‘Monkey Man’ is a Bold and Risky Directorial Debut We Rarely See Anymore
Dev Patel might be our new, unlikely yet enthralling action star no one saw coming
If you followed Dev Patel’s acting career since he showed up in the cult classic British dramedy Skins, you know he’s not exactly the action-hero type. If anything, he was a horny comic relief in that series with a touch of vulnerability — the latter which he carried through nearly every one of his roles so far. After playing Slumdog Millionaire's Jamal, one thing became evident: he's got leading man quality, no doubt about it. Still, I couldn't, in a million years, imagine him as an action star, let alone his first film (as writer-director) be an energetic, uncompromising, and stylish punch-'em-up with a conscience — something that Danny Boyle would make if he was into action films.
But I guess that’s on me, not being familiar with the actor’s knowledge, aspirations, and undying love for the genre, which he grew up obsessing over since he was a little boy. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Patel shared that he fell in love with the action cinema of various countries (including South Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, India, and Hollywood) at a very young age.
And as you watch Monkey Man — especially its first, relentlessly rapid and fluid hour — that makes perfect sense. All those influences are at center stage, fuelling his enthusiasm, and because of them, the movie never feels like a pure Hollywood product. More like a hybrid that evokes films like Gareth Evans's The Raid 1-2 or Timo Tjahjanto’s The Night Comes for Us, among other genre favorites. Yet Monkey Man hardly comes across as pastiche (or homage) but a feature that’s very much its own thing. Comparisons can be made (it's not a coincidence that a character mentions John Wick), but Patel’s singular vision doesn’t entirely fit into one subgenre or another, even if in its essence it's a high-concept revenge flick. And that’s a good thing.
And I’d argue that Patel’s perseverance through all the obstacles he had to overcome definitely elevates his troubled debut. It's pretty common these days when an actor tries his hand at writing and directing, but you don’t often see them making a passion project as their first attempt. It happens, but it’s a rarity. At first, Patel didn’t even want to direct or write Monkey Man. He just had an idea stuck in his head that he wanted to come to life. He reached out to Neill Blomkamp (they worked together on Chappie), who sort of opened his eyes and said that he needed to direct this movie.
According to Patel, it took about ten years until his efforts came to fruition. Multiple factors could've easily led him to give up on it, and nobody would've blamed him. The delays on account of the pandemic, financing problems, set issues, Netflix eventually backing out, and the number of physical injuries he suffered while making it. He accidentally broke his toes and then shattered his hand during shooting, and even contracted an eye infection during a fight scene shot in a dirty bathroom. Considering all that and the fact that this was his first attempt at filmmaking (apart from two shorts), many other actors would’ve abandoned this cursed production and walked out of the door as fast as possible. But Patel was committed, and his determination is palpable in every frame, especially in the fight sequences.
All the blood, sweat, and physical toll that the shooting has taken on him are felt here, both metaphorically and literally. He's in every molecule of Monkey Man: whether it's an elevator fight where he puts a knife into a guy's neck with his teeth or an emotional moment where his eyes dwell with tears of finally letting go of the pain that put him on the road of vengeance. It's brutal, raw, and yet somehow spiritually liberating and satisfying, too. And even if you don’t agree or relate to the political (and cultural) stance it takes, you can't deny it's something that action movies generally don't get to accomplish. Monkey Man's DNA is different, and Patel never lets you forget that.
I must admit, I didn’t know anything about the struggles and filming issues that nearly tanked Monkey Man before I watched it, and I was still impressed with its dynamic style, unique tone, and smooth effectiveness. But now I also have a tremendous respect for Patel for completing it. And don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s a masterpiece — its flaws reveal themselves in the second half that at times feels tumultuous, uneven, and overexplaining — but to start this strong, with a physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding action film to make your introduction as a filmmaker, is a rare achievement.
With such surprising potential as an action film aficionado, only at 34, Dev Patel might be the one who can carry the torch in the mainstream after the genre's current lifeblood icons like Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, and Jason Statham retire. I'm unsure if he has that kind of ambition for the future, but personally, I'd be quite excited to see where he can take us.
You can rent or buy Monkey Man on Amazon Prime.
Last week, I reviewed The Big Door Prize’s Season 2 for Paste, one of my favorite little shows from last year. I also wrote a personal essay about The Big Smoke and the 11 years I spent living in it, and why I feel I need a big change now.
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I'm dying to see this.