Dev Patel shines in thrilling ‘Monkey Man’

“Every day, I’ve prayed for a way to protect the weak.”& Hanuman, the Monkey God, is an ancient Hindu deity whose mythology includes heroism, strength, intelligence, love and compassion for the less fortunate. Sometimes his spirit is represented in a semidivine monkey-like form. It’s an essence that drives actor turned writer/director Dev Patel’s (Slumdog Millionaire) very impressive and kinetic first film. A riveting tale of revenge.& Opening scenes in a city in India depict a rowdy underground fight club. Patel, who collaborated with cinematographer Sharone Meir, slides the camera around the bottom of the boxing ring pulling you into the grunge. Quick edits (Joe Galdo, Dávid Jancsó, Tim Murrell) catch short glimpses of riled up spectators. A driving musical score (Jed Kurzel) and a wicked playlist hype the proceedings as a dark mustard colored hue permeates the room (art director Ahmad Zulkarnaen). What goes on here shouldn’t go on.& Dev Patel stars in “Monkey Man.” Provided Inside the ring, mixed martial arts pugilists of the lowest order, kick, punch and body slam. Tiger (Sharlto Copley), the white ring announcer, bellows out the fighters’ names to all the brown faces. Most won’t remember the first combatant. But they can’t miss the...