“Monster”

May 7th, 2021 Posted by Review 0 thoughts on ““Monster””

Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars as Steve Harmon, a bright student living in Harlem who is in the wrong place at the wrong time and is associated with the wrong people. A series of events unjustly lands this promising youth in jail, accused of murdering a store owner. It’s a fight for his life with the cards stacked against him and the primary card is the fact that he’s Black.

This is a familiar story both in reality and in film, but this story, based on the book by Walter Dean Myers, is told from a unique perspective and through the eyes of Steve, a filmmaker in the making. The story unfolds in both current day and in memory, narrated by Steve as if reading or creating a screenplay. He sets the stage, describes the characters, and begins his harrowing tale.

From the opening scene, we have a glimpse into the tragic events that await us which keeps us on the edge of our seats. This stressful tension builds throughout the film as we better understand Steve, his upbringing, and his school life. We also see the prejudice within the community and in our justice system as we realize the burden of responsibility lies almost solely upon overworked public defendants. This character, Katherine O’Brien (Jennifer Ehle), a reserved yet compassionate woman, is Steve’s only hope—an arduous task that is the difference between freedom and incarceration with emotional death for this boy.

Harrison Jr. deftly delivers an emotionally loaded performance, never over the top, but always true to his character. This young man never disappoints in any of this films and “Monster” is no exception to the rule. His strength and vulnerability as Steve rings true throughout this entire heart wrenching tale until the bitter end which leaves you exhausted and in tears.

Ehle’s reserved performance balances the story eloquently as it gives us insight into the possibilities of the criminal justice system. While Jennifer Hudson’s seemingly directionless performance as Steve’s mom is quizzical, the remainder of the cast brings Myer’s book and screenwriters Janece Shaffer and Colen C. Wiley’s words to life.

“Monster” takes us into the ugliness of prejudice, poverty, and the criminality associated with it all. Mandler’s skillful direction of Harrison Jr. and an understanding of Myer’s novel make this a film to remember—and maybe to better understand our current times.

3 1/2 Stars

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