B. Monkey (1998)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Michael Radford

Writers:

Andrew Davies (novel)
Chloe King (writer)

Release Date:

15 July 1999 (Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Trouble never looked so good

Plot:

Alan Furnace is a young man with the perfectly proper, quiet life of a London school teacher. But beneath...

Plot Keywords:

London | Paris | Breasts | Strong Language | Armed Robbery

Cast

Asia Argento	...	Beatrice
Jared Harris	...	Alan Furnace
Rupert Everett	...	Paul Neville
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Bruno
Julie T. Wallace	...	Mrs. Sturge
Ian Hart	...	Steve Davis
Tim Woodward	...	Frank Rice
Bryan Pringle	...	Goodchild
Clare Higgins	...	Ms. Cherry
Simone Bowkett	...	Angie
Marc Warren	...	Terence
Camilo Gallardo	...	Barman (Conrans)
Michael Carlin	...	Carlo
Paul Ireland	...	Barman (Kings Head)
Elizabeth Ash	...	Nurse (as Elisabeth Ash)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and language, and for violence and drug content.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Italian | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 (DVD) | Argentina:16 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) (uncut) | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Michael Caton-Jones was the original director for the film but left over creative differences.

Quotes:

Beatrice: Angie, can I leave early on Friday?
Angie: Why?
Beatrice: I'm going to Paris. With my boyfriend.
Angie: It will rain.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in When Brendan Met Trudy (2000)

Soundtrack:

SOUVENIRS

A somewhat derivative romantic thriller that's boosted byfantastic performances.

B. Monkey has some elements that are similar to La Femme Nikita. But is also manages to implement just enough fresh twists to keep the film from getting too derivative.

The film's biggest asset is the fantastic performances from everyone in the cast. It's pretty evident that this film was designed as a vehicle for the Italian goddess Asia Argento, and she definitely does not disappoint as far as her looks or her acting abilities are concerned. Everyone else does an equally great job and add some great nuances to what could have been generic characters.

The film is quite violent at times and also features strong doses of sex and nudity (mostly of Ms. Argento) but it's all done in a tasteful and artistic manner that keep the film from veering into exploitation territory.

Overall, a solid little romantic thriller and a stunning showcase for Asia Argento.

rating:8