Monos (2019)
Stars: Moises Arias, Karen Quintero, Sofia Buenaventura
Runtime: 102 minutes
Synopsis: On a remote mountaintop, eight kids with guns watch over a hostage and a conscripted milk cow.
Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 6/10
Costumes/Makeup: 9/10
Editing: 7/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Verdict: "Monos" takes place in the Colombian wilderness and follows a group of children-commandos tasked to watch over a hostage.
Starring a cast of mostly unknowns (Julianne Nicholson and Moises Arias are the only actors with a history in the field), the film serves as both a beautiful portal to a civilization unknown to us as well as sort of a study on the emotional and psychological weight that comes with being a child soldier for a military-like, likely terrorist organization. And saying that Alejandro Landes absolutely nailed it would be an understatement. Because what he manages to achieve on his second outing as a filmmaker is nothing short of extraordinary. He made us viewers care about every single young character enrolled in the Monos group from the opening scene, and managed to introduce us to a world so realistic, immersive, and breathtaking that you can't help yourself but feel there with them. The score by Mica Levi (who also composed the score for "Under the Skin") is exceptional as expected and used properly to elevate the emotional impact of some scenes. Aside from a few moments that were difficult to take seriously and a final act I couldn't entirely get behind, I don't really have anything negative to say about a film that I'd honestly put in the same category as "Beasts of No Nation" and even "Platoon" or "Apocalypse Now".
"Monos" is Colombia's submission for the Best International Feature Film category at this year's Oscars, and I hope it gets a nomination. It's one of the best movies of 2019 and it'd be a shame if it went unrecognized and flew under people's radars.
Starring a cast of mostly unknowns (Julianne Nicholson and Moises Arias are the only actors with a history in the field), the film serves as both a beautiful portal to a civilization unknown to us as well as sort of a study on the emotional and psychological weight that comes with being a child soldier for a military-like, likely terrorist organization. And saying that Alejandro Landes absolutely nailed it would be an understatement. Because what he manages to achieve on his second outing as a filmmaker is nothing short of extraordinary. He made us viewers care about every single young character enrolled in the Monos group from the opening scene, and managed to introduce us to a world so realistic, immersive, and breathtaking that you can't help yourself but feel there with them. The score by Mica Levi (who also composed the score for "Under the Skin") is exceptional as expected and used properly to elevate the emotional impact of some scenes. Aside from a few moments that were difficult to take seriously and a final act I couldn't entirely get behind, I don't really have anything negative to say about a film that I'd honestly put in the same category as "Beasts of No Nation" and even "Platoon" or "Apocalypse Now".
"Monos" is Colombia's submission for the Best International Feature Film category at this year's Oscars, and I hope it gets a nomination. It's one of the best movies of 2019 and it'd be a shame if it went unrecognized and flew under people's radars.
FINAL GRADE: 8/10
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