The A-Listers Talk About Monkey Man (2024)

From the couple who see a lot of movies because they have AMC A-List.

Patrick: The A-Listers are back! We're talking about a new movie - and one that's not a concert film! And to top it all off, Monkey Man is awesome. Taylor, tell me about your relationship with Dev Patel. 

Taylor: I first discovered Dev as most Tumblr-obsessed tweens did -watching Skins (UK) while sailing the sevens seas. I was instantly charmed by him and his talent, and I will watch anything he's in because I'm never disappointed. But Monkey Man has propelled him into a whole other stratosphere!

Patrick: This film is his directorial debut. He also co-wrote and produced the film, as well as, of course, taking on the lead role. I'm not sure which of those things is most impressive. That this is his debut? Or that he had this story in him? Or that he could get this jacked?

Taylor: I'm actually speechless about it all, which is why this A-Listers column has daunted me. I knew he was an exceptionally talented actor, but he has taken his craft and dedication to another level. His performance in Slumdog Millionaire walked so his performance in Monkey Man could run. But you're totally right, who knew that he had these chops? Either he's just been sitting around with a deep well of untapped talent and potential, or he has been working his ass off on and off-screen to build this muscle, literally and figuratively. Maybe both? Impressive doesn't begin to cut it.

Patrick: It's a powerful film with a lot of soul - I want to get that out of the way. But it does feel like a debut. It feels like a movie made from all of the movies that he loves. Hell, it even name-drops John Wick. As I referenced in my review of House of 1000 Corpses (another debut feature), Elvis Costello once said, "You have 20 years to write your first album and you have six months to write your second one." This is a movie made from a lifetime of film love. It's no wonder that Jordan Peele felt a connection to it. It's exactly his kind of thing.

Taylor: That is a really perfect way to describe it. The references are aplenty. It's easter-eggy. But still, it feels distinctly personal and fresh. There are a lot of debuts that pay homage to a bunch of different films and genres, but I also think, at times, those debuts can still feel disjointed in their own way. We spoke about this with Bottle Rocket - it has chops, it has heart, but it doesn't all completely come together. And that's generally fine of a debut! I'm so struck by how successful this is while still feeling like a debut, as you said. A filmmaker can be an encyclopedia of film knowledge and still lack the vision and talent. 

Patrick: But, to constructively criticize, some things need to get worked out technically. If the film's painful, space-jumping editing was a choice, I don't believe it was the right one. If it wasn't a choice, he needs new editors. I was also expecting...more action? It was well-choreographed (despite the editing) and I appreciate the gore (that shit looks like it hurt, which is a disappointing rarity in so much action - this delivers the pain), but the action setpieces felt like an afterthought. The spiritual elements and plenty of flashbacks probably make it a better movie, but I was still hoping that it would build to more. That seems to be why Netflix dropped it - they didn't know what to do with it. Universal just decided to bill it as John Wick and I don't know about anybody else, but that did a disservice to my viewing experience. 

Taylor: To you, it was a disservice, but for me, it made it all the better. I don't feel like it lacked in action. Maybe if I had seen the John Wick movies and had prepped myself for that, I would have felt ripped off. But going in blind and surrendering to the experience made it so thrilling. For me, it had the perfect balance of inventive storytelling, killer (no pun intended) action, and, most importantly, heart. 

Patrick: Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want to find myself in that bathroom.

Taylor: I would say I agree...but I fear that I'm so down bad for Dev Patel that I would simply take him anywhere, anytime. He may still have room to grow in some areas of his work, but this could be a peak of his hotness. Though, maybe it's only up from here in all respects. A girl can certainly dream!

Patrick: In more ways than one, you have to wonder what's next for him now. Do you make another action movie? And decide that's the next phase of your career? Do you pull a 180? Does Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw (and therefore Universal) give him a proverbial blank check? Do you never make another movie and go down as a one-and-done? (Did you know that Charles Laughton only directed The Night of the Hunter? How amazing. Did you also know that they are remaking it? And no, that's not a joke.)

Taylor: I truly don't have a prediction. Him making a film of this caliber was already a bit of a wildcard for me. I can definitely see a relationship between him and Peele form, but people may have their own opinions on whether that is a good thing or not. After all, many would argue Peele peaked with his debut. That is the tricky thing with phenomenal debuts: how do you not compare everything else to it? It's tricky, and who knows, it may dissuade him from jumping right back into the director's chair, but all I know is that whenever his next project comes around... I'M SAT. 

Patrick: One parting thought - we start so many of these columns by documenting the nonsense we see at our local AMCs. And there has been plenty of nonsense lately. Too much, in fact. But not only did nothing silly or annoying happen in this screening, the crowd was just...dead. I would have taken some shenanigans for a lively crowd! This is the kind of movie that warrants it!

Taylor: Our crowd was quiet. There were many moments when I had a physical impulse to exclaim something but repressed it because it was just so silent. I even started crying twice and forced myself not to sit with it and reel it back because I felt like someone would see and think I was being too emotional. That's silly. I shouldn't let other people impact my reaction to a movie, but I'm human! This may have been a 5-star movie for me if I had seen it with a crowd that loved it as much as I did.

Patrick: If that's not a recommendation, I don't know what is. 

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