User reviews

The film is okay, but the lead is superior to it. The cast in general is superb, but the writing is not. Others here have made excellent observations, so I won't spend time on that other than the annoyance of many questions never resolved. I felt this is a case for reasonable doubt all along, yet never addressed in the narrative. It's not a bad film, just not great. I do want to celebrate the lead actor, Kelvin Harrison: a striking and brilliantly talented young actor whose career I will be following closely.

This is one of those movies where it's all about the execution. The story is something that we've seen before, but it's the way they execute this story that makes it an original watch. Because our main character is a future movie director, he guides us through the story with a very interesting point of view. The way he narrates the story might be a little on the nose at times, but it does give a very fresh perspective on a familiar story. Something that also made a good impression were the performances. Especially Kelvin Harris Jr. Gives a very good performance that shows the heartwarming, but also the darker moments of his teenage life. The direction is something that was a bit questionable at times. The way it uses the flashbacks and forward where easy to follow, but a bit out of place at times. There were also some side stories that didn't really go anywhere and little errors that kept me out of the story, but it did bring it home in the end. I became very invested in the story and that made the ending very nerve racking. All in all, a familiar story with a very interesting point of view.

'Monster' refers to the opening statement made by the prosecutor and how he chooses to label Steve, - Kelvin Harrison Jr- based on a presumed guilt that isn't just a result of his position within the courtroom but also because of Steve's race, the idea that a 17-year-old black male is somehow inherently barbaric.

It's the same assumption that's led to countless state-sanctioned killings or imprisonments, based less on facts of the case and more the fear that surrounds it and Monster smartly avoids looking at the frustration of the political to focus on the horror of the personal. Just how terrifying would every stage of this process be for a teen?

Aside from the harrowing practicalities of life in prison, how would an already fractured time mentally effect an adolescent. Then shatter under this new lens? How would one then start to view one's self?

The trick for Steve and his lawyer (Jennifer Ehle) is to turn him into a human for the members of the jury, rather than the stereotype as they see him.

The same applies for first-time director Anthony Mandler, working against members of the audience who might arrive to the film, and the situation, with similar 'baggage'

A thoroughly enjoyable movie. I've given this 7/10.

This is an excellent movie. Good script. Skilled -restrained-measured acting but talented cast. The story depicts the nightmare feared by so many parents and kids caught in complicated communities. Watch it.

Despite the star-studded cast of vastly talented, and most times undervalued artists, what I love most about Monster is that the film paid its true creator all the praises. Based on Dean Myers' book, the screenwriter allowed the author to speak for and through the film, and to the point where watching it, at times, felt as if I was in a small book store with my eyes closed, listening to one of the greatest writers in American history paint an image of a simple life in Harlem that could easily have been my own.

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I've written this a thousand times, but I'll repeat it once again: I absolutely love one-location movies. I don't know exactly if most of Monster is actually developed inside the courtroom, but it genuinely feels like it. In fact, I believe every scene outside this place is told through extended flashbacks with narration from Steve Harmon about what happened before and on the day of the crime. Since the protagonist is a film student, his voice-over contains descriptions often seen in screenplays, which it's pleasant at first, but then gets overdone.

The trial is definitely the most captivating part of the story. Anthony Mandler and his team of writers demonstrate perfectly some real-life aspects of how the law works. From the well-known emotional disconnect of (some) lawyers with their clients to the prejudiced treatment of people of color, the courtroom sequences keep the movie interesting until its somewhat predictable, unsurprising conclusion. However, despite the exceptional performances from everyone involved, especially Kelvin Harrison Jr., the case itself wraps up with unanswered questions and some messages lost in the transmission.

While the viewers spend the entire runtime following Steve being a good son, brother, and friend, the other Black characters being accused don't receive the same treatment. At one point in the film, someone says "you must consider him innocent until evidence proves him guilty", but this only applies to the protagonist since everyone else is presumed to be guilty from the get-go without the audience ever seeing or hearing their point of view or knowing why they committed that crime. Furthermore, even though the viewers get to know the verdict, Steve's true impact on the murder remains questionable due to the last couple of flashbacks, which begs the question: "are we really supposed to root for him?"

Rating: C.

It seems quite obvious where the movie leads at first. It does take a few turns and twists along the way. The main thing is how certain people are viewed though - based on the color of their skin as one example that is being explored here. You may feel that this is being a bit one dimensional, but as I already stated there is more to it than at first sight (no pun intended) and also unfortunately as cliche as it may sound, it is bitter reality ... still to this day.

Having said all that, the movie has some very actors in it ... and some very dramatic moments to say the least. Many times if a colored kid is being singled out and made responsible for a crime, they plead for a bargain ... which is anything but that, especially if they are innocent. This goes to the court ... which can turn out to be even worse than taking a plea deal ... what will happen here? Well I am not going to tell you, you have to watch if you want to know ... but be prepared for everything ...

3 out of 5 stars.

Strong plot about a guy who gets accused of robbing and murdering a store clerk. Great performances. But dull and tedious direction that gets boring after a while.

Why do movies so regularly show the murder suspect going to trial, of all things, nearly immediately after arrest? The average time for this particular situation is two years or so before full trial. Our "hero" would have had several months in jail, not prison, leading up to it. After a conviction he'll do his time in prison. It's that simple, why not hire a competent consultant or listen to their "consulting", you know, what you pay them for?

And a lone detective dressed like a comic book investigator making the arrest? Absolutely laughable!

The gray colored courtroom looked like either a cartoon or Star Trek simulation room, I can't decide which. Ridiculous decision, and yes I get the artistic angle since they were pushing it so hard, but still bad. The narration even mentioned it, referring to justice being black or white, no gray. Then it's pure gray, huh?

Wright, Nelson, and Victor all had excellent performances as expected, rest were meh.

Left me bored for the greater part of the running time. I also find the court scenes failed to establish a suspensful buildup to the movie's ending.

Production: Good script. Okay editing. Some of the scenes were a little jarring to the narrative. Good casting. Sets look realistic. 6/10.

On screen: Good to decent acting. Most of the actors are believable, but sometimes their actions seemed unnatural. Good cinematography. The artsy esthetic works for this film. 7/10.

Content/Impact: The telling of this story is necessary to combat the racism that black people, especially young black men, face today. The humanity that is shown throughout the film of black youth and how racism can write their own narrative is profound. Not only did it illustrate this through the main character Steve Harmon but the fact that it was shown through one of the "antagonists" William King shows us the complexity of black people meaning that black people are people too just like everyone else breaking the stereotype that black people are a monolith. 10/10.

Overall: Solid book to film adaptation needed in the world we live in today. 7.6/10.

Interesting story about a good kid getting caught up in a bad situation. The voiceover was a bit heavy handed at times. I didn't understand the decision to have Kelvin Harrison Jr tell us how tough he was finding prison but barely show it. I didn't feel as strong a connection to Harrison Jr's character as I should have. There were good performances from the entire cast. The best scenes were when the actors got a chance to show emotion. The aspiring filmmaker plot didn't really deliver. The girlfriend's scenes with Harrison Jr were good but she doesn't have much to do post arrest. Ultimately the film tells a realistic story but leaves a lot to be desired.

It's a good legal drama with a well-told story and Kelvin Harrison Jr.'s acting is good; I recommend it.

Frustrating because you spend the whole movie screaming at the screen, wondering how he can even be in the position he is in, and why his lawyer isn't doing more about it.

Did he? Didn't he? Who is telling the truth and who is avoiding it? Do you play the US courtroom game or try to tell the truth and suffer as a result?

In the end we don't get the whole reveal. We don't know the interaction that went on when he collected his bike, and that is key. We don't see his CCTV. Also key. Obvious questions are just not asked.

So in the end, a good movie because it sucks you in to the situation and makes you worry about the sad situation that, if you woz black in America, could be you.

Please watch. It's one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. Great cinematography. Gritty lighting. Tense script. Oscar winning acting across the board. Social message that gets you thinking. An important story, well told.

Its all avout how a film maker see the worlds. Nice story.

Not enough was said about the peer pressure involved in this culture. Where was this in the defense? While I could feel for the main character, it wasn't even clear as to what really went down in this crime.

ASAP ROCKY was great. Without him I would have enjoyed this movie even less.

It may not be the perfect movie however I think the message got through, I think the movie was outstanding and I think everyone should watch it... yes there are a few flaws, but not noticeable unless you're trying to find them.

What is there to like about this film? Okay, the main actor, he is promising, for him there is one star. Everything else got on my nerves, the game of good versus evil, the implausible plea of the prosecutor as well as the warm-hearted posturing of the lawyer. I don't really believe anything in this film, nor do I understand what Steve has to do with the other guys, who are intellectually inferior to him and belong to a rather stereotypical kind of bad guy from the street. And since I'm older than the classic target audience of such films, neither dialogues nor the annoying behavior of the street guys convinced me, just as I couldn't get anything out of the whole story. Pale, a chaotic mishmash of narrative styles, not for me.