Watch Monsters and Men

Monsters and Men is a powerful 2018 drama that explores the complexities of race, police brutality, and social justice in America. It is the debut feature film from director Reinaldo Marcus Green, and it stars John David Washington, Anthony Ramos, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. The film follows three intertwined stories that take place in Brooklyn, New York. In the first story, we meet Manny (Ramos), a young man who captures the killing of an unarmed black man by a white police officer on his phone. The footage goes viral, and Manny is torn between choosing to reveal what he witnessed and the backlash that may follow. Meanwhile, we also meet Dennis (Washington), a black police officer who struggles to reconcile his duty to serve and protect with the systemic racism and violence that he witnesses and participates in on the job.

The third story centers around Zyrick (Harrison Jr.), a promising high school athlete who is forced to confront his own beliefs about power, privilege, and race when he is stopped and frisked by the police for no apparent reason. Through these three perspectives, the film explores the impact of systemic racism on individuals and communities, and it questions the role that each of us plays in maintaining and challenging these structures.

One of the most striking things about Monsters and Men is how skillfully it crafts a sense of urgency and tension. From the very beginning, the film feels like a ticking time bomb, with the audience waiting for the inevitable moment of violence or confrontation. Yet, rather than relying on flashy action scenes or contrived suspense, Green builds tension through the subtle nuances of his characters' interactions and the quiet moments in between.

The film is shot with a distinctive visual style that emphasizes its themes of observation and surveillance. The camera is often positioned as if it's capturing footage from a bystander's perspective, with handheld shots that feel raw and immediate. At the same time, Green also incorporates static shots from surveillance cameras and security footage, highlighting the way that technology is often used to monitor and control marginalized communities.

The performances in Monsters and Men are uniformly excellent. Washington brings a quiet strength and vulnerability to his portrayal of Dennis, emphasizing the humanity of a character who is often seen as a symbol of systemic oppression. Ramos is equally impressive as Manny, conveying the fear and ethical quandaries that come with witnessing and documenting violence. And Harrison Jr. brings a youthful intensity to Zyrick, highlighting the way that these issues are particularly acute for young people who are still figuring out their place in the world.

It's worth noting that Monsters and Men is not a straightforward film. Green intentionally leaves many questions and loose ends unresolved, forcing the audience to grapple with the moral and political complexities of the world he has created. Some viewers may find the film frustrating for its lack of resolution or its refusal to offer easy answers, but others will appreciate its commitment to exploring difficult and uncomfortable truths.

Ultimately, Monsters and Men is a challenging and thought-provoking film that asks its audience to examine their own complicity in systems of power and inequality. It's a movie that refuses to shy away from the difficult truths of our world, and it presents a compelling case for why we must all work towards creating a more just and equitable society.

Monsters and Men is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 67.