Üç Maymun (Three Monkeys) poster & wallpaper
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Yavuz Bingöl, Hatice Aslan, Ahmet Rifat Sungar, Ercan Kesal, Cafer Köse ... see more see more... , Gürkan Aydin

Set in the areas of Istanbul rarely visited by foreigners, director Nuri Bilge Ceylan's strange detective story traces the journey of a family that is suddenly dislocated when minor shortcomings explo... read more read more...de into exorbitant deceptions. Now their only hope of remaining together is to cover up the truth, but can ignoring the hardships and responsibilities that would be impossible to endure ever really invalidate the existence of the truth? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

72% liked it

2,436 ratings

Critics

77% liked it

56 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Release Date: May 15, 2008

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DVD Release Date: November 24, 2009

Stats: 228 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (228)

  • gor41
    July 14, 2009
    gor41
    Not as intense as 'Climates' but still filmed with an exquisite painterly eye. The routine plot is shaken alive by two striking scenes which left me gasping and add a star to the score alone - I won't spoil the surprise by saying any more.
  • gator681
    May 11, 2009
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]In "Three Monkeys," Servet(Ercan Kesal) is a politician who has just been involved in an apparent hit and run. Fearing the effect this could have on his upcoming election, he persuades his driver Eyup(Yavuz Bingol) to take the heat and a six month sentence. ... read more In exchange, he will continue receiving his salary and get a lump sum at the end of his sentence. Meanwhile, Eyup's grown son Ismail(Rifat Sungar) cannot bring himself to move far from the couch. Upon learning that Ismail needs a car for a promising job, his mother Hacer(Hatice Aslan) goes to Servet to ask for an advance on the lump sum.[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]While at least intriguing enough to let the audience draw their own conclusions, "Three Monkeys" is also very much dramatically inert in trying to answer the eternal question of how much you can tell about a person from her ring tone. Otherwise, this is a tale of loss, almost unbearably so, since it has been simmering for years and has sucked the life out of a household which is represented by the desaturated color scheme. However, there is the occasional sign of life and the color red makes a welcome appearance in a key scene.[/font]
  • DocHalister
    February 13, 2012
    DocHalister
    Very disappointing. The plot has development without sufficient resolution. Show us what happens at critical junctures--don't simply have some character tersely confess. Also there is a considerable failure to establish the character interactions: This woman goes gaga over th... read moree politician guy, gets down on her hands and knees? We viewers haven't been sufficiently prepared for that strange scene (unjustifiably shot from the distance).
  • Nutterjr
    September 4, 2009
    Nutterjr
    Ceylan creates moments of mesmerizing visual composition in a film that although it does not seem significant, you grow fond of it. Photography and score are excellent and the actors are very expresssive even when they are not talking.
  • mvieaddict
    April 12, 2010
    mvieaddict
    Turkish movie the three monkeys, was about a husband, wife and a son living a stable life. A fourth character,a creepy politician whose actions interrupted the happy life of these trio by a chain of lies, and lust.A typical story of good people who became entwined in actions most... read morely for money and nothing came out good from these actions. One way and another, everyone's life was affected, and destroyed, but the director left these judgments over to the viewer. It was a of movie that in the beginning was really hard watching it because it was slow, but in the second part it got more character development and became interesting. The cinematography was great to look at, even being dark and sober,it was beautifully shot with the background of Istanbul.
  • GabrielKnight
    October 17, 2011
    GabrielKnight
    The noir tone of this movie is picture-perfect. The director uses his typical stripped down narrative, and I'm not sure it works in this movie as well as it did in Distant. Having said that, the characters are masterfully crafted and acting is impeccable.
  • Chapsky
    March 20, 2011
    Chapsky
    I was like listening a good poem and looking photos of Istanbul and people... Nuri Bilge is a good ex-photographer and he uses his skills in his movies. And that the secret power of his cinematography and that's why his movies are developing slowly, but aesthetic. And the details... read more he placed in his movie are wonderful as usual. The acting is great. Especially Yavuz Bingöl who is actually a folk singer surprised me with his performance.
  • RicC
    December 5, 2009
    RicC
    The drama has its ups and downs, with its tinted photography as its highlight, but the ingredients never really combine effectively.
  • columbiatch
    March 16, 2009
    columbiatch
    The arthouse aesthetics and formalism of the film never transcends its overdetermined melodrama narrative. Despite the Antonioni and Tarkovsky influences, the film is rather heavily dependent on plot contrivances. The subplot with the dead son feels tacked on and unconvincing. ... read more Also the film is so mired in its grim mood that all the performances no matter how the good the actors are all feels one note. It takes itself so seriously that by the end with all the ominous thunderings it veers into self parody. The digital cinematography is certainly very impressive, though the look is too artificial for my tastes.

View All Üç Maymun (Three Monkeys) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Michael Phillips
July 17, 2009
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

Three Monkeys... is the latest eyeful from director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, one of a handful of international directors deserving of the title artist. Full Review

Roger Ebert
July 16, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

An elegant exercise with four characters trapped by class, guilt and greed. Full Review

Walter V. Addiego
June 26, 2009
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle

There are enough ponderous moments that you may find yourself resisting the heavy mood. Full Review

Colin Covert
May 22, 2009
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

The pace is deliberate, sometimes slow, but the whirlpool pull of this tragic psychological thriller is irresistible. Full Review

V.A. Musetto
May 1, 2009
V.A. Musetto, New York Post

This is powerful filmmaking for discerning viewers. Full Review

A.O. Scott
May 1, 2009
A.O. Scott, New York Times

With Three Monkeys, Nuri Bilge Ceylan trains his cool, detached sensibility on a ripe and pulpy melodrama that might have originated in a James M. Cain novel.

Nicolas Rapold
April 28, 2009
Nicolas Rapold, Village Voice

The heavy mood of indolence and rage, calibrated with ellipses in action, is stifling -- everyone seems to move in a queasy haze. Full Review

Peter Howell
April 24, 2009
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

[Director Nuri Bilge] Ceylan takes a step towards the mainstream with a fiercely executed drama that hopefully will expand the ranks of his admirers. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
March 27, 2009
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Unpredictable and gratifying. Full Review

Dan Kois
March 13, 2009
Dan Kois, Washington Post

At times while watching it, I found myself fidgeting, my patience for long stare-offs exhausted; afterward, I couldn't stop thinking about it. Full Review

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