isn't the urban dystopian thriller that maybe some expected. Instead it does what all good sci-fi does. Uses it's future setting as a platform to comment on some contemporary issues. The issues here being dispossession, disenfranchisement, capitalism, social disparity, gentrification and what all these things do to the people who live in poorer areas.
The story is a quiet one about a boy who loses his mother and is set adrift in the world. A world here which doesn't seem to have the social or community parachute that a boy in this situation needs. This is obviously a world that mirrors exactly where our own is going. Social support structures giving way to corporate greed and corporate needs. It's also a story about what this sort of environment does to men who grow up in these poorer environments.
It may be a bit slow paced and mediative for some people but I found that the pace let the story breathe. There's time to get to know the characters and their motivations. It's believable world building (of a future we're almost at) on an obvious low budget is commendable. Ably directed and phographed. And the acting from all involved is excellent, especially Kano and young Bannerman.
All in all I found it an enjoyable watch with a pertinent message about where continued capitalist growth will lead to greater disparity, and thus hostility, in our world. While also delivering a quiet and powerful story of a boy trying to find some connection in the world.
I'm not gonna talk about the film itself much. Personally I loved it and it's a wonderful bookend to West's previous film X. Whether he had it in mind to form a sort of diptich between the two films I don't know but Pearl not only managed to be a great film.in it's own right but also manages to elevate X from its mere slasher foundation.
The main reason I'm writing this is to talk about Mia Goth. This is a scintillating performance. She absolutely vibrates on the screen. It's funny but she reminds me of Nicolas Cage. She give everything here, it's such and honest, open and committed performance. Just watch her sililoquay to Mitzy and the climax of the film. It's a staggering 5-10 mins. She manages to be vulnerable, childlike, longing, whimsical and above all menacing all at the same time. The camera never leaves her and it's all the better for it. West must have been holding his breath filming it. It's solid gold.
I'll stop there as I'm borderline simping here. Yes, I realise this film may not be everyone's cup of tea. Some will find it slow and maybe a little boring. Others though who will give it a chance (and please watch X first as they are undoy6a pair) will see a daring film made by a directir willing to take big risks and an actor who trusts the director to help make them shine. Goth just gets better and better.
The main reason I'm writing this is to talk about Mia Goth. This is a scintillating performance. She absolutely vibrates on the screen. It's funny but she reminds me of Nicolas Cage. She give everything here, it's such and honest, open and committed performance. Just watch her sililoquay to Mitzy and the climax of the film. It's a staggering 5-10 mins. She manages to be vulnerable, childlike, longing, whimsical and above all menacing all at the same time. The camera never leaves her and it's all the better for it. West must have been holding his breath filming it. It's solid gold.
I'll stop there as I'm borderline simping here. Yes, I realise this film may not be everyone's cup of tea. Some will find it slow and maybe a little boring. Others though who will give it a chance (and please watch X first as they are undoy6a pair) will see a daring film made by a directir willing to take big risks and an actor who trusts the director to help make them shine. Goth just gets better and better.