Hot leading man Rupert Everett (AN IDEAL HUSBAND, MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING) stars in a sexy thriller that's all about jealousy, passion, revenge ... and a woman compelled to live her life on the edge! Tired of criminal act... more »ivity, a wild and beautiful thief named B. (Asia Argento -- QUEEN MARGOT) begins to seek a way out of her dangerous profession. While trying to kick her addiction to crime, she finds love and a stable relationship with a naive schoolteacher (Jared Harris -- I SHOT ANDY WARHOL) ... until the dark secrets from B.'s past begin to creep into her new life! As ex-partners Paul (Everett) and Bruno (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers -- MICHAEL COLLINS) get back in the picture, B.'s harrowing balancing act threatens to come crashing down!« less
A moving little film from the director of Il Postino
O. B. Tryggvason | Gardabaer Iceland | 06/24/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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."
A magnetic Asia Argento--heists and true love....
Mir | North Miami Beach, FL USA | 07/21/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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."
Mmmmmmmmmm... Asia...
Robert P. Beveridge | Cleveland, OH | 05/16/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"b.Monkey (Michael Radford, 1998)Michael Radford is one of those directors whose work gets a lot of press, but no one ever thiks to ask who the guy behind the camera was. From the 1984 version (starring John Hurt) of _Nineteen Eighty-Four_ to the Oscar-winning Il Postino, Radford has quietly built an impressive body of work.Radford's follow-up to Il Postino is B. Monkey, a crime-drama-...-romance based on Andrew Davies' amusing novel about a young criminal lass (played hereby the delectable Asia Argento) who tries to break free of her small-time criminal pals (rising stars Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Rupert Everett) after meeting, and being wooed by, a primary school teacher (the ubiquitous Jared Harris) who is the very essence of stolid middle-class morality.Don't get me wrong-- the main reason to watch this movie is Asia Argento, who (as I've said before) has since turning eighteen adopted the "early Helen Mirren" style of acting-- wear nothing but a come-hither glower and look really good. But if you can get your tongue off the floor, both Everett and Rhys-Meyers give us performances that show exactly why they're becoming two of the hottest properties on the British film scene. Everett is charming and urbane, even while being tracked down by a psychotic crime boss; Rhys-Meyers throw temper tantrums with the best of them, but slides into a cool professionalism when it's time to pull off a heist.A gorgeous (if somewhat slow halfway through-- it does pick up, honest) way to kill an hour and a half. *** 1/2"
Hidden treasure
L. M. Meade | Chicago, IL USA | 01/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
"B. Monkey" is HOT!
dc-76 | 08/15/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the story of young and diappointed teacher/DJ Alan (Jared Harris) who falls for younger and also fed up criminal B. Monkey (Asia Argento). Surprisingly B. starts to like him too and since she already wanted to leave her criminal past behind and live a "normal" life everything could be great.But, of course, it's not that easy, as there are several kinds of problems: the main problem is that Beatrice does have some difficulties with saying goodbye to crime and her criminal friends. That's why there's trouble to come, but as the tagline says: "trouble never looked so good"."B. Monkey" is an extremely entertaining romantic-thriller. The great cast is led by sexy Italian Asia Argento (who obviously doesn't have any problems with performing nude), her shy lover Alan is portrayed by Jared Harris who delivers a very sympathetic performance while Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is absolutely brilliant as Bruno, one of B. Monkeys criminal friends. Nevertheless the movie is dominated by Rupert Everett who plays the (gay and drug-addicted) mastermind of Beatrice and Bruno. As always Everett staels every scene he's in. He and Argento are also the ones to supply "B. Monkey" with some black humour.If you liked "Something Wild" (starring Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels) you definitely will love "B. Monkey"!"