B. Monkey | | Cast : | Asia Argento, Jared Harris, Rupert Everett | | Director : | Michael Radford | | Studio : | Miramax | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | January 01, 1998 | | DVD Released Date : | March 21, 2000 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON | Customer Reviews
| Rating |     | | Date | July 21, 2005 | | Summary | A magnetic Asia Argento--heists and true love.... | Content
 | The right person can help you overcome your self-destructiveness. That's pretty much the moral of this oddly endearing love story/crime story.
The principal character--very strongly and naturally played by a not-at-all-inhibited Asia Argento (ie, lots of nudity). I was very impressed by the other main character, Jared Harris, an actor I had only seen previously as Andy Warhol (I Shot Andy Warhol). He's terrific. His voice is fabulous (something in common with dad, the late great Richard H.) He's a good guy, the clean-cut teacher who cares about his students, law-abiding, gentle, jazz-loving. She's the thief with a soft heart, looking for a reason to leave that life, looking for "family" (her childhood was not chipper). She's got an ersatz family (a dysfunctional one) with Rupert Everett (as a charming, drug-addled thief) and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (as a pretty-boy, screwed up emotionally thief). They care about each other, but are also violent and volatile with each other.
The teacher gets pizzazz in his life from Beatrice (B Monkey); B. gets stability from him. But the dark elements of her character and her dangerous associates intrude into their lovey-dovey life, and they have to make tough decisions about how to continue together. It's very moving when Harris' character asks Beatrice, "If if was just you and me, and nothing else, would that be enough?" Ultimately, isn't that what true love may come down to? Is being with that person, like Adam and Eve, just the two of you, enough? Can you give up the thrills of a dangerous life and settle down and be happy?
The ending, violent and an ultimate test of loyalty and love, is explosive and appropriate given what came before. It's a satisfying, if gruesome conclusion to an askew love story.
I've never seen Miss Argento before, and I agree with the other reviewers that she is genuinely charismatic. |
| Rating |      | | Date | January 06, 2005 | | Summary | Hidden treasure | Content
 | Why, oh why doesn't Hollywood make movies with this much heart and atmosphere?
This movie (i caught it 1st on cable) is so luscious, the performances so brilliant and believable that i was mesmerized. Asia Argento is amazing. She deserves to be a big star. This movie works on so many levels, the love story, the gritty underground scenes, it all fits together. And the music is wonderful, Portishead, Portishead, Portishead (and Barry White briefly) along with some wonderful old jazz. |
| Rating |     | | Date | June 24, 2004 | | Summary | A moving little film from the director of Il Postino | Content
 | This is actually a quite wonderful little film. Asia Argento is radiant as a thief who chances to meet (and enchant) a nerdish, but goodhearted, teacher who completely falls head over heels in love with her (who wouldn't?). In an effort to change lifestyles and settle down, she can't quite get rid of her past and this puts a strain on her newfound boyfriend and her new existence. All the leads are sensational (Rupert Everett a particular scene stealer) and the film is moving all the way. Rumours are that a large portion was left on the cutting room floor and it took the film three years to get released, but it doesn't show easily. Highly recommended. |
| Rating |     | | Date | December 31, 2003 | | Summary | asia | Content
 | To be honest with you , I only saw this film because of Asia. I have no idea what the plot is. But she looked quite pretty throughout it. |
| Rating |     | | Date | November 10, 2003 | | Summary | Unfortunately Titled Thriller Has Super Hot Babe..... | Content
 | ...I've got to put Asia Argento on my list of Much Watch Actresses: she puts to mind a combination of Angeliina Jolie and Thora Birch, but with way more fire than Jolie ever goes for...Jolie is kinda 'mellow', y'know? But, I caught this on one of my cable stations one Sat. evening 'cause I'm a big fan of heist cine, and this *is* one, albeit wrapped in a rather odd love story. Tawk about opposites attracting! The grade school teacher trails live wire Beatrice one day and asks her out for a drink. What follows is one of the most passionate and interesting court ships I've ever seen on film. They go to Paris to find their love. I thought that was a rather nice touch. But, always, always, one muddy alley away, one warehouse loft away, one scummy tavern away are the boosters and druggies threatening to pull her back in the mire. Beatrice does one more job out of a since of obligation to her ex-partners and to help her pallie (played with greatness by Rupert) pay some drug bills. The heist at the jewelry shoppe nearly gets botched when her companion loses nerve: they are saved when the driver slaps a man with a car lug wrench. And Beatrice comes away with a 'well, I did get a rush from this, but I can't afford this type of rush anymore. They are 'way too risky'. So she and the teacher find a way to get a house in the country side. And one day, in a break of monotony and ennui, Beatrice calls up Rupert from a road side phone...just to check up on her pallie, you know? You can just about guess what happens next, but by the time this part of the film happens, if you are anything like me, you find yourself into the story so deeply that you let the obvious cliches run their course. That's what I did. Also, this is one of the most attractive of the modern British gangster/heist cines I've seen. Many of them have that dark or greyness as if the directors were trying to capture years of sooty, foggy decadence on film. My overall opinion is that if you see this, it will entertain you.... |
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