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Monkey Grip

Play trailer Poster for Monkey Grip 1982 1h 41m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Single Australian mom Nora (Noni Hazlehurst) juggles her artistic aspirations, motherhood and an increasingly one-sided love affair with a troubled man. As she puts up with a low-paying job in the music business and tries to support her child, Gracie (Alice Garner), unsuccessful actor Javo (Colin Friels) makes his way into Nora's circle of bohemian friends. They begin a relationship, but Javo's burdensome drug problem puts a financial, familial and emotional strain on Nora.

Critics Reviews

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Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times [Monkey Grip] emerges as a film of substance as well as passion. Mar 19, 2021 Full Review Urban Cinefile Critics Urban Cinefile In the context of Australia in the early 1980s, Monkey Grip as a mirror on one section of inner city Melbourne life is a refreshing reminder. Jul 20, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Don't waste your time seeing it. It is one of the most boring and dreary films I have seen. All the characters are unlikable and unbelievable. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Period Piece Of Cinema Depicting The Demoralising Difficulties Association With Drug Addiction. The Fashions May Gave Moved On But The Issues, Love, Trust, Betrayal & Uncertainty Certainly Still Ring Very True. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Adapted from Helen Garner's award winning novel of the same name, "Monkey Grip" is a portrayal of a year in the life of Nora, a young divorced mother who becomes involved with a junkie while trying to make sense of her identity. Noni Hazlehurst is good as Nora but Colin Friels is the real standout as Javo, Nora's drug addled boyfriend. Lookout for Chrissie Amphlett as Angela and The Divinyls performing some of their hits. Doc Neeson (ex front man for The Angels) was supposed to play Javo but he withdrew a couple of weeks before commencement of filming due to a conflict with band tour dates. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member The 80's setting was a flashback and big cringe. I would have to say the acting was pretty good, but it's a very slight film about a single mum and the men in her life. Nothing overly dramatic happens, it is more emotion driven than exciting. Interesting to see Chrissy Amphlett, though. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member A good portrayal of the book although it did gloss over a lot of the detail. Disappointing to learn that most of it was filmed in Sydney.... Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Not bad for 1982 movie, young Colin Friels as a drug addict is believable and actually where is now Noni Hazlehurst? She es perfect in this movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Monkey Grip

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Monkey Grip

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Movie Info

Synopsis Single Australian mom Nora (Noni Hazlehurst) juggles her artistic aspirations, motherhood and an increasingly one-sided love affair with a troubled man. As she puts up with a low-paying job in the music business and tries to support her child, Gracie (Alice Garner), unsuccessful actor Javo (Colin Friels) makes his way into Nora's circle of bohemian friends. They begin a relationship, but Javo's burdensome drug problem puts a financial, familial and emotional strain on Nora.
Director
Ken Cameron
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 41m