Monos. Hulu. 9/10

Monos is the latest film from Colombian director Alejandro Landes, which follows the story of eight teenage guerillas and the insanity that occurs when a hostage attempts to escape, putting all of their lives at risk. Being the first foreign film reviewed in this blog, all I can say is wow! what a movie.  This picture is deeply intimate and unwillingly intense. As a Colombian, I cannot simply put into words how proud I am to have this film represent Colombia and it's artistic direction. This film is not only able to accurately capture the reality of the current internal conflict of the nation, but also philosophical ideas of hierarchy, morality, and cultic leadership. This film proves to us that we are not as different from our genetic cousins, the apes, as we thought. When the picture first starts, we see a strong unified militia with rules and ranks that are followed through the militia's leadership. But after the captain's absence, everything thought to be unified, quickly becomes primitive sinking into what could be regarded as a troop of apes, hence the name of the film. The cinematography is beyond words, the stills are rich and pure, transcending the viewer with captivating views of the ruthless landscape that is the Amazon. One could easily find themselves hypnotized drawn deeper into the crevice of the screen until arrival in the world of a rebel militia. The acting is beautifully executed by the cast, most notably that of Moises Arias, who most would recognize as Rico from the Hannah Montana series. Moises' transformation into "Bigfoot" is intimidating, terrifying, and alluring all at the same time. The score in this film is pulsating, demonstrating that you don't need a symphonic masterpiece to bring audible life into a film. Critics might argue that this picture is too reminiscent of movies like Apocalypse Now. However, I would argue that this picture carries inspiration from such a classic, while still maintaining the essence and integrity of its own story. Critics might also argue that this picture is too intense or unnecessarily vulgar; however I disagree, I think this film is crude and raw. This picture shows us the depth and veracious nature of what it is to be in one of the most dangerous places in the world with people who won't bat an eye when putting a bullet in your head. The truth is, I would never recommend this movie to just anyone. If you're hoping to have a fun movie night with the family, maybe this isn't the movie to watch. But if you have respect and admiration for the intoxicating art that is filmmaking, and you want to feel something real or more than just another Hollywood blockbuster, then this movie is for you.