Monsters and Men (2018)

About Monsters and Men

Monsters and Men is a thought-provoking drama that was released in 2018, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. The story unfolds in Brooklyn, and tackles the controversial topic of police brutality, seen through the eyes of three distinct characters with unique perspectives. The main plot revolves around a tragic incident where an innocent man loses his life during an encounter with the police.

Making / Production

Reinaldo Marcus Green directed and wrote this drama. It’s produced by Luca Borghese and Elizabeth Lodge Stepp, among others, with distribution by Neon. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2018, and was generally released on September 28, 2018.

Actors

• John David Washington played the role of Dennis Williams, a police officer trying to balance his duty and his understanding of right and wrong. His performance was engaging and highlighted the inner struggles of the character.
• Anthony Ramos portrayed Manny Ortega, a witness to a police shooting. His portrayal was powerful and captured the tension and fear of being caught in the middle of a serious issue.
• Kelvin Harrison Jr. enacted the role of Zyrick, a high school athlete who gets politicized after the incident. His performance was compelling as he navigated his character's journey of self-awareness and action.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie was filmed entirely in New York City, specifically in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
• It was primarily based on the cell phone videos of police brutality circulating on social media.
• This was John David Washington’s second film in 2018 where he portrayed a police officer, the first being BlacKkKlansman.

Awards

Monsters and Men enjoyed critical acclaim and won several awards. The film won the Special Jury Award for Outstanding First Feature at the Sundance Film Festival.

Quotes

• “One moment does whatever it wants with you.” - Manny Ortega
• “You carry a gun, Z. It’s not a toy. You pull it out, you better be ready to use it.” - Dennis Williams

Music and Soundtrack

• Jesper Kyd and Surenna Saffari composed the poignant original score for the film.
• The movie's soundtrack features several contemporary songs that complement the overall feel and take the narrative forward.