When you look at Dev Patel, the first words that come to mind are ultraviolence. The English actor discovered in the series Skins then, in Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle had only let his brutal temperament appear in the confidential mas brilliant Green Knight by David Lowery. Monkey Manwhich he directed, reveals him as a vigilante drunk with vengeance and king of martial arts in a festival of action scenes worthy of the John Wick saga to which the film also refers.
“It’s true that you can think of the character created by Keanu Reeves when you see me,” explains the 33-year-old actor to 20 minutes. Kidd, who I play, seems nice and sweet like that but you shouldn’t look for him. ” Effectively. This cute boy transforms into the king of the ring as soon as he puts on a monkey mask and into a killing machine when he comes across those responsible for his mother’s death.
From Indian legends
“The contrast between the hero’s apparent submission to authority makes his metamorphosis all the more striking,” points out Dev Patel. He kills dozens of highly trained extras using everyday objects that come within his reach. “This is his originality: he is not satisfied with firearms. He is full of resources to achieve his goals because he was trained in the street school. » We will remember this scene in an elevator where Monkey Man slits the throat of an enemy with a knife he holds between his teeth. “I am a fan of action cinema as a spectator,” he admits. Bruce Lee, Korean films like Old Boy by Park Chan-wook had a definite influence on me. » Waiter, wrestler and vigilante, Monkey Man is all of these at the same time.
A life-size game
“Monkey Man is a bit of an imaginary friend who draws his essence from Indian legends,” notes Dev Patel. The film is not only about brutality, but also about the loss of spirituality and corruption in India. » This subtext, very present in meticulously choreographed scenes, brings originality to a film where gore is more often than not present in breathtaking fights. “That’s the childish side of my film,” jokes Dev Patel. When I played with figurines in the past, I mixed it all up a bit. The difference is that, now, my toys are the stuntmen and me, and we wanted to modernize the mythology that made me dream. »
Dev Patel at the helm
The actor did not spare himself. He even broke his hand in a fight. “I only got doubled for a few times in the ring,” he said. It’s me in all the sequences where I’m seen with my face uncovered. I didn’t set any limits on the violence, just to make sure I kept the audience’s attention. » We’re sure we’re amazed when the hero enlists transgender priests in traditional outfits to help him fight it out. Monkey Manit’s adrenaline on the big screen reserved for fans of wild scuffles.