How long will you read this before your mind wanders?
I’m not asking to judge you. I’m just curious, because it happened to me watching Monster, early and often.
It’s funny, because the movie is very good. Steve is a budding moviemaker, open-minded student, and good friend and family member. So how strange and scary it is when he’s charged with murder. Just another young Black man found at a robbery gone wrong.
Tight writing, smart structuring—everything from the color of clothing to ambient music gives us a moving watch.
Most of the performances are expert, too. But Steve’s is extraordinary. When he quietly narrates his aspirations from the rooftops, or shakes in a mix of guilt and fear in front of his parents, it’s difficult not to marvel at how good this actor is. How genuine it feels when he explores the possibilities of his life, unsure all the while. It’s both personal and universal.
A story about an upstanding kid caught up in the pains of experience and prejudice is worth a watch. But more than that, as great art does, this movie makes you think about things outside of what you’re seeing. So let your mind wander on this one: It will always come back.