CrimeDrama

Monster

- No one has any idea who I am.

The story of Steve Harmon, a 17-year-old honor student whose world comes crashing down around him when he is charged with felony murder.

Release Date : 2021-07-15

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Bron StudiosRed Crown ProductionsGet Lifted Film Co.Creative Wealth Media FinanceTonik ProductionsCharlevoix Entertainment

Production Country : CanadaUnited States of America

Alternative Titles : All Rise

Cast

Character Name : Steve Harmon

Original Name : Kelvin Harrison, Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Harmon

Original Name : Jeffrey Wright

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Harmon

Original Name : Jennifer Hudson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Katherine O'Brien

Original Name : Jennifer Ehle

Gender : Female

Character Name : Leroy Sawicki

Original Name : Tim Blake Nelson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richard 'Bobo' Evans

Original Name : John David Washington

Gender : Male

Character Name : William King

Original Name : A$AP Rocky

Gender : Male

Character Name : Renee Pickford

Original Name : Lovie Simone

Gender : Female

Character Name : Raymond 'Sunset' Green

Original Name : Nas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Osvaldo Cruz

Original Name : Jharrel Jerome

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alexandra Floyd

Original Name : Mikey Madison

Gender : Female

Character Name : Anthony Petrocelli

Original Name : Paul Ben-Victor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Asa Briggs

Original Name : Dorian Missick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wendell Bolden

Original Name : Jeremy Dash

Gender : Male

Character Name : Casper Juenemann

Original Name : Liam Obergfoll

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ernie Ryans

Original Name : Rege Lewis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jerry Harmon

Original Name : Nyleek Moore

Gender : Male

Character Name : James Moody

Original Name : Joel Van Liew

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jose Delgado

Original Name : Danny Henriquez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Katie Green

Original Name : Adriana DeGirolami

Gender : Female

Character Name : Detective Karyl

Original Name : Jonny Coyne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Nesbitt

Original Name : Roberto Lopez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sarah

Original Name : Amanda Crown

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Henry

Original Name : June Ballinger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Court Officer

Original Name : Kelvin Hale

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge

Original Name : Willie C. Carpenter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jury Foreman

Original Name : Geisha Otero

Gender : Female

Character Name : King's Friend

Original Name : Keet Davis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Allen Forbes

Original Name : Teresa Avia Lim

Gender : Male

Character Name : Freddy Alou

Original Name : Manuel Joaquin Santiago

Gender : Male

Character Name : Inmate

Original Name : Alejandro Hernandez

Gender : Male

Reviews

Manuel São Bento

@msbreviews

2021-06-23

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com I've written this a thousand times, but I'll repeat it once again: I absolutely love one-location movies. I don't know exactly if most of Monster is actually developed inside the courtroom, but it genuinely feels like it. In fact, I believe every scene outside this place is told through extended flashbacks with narration from Steve Harmon about what happened before and on the day of the crime. Since the protagonist is a film student, his voice-over contains descriptions often seen in screenplays, which it's pleasant at first, but then gets overdone. The trial is definitely the most captivating part of the story. Anthony Mandler and his team of writers demonstrate perfectly some real-life aspects of how the law works. From the well-known emotional disconnect of (some) lawyers with their clients to the prejudiced treatment of people of color, the courtroom sequences keep the movie interesting until its somewhat predictable, unsurprising conclusion. However, despite the exceptional performances from everyone involved, especially Kelvin Harrison Jr., the case itself wraps up with unanswered questions and some messages lost in the transmission. While the viewers spend the entire runtime following Steve being a good son, brother, and friend, the other Black characters being accused don't receive the same treatment. At one point in the film, someone says "you must consider him innocent until evidence proves him guilty", but this only applies to the protagonist since everyone else is presumed to be guilty from the get-go without the audience ever seeing or hearing their point of view or knowing why they committed that crime. Furthermore, even though the viewers get to know the verdict, Steve's true impact on the murder remains questionable due to the last couple of flashbacks, which begs the question: "are we really supposed to root for him?" Rating: C.