Anthony Mandler’s “Monster” has burnt through the bulk of its running time before the first-time filmmaker opts to finally do away with any subtleties. The messy drama has already played fast and loose with time and perspective, shifting between bleak courtroom-set scenes and more emotive flashbacks that explain how budding teenage filmmaker Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) has ended up on trial as an accessory to armed robbery and murder. Finally, however, it seems as if Mandler just gives up and goes for the nuclear option: the “Rashomon” choice.
Given the film’s bent toward the most literal of cinematic tropes and tricks — Steve tries to dream his way out of his horrible predicament by frequently pretending it’s all just a screenplay he’s writing in his head — it’s not the most shocking of choices, but it’s certainly a blunt one. While that storytelling conceit likely...
Given the film’s bent toward the most literal of cinematic tropes and tricks — Steve tries to dream his way out of his horrible predicament by frequently pretending it’s all just a screenplay he’s writing in his head — it’s not the most shocking of choices, but it’s certainly a blunt one. While that storytelling conceit likely...
- 5/7/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Filling the void left by much of Hollywood when it comes to sharing stories told by Black artists, streamers like Netflix and Amazon have recently had an impressive output. The former company has now revitalized a film stuck in limbo with Monster, adapted from a novel of the same name and directed by Anthony Madler, which had its premiere at Sundance Film Festival in 2018. Unfortunately, the film falters with a clumsy script by Radha Blank, Cole Wiley, and Janece Shaffer that fails to dramatically justify the harrowing images of Black trauma being portrayed.
Kelvin Harrison Jr. is an actor destined for greatness, but he’s often stuck playing all-too-familiar roles. Much like the subsequently-shot Waves, Harrison plays a determined and gifted high schooler making the wrong choices at the wrong time. Steve Harmon (Harrison) is a young filmmaker, and son to a successful graphic artist (Jeffrey Wright) and a mom...
Kelvin Harrison Jr. is an actor destined for greatness, but he’s often stuck playing all-too-familiar roles. Much like the subsequently-shot Waves, Harrison plays a determined and gifted high schooler making the wrong choices at the wrong time. Steve Harmon (Harrison) is a young filmmaker, and son to a successful graphic artist (Jeffrey Wright) and a mom...
- 5/7/2021
- by Erik Nielsen
- The Film Stage
The New York City courtroom in which 17-year-old honors student Steve Harmon stands accused of felony murder isn’t the customary dark wood and tan walls affair. “Monster” there’s a reason beyond stylish production design for the palette of grays. For the involving, nuanced drama — a Sundance 2018 competition title starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. — explores the gray areas of guilt, innocence and criminal justice, especially as they pertain to young Black men, who are too often seen as guilty till proven otherwise. Innocent is likely too much to ask of a system in which young men like Steve are seen as the beasts, as the monsters of the movie’s title.
Streaming on Netflix, “Monster” is based on the 1999 young adult novel by Walter Dean Myers (who died in 2014). The themes of the award-winning book remain timely and are made even more so by screenwriters Radha Blank, Colen C. Wiley and Janece Shaffer.
Streaming on Netflix, “Monster” is based on the 1999 young adult novel by Walter Dean Myers (who died in 2014). The themes of the award-winning book remain timely and are made even more so by screenwriters Radha Blank, Colen C. Wiley and Janece Shaffer.
- 5/6/2021
- by Lisa Kennedy
- Variety Film + TV
Monster Trailer — Anthony Mandler‘s Monster (2018) movie trailer has been released by Netflix. The Monster trailer stars Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jennifer Hudson, Jeffrey Wright, John David Washington, Jennifer Ehle, Tim Blake Nelson, Paul Ben-Victor, Nasir Jones (‘Nas’), Rakim Mayers (‘Asap Rocky’), Mikey Madison, Jonny Coyne, and Lovie Simone. Crew Janece Shaffer and Colen C. [...]
Continue reading: Monster Trailer: Elite High Schooler Kelvin Harrison Jr. Finds Himself Charged with Felony Murder in Anthony Mandler’s 2018 Movie...
Continue reading: Monster Trailer: Elite High Schooler Kelvin Harrison Jr. Finds Himself Charged with Felony Murder in Anthony Mandler’s 2018 Movie...
- 4/11/2021
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Netflix has released the first trailer for Monster, the Anthony Mandler-directed legal drama based on the novel of the same name by Walter Dean Myers. The film first premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and it’s finally getting a wide release on Netflix’s streaming platform on May 7th.
Monster stars Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Steve Harmon, a 17-year-old honor student, photographer, and film buff who lives with his family in Harlem and attends an elite high school. When Steve is suddenly convicted of felony murder, what follows...
Monster stars Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Steve Harmon, a 17-year-old honor student, photographer, and film buff who lives with his family in Harlem and attends an elite high school. When Steve is suddenly convicted of felony murder, what follows...
- 4/6/2021
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
Sundance premiere ensemble includes Jennifer Hudson and Jeffrey Wright.
Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to social justice drama Monster, which premiered in competition at the 2018 Sundance festival.
Based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Walter Dean Myers, Monster is the feature debut of commercial and music video director Anthony Mandler.
With a screenplay by Radha Blank, Colen C Wiley and Janece Shaffer, the film centres on a 17-year-old honour student from Harlem who is charged with murder and thrown into a legal battle that could land him in prison for the rest of his life.
The ensemble...
Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to social justice drama Monster, which premiered in competition at the 2018 Sundance festival.
Based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Walter Dean Myers, Monster is the feature debut of commercial and music video director Anthony Mandler.
With a screenplay by Radha Blank, Colen C Wiley and Janece Shaffer, the film centres on a 17-year-old honour student from Harlem who is charged with murder and thrown into a legal battle that could land him in prison for the rest of his life.
The ensemble...
- 11/10/2020
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Netflix has picked up the right to another festival indie — the Jennifer Hudson and Kelvin Harrison Jr.-starrer Monster.
Monster, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, is the feature debut for music video and commercial director Anthony Mandler.
The all-star cast includes Jeffrey Wright, Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Ehle and Tim Blake Nelson. Nasir “Nas” Jones, John David Washington, and Rakim Mayers — known as the rapper A$AP Rocky — also star.
The screenplay is based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name and was adapted by Colen C. Wiley, Janece Shaffer and Radha Blank, the latter of which sold her ...
Monster, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, is the feature debut for music video and commercial director Anthony Mandler.
The all-star cast includes Jeffrey Wright, Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Ehle and Tim Blake Nelson. Nasir “Nas” Jones, John David Washington, and Rakim Mayers — known as the rapper A$AP Rocky — also star.
The screenplay is based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name and was adapted by Colen C. Wiley, Janece Shaffer and Radha Blank, the latter of which sold her ...
- 11/10/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix has picked up the right to another festival indie — the Jennifer Hudson and Kelvin Harrison Jr.-starrer Monster.
Monster, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, is the feature debut for music video and commercial director Anthony Mandler.
The all-star cast includes Jeffrey Wright, Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Ehle and Tim Blake Nelson. Nasir “Nas” Jones, John David Washington, and Rakim Mayers — known as the rapper A$AP Rocky — also star.
The screenplay is based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name and was adapted by Colen C. Wiley, Janece Shaffer and Radha Blank, the latter of which sold her ...
Monster, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, is the feature debut for music video and commercial director Anthony Mandler.
The all-star cast includes Jeffrey Wright, Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome, Jennifer Ehle and Tim Blake Nelson. Nasir “Nas” Jones, John David Washington, and Rakim Mayers — known as the rapper A$AP Rocky — also star.
The screenplay is based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name and was adapted by Colen C. Wiley, Janece Shaffer and Radha Blank, the latter of which sold her ...
- 11/10/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios said on Monday it has acquired the 2018 Sundance film “All Rise,” starring Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson.
The film, which was titled “Monster” while in competition at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, is based on the award-winning and New York Times-bestselling novel of the same name by Walter Dean Myers, which received the Coretta Scott King Award that recognizes outstanding books for young adults and children by African Americans that reflect the African American experience.
“All Rise” tells the story of Steve Harmon (Harrison), a 17-year-old honor student whose world comes crashing down around him when he is charged with felony murder. The film follows his dramatic journey from a smart, likeable film student from Harlem attending an elite high school through a complex legal battle that could leave him spending the rest of his life in prison.
Also Read: Bethany Hamilton Doc...
The film, which was titled “Monster” while in competition at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, is based on the award-winning and New York Times-bestselling novel of the same name by Walter Dean Myers, which received the Coretta Scott King Award that recognizes outstanding books for young adults and children by African Americans that reflect the African American experience.
“All Rise” tells the story of Steve Harmon (Harrison), a 17-year-old honor student whose world comes crashing down around him when he is charged with felony murder. The film follows his dramatic journey from a smart, likeable film student from Harlem attending an elite high school through a complex legal battle that could leave him spending the rest of his life in prison.
Also Read: Bethany Hamilton Doc...
- 4/22/2019
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
Based on a Ya novel by Walter Dean Myers, “Monster,” adapted by Radha Blank, Cole Wiley and Janece Shaffer, is a messy, conventional but likeable film that will likely strike a chord with unadventurous moviegoers rather than cinephiles who are used to these kinds of stories by now, most notably in pictures like “The Hurricane,” “The Green Mile,” and “In the Name of the Father.”
The story revolves around Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a well-mannered, law-abiding Harlem teenager who winds up arrested for his involvement in a robbery and murder at a 7/11.
Continue reading Overstylized ‘Monster’ Can’t Hide Film’s Conventional Core [Sundance Review] at The Playlist.
The story revolves around Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a well-mannered, law-abiding Harlem teenager who winds up arrested for his involvement in a robbery and murder at a 7/11.
Continue reading Overstylized ‘Monster’ Can’t Hide Film’s Conventional Core [Sundance Review] at The Playlist.
- 1/29/2018
- by Jordan Ruimy
- The Playlist
Monster
He might have been itching to direct a project as early as 2013 with the book to screen project of Tokyo Vice with Daniel Radcliffe, but lensing on Anthony Mandler‘s directorial debut began in October of 2016. With a lengthy background as a music video helmer, we should expect Monster to at least look the part.
With Kelvin Harrison Jr toplining, this also includes Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Hudson, Rakim Mayers, Jennifer Ehle, Tim Blake Nelson, A$AP Rocky and Nas this was written by Colen C Wiley and Janece Shaffer and is based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers. Charged with felony murder for a crime he says he did not commit, the film follows his dramatic journey through a complex legal battle that could leave him spending the rest of his life in prison. This could be as impactful as last year’s last year’s Sundance hit Crown Heights.
He might have been itching to direct a project as early as 2013 with the book to screen project of Tokyo Vice with Daniel Radcliffe, but lensing on Anthony Mandler‘s directorial debut began in October of 2016. With a lengthy background as a music video helmer, we should expect Monster to at least look the part.
With Kelvin Harrison Jr toplining, this also includes Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Hudson, Rakim Mayers, Jennifer Ehle, Tim Blake Nelson, A$AP Rocky and Nas this was written by Colen C Wiley and Janece Shaffer and is based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers. Charged with felony murder for a crime he says he did not commit, the film follows his dramatic journey through a complex legal battle that could leave him spending the rest of his life in prison. This could be as impactful as last year’s last year’s Sundance hit Crown Heights.
- 1/15/2018
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Atlanta's Tony Award winning Alliance Theatre presents theworld premiere musical, Troubadour, by playwright Janece Shaffer The Geller Girls, Broke with original music by Grammy Award-winning recording artist Kristian Bush. Set in 1950s Nashville, Troubadour is a romantic comedy about an unlikely group of friends whose unconventional style changes the course of country music. Troubadour is directed by the Alliance's Jennings Hertz Artistic Director Susan V. Booth One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Geller Girl and runs on the Alliance Stage from January 18 - February 12, 2017. BroadwayWorld has a peek inside the first rehearsal below...
- 12/19/2016
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
John Legend’s Get Lifted Film Co. has partnered with Bron Studios and Tonik Productions to co-produce and finance the contemporary drama Monster, based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers. The film stars Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, A$AP Rocky, Nas and Kelvin Harrison Jr. Anthony Mandler will make his feature directorial debut from a script by Colen C. Wiley and Janece Shaffer. The film will begin principal photography this week in New York City. The pic centers Steve…...
- 10/7/2016
- Deadline
Canada’s Bron Studios is joining forces with Tonik Productions and Get Lifted Film Co to finance and co-produce Monster, feature debut of music video and commercials director Anthony Mandler.
The contemporary drama begins principal photography this week in New York City with an ensemble cast including The Birth of a Nation’s Kelvin Harrison Jr, Dreamgirls’ Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Ehle, A$AP Rocky and Nas.
Colen C Wiley and Janece Shaffer wrote the script, based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers about an elite Harlem high school student charged with murder and facing a complex legal battle.
Aaron L Gilbert, co-founder of Bron (whose recent productions include The Birth of a Nation), will produce with Tonik’s Nikki Silver and Tonya Lewis Lee, Get Lifted’s Mike Jackson and Edward Nahem of Charlevoix. Bron, Tonik and Get Lifted are producing in association with Charlevoix as well as Red Crown and Creative Wealth Media.
Executive producers...
The contemporary drama begins principal photography this week in New York City with an ensemble cast including The Birth of a Nation’s Kelvin Harrison Jr, Dreamgirls’ Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Ehle, A$AP Rocky and Nas.
Colen C Wiley and Janece Shaffer wrote the script, based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers about an elite Harlem high school student charged with murder and facing a complex legal battle.
Aaron L Gilbert, co-founder of Bron (whose recent productions include The Birth of a Nation), will produce with Tonik’s Nikki Silver and Tonya Lewis Lee, Get Lifted’s Mike Jackson and Edward Nahem of Charlevoix. Bron, Tonik and Get Lifted are producing in association with Charlevoix as well as Red Crown and Creative Wealth Media.
Executive producers...
- 10/7/2016
- ScreenDaily
Canada’s Bron Studios is joining forces with Tonik Productions and Get Lifted Film Co to finance and co-produce Monster, feature debut of music video and commercials director Anthony Mandler.
The contemporary drama begins principal photography this week in New York City with an ensemble cast including The Birth of a Nation’s Kelvin Harrison Jr, Dreamgirls’ Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Ehle, A$AP Rocky and Nas.
Colen C Wiley and Janece Shaffer wrote the script, based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers about an elite Harlem high school student charged with murder and facing a complex legal battle.
Aaron L Gilbert (pictured), co-founder of Bron (whose recent productions include The Birth of a Nation), will produce with Tonik’s Nikki Silver and Tonya Lewis Lee, Get Lifted’s Mike Jackson and Edward Nahem of Charlevoix. Bron, Tonik and Get Lifted are producing in association with Charlevoix as well as Red Crown and Creative Wealth Media.
Executive...
The contemporary drama begins principal photography this week in New York City with an ensemble cast including The Birth of a Nation’s Kelvin Harrison Jr, Dreamgirls’ Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Ehle, A$AP Rocky and Nas.
Colen C Wiley and Janece Shaffer wrote the script, based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers about an elite Harlem high school student charged with murder and facing a complex legal battle.
Aaron L Gilbert (pictured), co-founder of Bron (whose recent productions include The Birth of a Nation), will produce with Tonik’s Nikki Silver and Tonya Lewis Lee, Get Lifted’s Mike Jackson and Edward Nahem of Charlevoix. Bron, Tonik and Get Lifted are producing in association with Charlevoix as well as Red Crown and Creative Wealth Media.
Executive...
- 10/7/2016
- ScreenDaily
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