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Susie Porter, Kelly McGillis, Marton Csokas, Jean-Pierre Mignon, Caroline Gillmer ... see more see more... , Boyana Novakovitch , Linden Wilkinson , Jim Holt , Annie Jones , Chris Haywood , John Batchelor , William Zappa , John Noble

A female detective discovers the dark side of the world of contemporary literature in this unusual thriller from Australia. Mickey (Abbie Cornish) is a brash young female poet who is gaining a potent ... read more read more...reputation for her powerful verse about love and sex. When she suddenly disappears, private detective Jill Fitzpatrick (Susie Porter) is hired to help find her. Jill doesn't know much about poetry, so she starts her investigation by tracking down Mickey's teacher and mentor, Diana (Kelly McGillis), to learn more about Mickey and the circles in which she traveled. Jill is a lesbian, and quickly finds herself strongly attracted to Diana; though Diana is married to Nick (Marton Csokas), she finds herself equally infatuated with Jill, and the two are soon having an affair. When Mickey is found murdered, her parents ask Jill to step up the investigation, and Jill digs deeper into the facts of Mickey's life -- learning the young woman was willing to sleep with nearly anyone who could advance her career. She also discovers that the two older male poets with whom Mickey had become involved are not at all eager to answer questions about her disappearance. The Monkey's Mask is based on a mystery novel written in verse form by Dorothy Porter; the novel became an international bestseller and the biggest-selling book of poetry published in Australia since World War II . ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

26% liked it

942 ratings

Critics

43% liked it

30 critics

R, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Samantha Lang

Release Date: July 27, 2001

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DVD Release Date: March 15, 2002

Stats: 48 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (48)

  • thirdway821
    July 4, 2011
    thirdway821
    Echos the traditions of a film noir. Susie Porter plays as a private investigator hired to find clues to the murder of a young girl who(at the time) went to poetry sessions. Porter's character falls in love with a suspect (Kelly McGillis) was connected to the murdered girl. So Po... read morerter's character has to weigh in against the odds.
  • lesmovies
    January 10, 2008
    lesmovies
    Can you believe this movie isn't available on netflix? The acting is fantastic! Susie Porter and Kellie McGillis have sex in this movie.

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Critic Reviews

Eric Harrison
June 14, 2002
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

An uneasy mix of tired detective-movie clichés and low-key arty pretension. Full Review

Jay Carr
December 14, 2001
Jay Carr, Boston Globe

Wary, conflicted, gutsy, and simpatico, [Lang'd] make a fine series character.

Carrie Rickey
December 6, 2001
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

Emphasizes sex at the expense of mystery.

Loren King
October 18, 2001
Loren King, Chicago Tribune

The sex scenes between the women do little to advance the story, but they blessedly distract both Jill and the viewer from the thin narrative. Full Review

Jane Sumner
September 28, 2001
Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News

Boasts strong, highly watchable perfs. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
September 7, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Samantha Lang displays considerable style and assurance, with Porter and McGillis giving beautifully nuanced portrayals. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
August 27, 2001
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

Remarkably sluggish and not particularly suspenseful.

Bob Graham
August 24, 2001
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle

Poetry, lesbian sex and murder might be a killer combination if a deadly pace weren't included in the mix. Full Review

A.O. Scott
July 27, 2001
A.O. Scott, New York Times

Samantha Lang's flat, paceless direction and Annie Kennedy's painfully expository script ... makes the conceit seem preposterous. Full Review

Kevin Maynard
July 26, 2001
Kevin Maynard, Mr. Showbiz

In Porter's capable hands, Jill Fitzpatrick's a feisty, vulnerable P.I. deserving of her own movie franchise.

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The Monkey's Mask Trivia

  • What 1985 film had this quote :" These things are good : ice cream and cake ,a ride on a Harley , seeing monkeys in trees, the rain on my tongue and the sun shining on my face . These things are a drag: dust in my hair , holes in my shoes, no money in my pockets, and the sunshine in my face "?  Answer »
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