In 1998 crime drama B. Monkey Jared Harris plays Alan Furnace, mild-mannered schoolteacher who yearns for some excitement in life. He finds it after meeting Beatrice (played by Asia Argento), beautiful and mysterious Italian woman with whom he falls in love. Beatrice, who works as an office clerk by day, works at nights as a professional robber under nickname "B. Monkey". Sick of criminal life, she wants to settle down and Alan seems like a perfect choice for that. Unfortunately, she gets embroiled into another criminal enterprise run by her old partner (played by Ruper Everett) and his gay lover (played by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). Despite drowning in cliches, including portrayal of two gay characters and rather predictable finale, B. Monkey is an interesting film. Directed by rather respected British filmmaker Michael Radford, it features good cinematography, music and young Asia Argento in one of the more impressive roles of her early career.
RATING: 5/10
