MONSTER

US, 2018, 98 minutes, Colour.

Kelvin Harrison Jr, Jennifer Ehle, Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Hudson, John David Washington, Paul Ben-     Victor, Tim Blake Nelson.

Directed by Anthony Mandler.

Netflix has record resurrected this attention-grabbing drama. Filmed in 2017, briefly released in 2018, it disappeared until streamlined in 2021.

While it was relevant at its time, racist typing of young black men by police and the law, it is more relevant in its later release, especially in the context of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020 and the consequent Black Lives Matter rallies, not only in the United States, but all around the world.

This is the story of a young man, Steve Harmon, 17, peaceable, living with his sympathetic parents (played by Jeffrey Wright and Jennifer Hudson), a photographer, interested in filmmaking, attending courses at a New York college, encouraged by his lecturer (Tim Blake Nelson).

There is an attempted robbery in a Korean bodega in the city, some suspects arrested, surveillance footage suggesting that Steve was part of the robbery which led to a murder. Without notice, he is dragged by the police from his home and sent to jail. He is both bewildered and embittered.

His play by Kelvin Harrison Jr who was emerging at this time as a substantial actor and who went on to greater success in films like Luce and Waves.

The film shows the legal aspects of the case against him, spending some time with his initial reluctance to talk to the legal counsel appointed to his case, played with a blend of businesslike efficiency and compassion by Jennifer Ehle. There are the sequences in court, the severe and aggressive cross-examination by the prosecutor, Paul Ben-Victor. And there is the anguish of his bewildered parents watching the proceedings, his girlfriend also present, supporting him as she did by collaborating with him in his photography and film studies.

This idea of making a film is to the fore in the early sequences, some verbal descriptions of how the film’s screenplay might appear on the page.

The court case is complicated by witnesses, surveillance footage, Steve and his passing acquaintance with the other two accused of the crime (including one giving witness against his companion, who is played by John David Washington).

The film develops with the experience of Steve in prison, some fellow prisoners encouraging him, his discussions with his attorney, the plea that he will make, just telling the truth.

This would be a harrowing case no matter what the ethnic background of the central character accused. But, in the American context and Black Lives Matter, it is more significant.

A drama that is worth giving attention to.

1. The distribution history of the film? 2018, 2019 – and held over till 2021?
2. The title, the accusation in the court room, the young men of the murder, labelled as monsters? The unjust labelling of Steve Harmon?
3. The New York setting, homes, college, classrooms? The streets, the shops? Prison, cells, yards? The courtrooms? The musical score?
4. The complexity of the scenario? The crime? The video of the crime? Of Steve exiting the store? The arrest at home, charged, the prison sequences? The flashbacks to the film classes? The discussions with Maureen O’ Brien? The courtroom scenes? Presented in jigsaw fashion for the audience to determine what happened, Steve’s presence and motivations, the criminals, the using him, his willingness and compliance? Guilt? And his parents?
5. The portrait of Steve Harmon, a good young man, 17, at home and the strength of his parents, his girlfriend and his photographing her, his film work, the teacher at the film school and his enthusiasm? The appeal by the lawyers, that he could not have committed the crime?
6. Steve and his film talent, his work, photographs, videos? In class discussions?
7. The device of suggesting that the court case could be designed as a film, setting, framework, close-ups…?
8. The arrest, at home, the police and their treatment, the comment about the treatment of black suspects? His parents’ response? The interrogations, entry into jail, searches, the clothes, the cell and sharing, the effect on him, his comments about the other prisoners, the shouts and cries in the night? Other prisoners – and, especially the prisoner at the end who encouraged him before the trial? The impact of prison on him at this age?
9. The meetings with Maureen O’ Brien, his wariness, responses, gradually trusting her? Her job, not judging him guilty or not, but her change and belief in his innocence, his overhearing her talking outside the room? The planning forl for the defence, questions, strategies, tactics? Maureen and her behaviour in the court, the cross examinations, her interventions, her please?
10. Petrocelli, the prosecutor, his attitude, the severity of his questions, the implications, having to withdraw some, the attitude of the judge?
11. The leader of the gang, in court, his defence, his angry outbursts and apologies, Bobo and his coming from prison, to give testimony, the leader eying him in the court? The flashbacks to the situation, Steve and his encounters, in passing, acquaintances, the final revelation that they had asked him to give the signal?
12. Bobo, prison, an acquaintance for Steve, his not knowing him well? His testimony in the court? The intimidation?
13. The final preparation, Steve dressing up, his mother’s visit to the prison, his father? His mother’s religious beliefs, trying to give him the Bible, getting him to repeat the Psalm? His dressing well, relying on his integrity to make an impression?
14. The scenes of the jury, the different members, listening, passive and impassive?
15. Steve going on the stand, his entering the questions?
16. The leader of the gang being found guilty? Steve, standing, waiting the verdict, tears, not guilty? His parents welcoming him?
17. The comment about police, suspicions of black young men? At the time the film was made? And its release in 2021 and the aftermath of the 2020 rights and Black Lives Matter?