Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie’. Also, this article contains discussions regarding suicide, which may be triggering to some individuals.
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One particular aspect regarding crime stories that we don’t discuss or call out enough, is how the detectives and private investigators that make up these tales… are oft cold in nature. They’re not bad people by any means, but they tend to be closed off to the reader or the viewer. As though living and eating crime is all they know. To the point where they’re not impacted by the horrors they see or they’re numb to them and that is… problematic. For that doesn’t reflect the fact that investigators are indeed people who absolutely have feelings and emotions and take home the things they see, and it is curious why those stories don’t acknowledge that.

It could be, to keep the audience from being overwhelmed by darkness of the tale. After all, lots of these tales involve murder, the worst harm possible a human being can impart upon another. So, having a rock-solid person to guide us through the ugly makes it palatable. Or it could just be to keep entertainment value in play, but for whatever reason, there is a detachment there, one that we are reminded of when we do encounter stories that don’t feature that iciness. For there are indeed stories that tap into more and explore the impact of violent death by violent crime in a humane manner that quite frankly moves us, and stays with us, and teaches us something about ourselves and life along the way. If anything, all of this is top of mind today, simply because a story in that more humane vein is available to stream on Peacock right now, and that makes Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie, quite the important watch on so many levels. In part because… well…. Adrian Monk is back on the airwaves to solve a murder one more time.

For this character truly is iconic and missed from the television landscape. So, seeing Adrian come out of retirement to solve a very personal mystery involving the death of Molly’s husband-to-be, is compelling and wondrous in its own right. Since the plot does indeed feature all the tenets of this saga that we love and enjoy. Such as the return of Monk’s OCD and outright impish quirkiness, and of course… his outright brilliance. Not to mention, this story basically gets the band back together since Natalie and Randy return, and Trudy in her own special way. Plus Dr. Bell is back, and even Stottlemeyer finds his way into the case. One that revolves around Monk and Molly’s belief that billionaire Rick Eden killed her beloved fiancé. A case that speaks to the current zeitgeist of America and our disdain for the ultra-rude rich and their inability to care about anything but themselves.

But truth be told, while the case is engaging and also brings about familiar and welcome moments from the show and other movie specials, and ends with good winning the day, it's the stuff in between and after the case that makes this movie worth our while. Because this presents to us, a very different Adrian Monk. One that should be enjoying his retirement but is miserable instead. Because Monk has no purpose here, no understanding of what he should be doing when he’s not actively helping others and that puts him in a dark place. Where he feels he never made a difference during his time on the force and of his own accord, and that his efforts truly did nothing to make the world a better place. Which in turn prompts him to think about taking his own life, and that makes for a powerful journey.
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For we are now witness to some hard truths about this man. In that, he has indeed lived a tough life and hasn’t reconciled the horrors he’s seen and is eager to escape the pain he hasn’t resolved. Giving rise to the most relatable and vulnerable iteration of Adrian we’ve seen to date, since we’ve been in his shoes and felt that ache and some folks have given similar thought to Monk’s endgame in this tale, and also feel as though… there is no value to their lives. But this story also takes the time to inform us through Monk’s journey, that such thoughts aren’t true, and that we each provide value to the world and we each touch lives in ways we never thought possible. We don’t always hear the thank you we want, nor do we understand fully how we improve the world… but we do. And we need to find a way to understand that and comprehend and reconcile the pain we’ve endured. 

All so we can do what Adrian Monk does in this tale… and go on. Go on and see the beauty we forget about that surrounds us and embrace the value we do create and have created through our efforts in life. For we are precious and wondrous and that makes this… a beautiful story. One that truly addresses the tough mental space so many of us are in coming out of years of scariness and cruelty, and it really is a marvel that a crime story sends that message our way, but this is the right one to do it. For Adrian Monk’s adventures have always been different and beautiful, and the fact that the cast doesn’t miss a beat here to bring all that home is a marvel as well. In fact, seeing them again, gives us hope that perhaps we’ll get more Monk stories down the line. Wherein we can see Adrian in his new chapter, handling his business differently. Making this the ‘last case’ where darkness hangs over him. But if not, finding peace and drive to do good in the world again, is a wondrous way to send off one of television’s most beloved, and human, private investigators.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the short film, ‘Soul Mates’.
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We expect to become quite reflective and curious in nature when reach extreme old age. Wherein we will wonder if we’ve done enough to live a fulfilling and satisfying life, one where we will be remembered fondly by those we leave behind. And where we will also ponder upon… what lies beyond this particular life. For at the right age, we will fully understand our time is short, and that it won’t be long before we take our final breaths and release ourselves into whatever waits in the void and well… we want to make sure our affairs are in order and that we’re ready for the end. So that our final moments are spent filled with love, and harmony, and zero worries about the undiscovered country that awaits us.

However, while there is a part of us that believes those final days will be inquisitive and peaceful, there’s a chance they will be the opposite. For that is a lot to pack in when our time is nearly up, and if we haven’t done enough in our eyes, we might scramble, and the end might scare us. Not to mention, we may simply have no clue what to reflect upon or what to cherish or how to reconcile our death. Because that’s a lot for a person to process, and well, that’s why stories are so vital to us. Since they can help us ponder upon endless possibilities, and help us sort out so much, and it just so happens that a new short feature film takes the time to explore what we should cherish in those final days and perhaps what awaits us when we do die.

A feat that Soul Mates accomplishes by introducing us to a couple… dealing with the realities of death. For Sean has discovered his days are numbered by his health, and that prompts him to see the world with his beloved Abby to enjoy every last minute before passing away, and it also prompts the two of them… to make an ethereal pact. In that, they both believe what awaits us in death, is a second chance if we didn’t get everything right the first time. So, they vow to find one another when they are reborn into this world. To get it right, to enjoy their love once again and well, when their time comes, they put their faith in the unknown and come to discover that the universe… might not be as cruel as we make it out to be.

Which is a beautiful way to explore in detail… how we shouldn’t worry as much about the path we walked and the legacy we left behind. Because what’s behind us, is behind us, and we don’t always have control over legacy. But we can in fact, cherish every single precious moment, and hold onto the collection of feelings that they provided us with and if those were good and wondrous, we did all right. Not to mention, the movie also digs deep into the possibility that we are on this Earth a long, long time. Through reincarnation and the power of lessons. So that we can eventually figure out how to do things right and live as close to the perfect life we all dream of. As to whether or not though, Sean and Abby rekindle their love… well… we won’t spoil that here.

Because that’s an ending you need to see to believe, one that brings this unique story together in a proper manner, and unique really is the best word to describe this feature. Because there’s really nothing to compare this story to, and that’s a wonderful thing. Because it is always nice to run into a tale that is this refreshing and this original, and going the short film format, helps it. Because it amplifies the emotions it wishes to get across, and the endearing performances present here. All of which makes for a delightful viewing experience. One that is hopeful and open minded and offers clarity regarding what we should be chasing and worrying about… in the moment.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the documentary feature, ‘District of Second Chances’.
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When we are young, we are taught… that the American legal system is a true sight to behold, and there is merit to that line of teaching. After all, we stand by the notion that all are innocent until proven guilty, in a court of law by their peers no less. So that other people give their objective views to the case at hand, so the right verdict and the right punishment is reached. So, we soldier forth in this life, truly believing that the system is infallible, and its structure is sound, only for us to learn… that the American legal system is not all that it is cracked up to be. It could be through a personal experience with the system or through outside observation… but one way or another we come to see its flaws and find ourselves concerned. Because such a truth informs us, that a broken system brings about broken verdicts and that justice isn’t properly being served and well, a deeper dive not only confirms that, but that there are other problems present within this supposedly glorious system.

Such as the fact that more often than not, any chance to throw a violent offender into jail for as long as possible, is the norm for sentences. Which makes no sense, because the prison system isn’t supposed to be long-term housing, it is to be a rehabilitation center, to have violent offenders pay their dues and rejoin society. But somehow it became the opposite, and there are now people… who learned from their mistakes and are eager to pay it forward and pay back their debt to society as needed… stuck in prison. Where they can do nothing but languish and lament and wonder and thankfully… these issues are being recognized and slowly addressed. For there are laws out there now, that work to help people in that situation get their proper due and get a chance to return to the everyday world, and there are programs in place to help them cope and find new direction when they do get out.

But sadly, there isn’t much discussion out there about Second Chances laws and what they can do, nor is there much discussion about how they could help enact change in the system and help people that are ready to rejoin society do so, but that is starting to change. For a new documentary out there not only explores the benefits of these laws but puts faces on the struggle of those trying desperately to set right their wrongs. A feat that District of Second Chances accomplishes, by introducing us to three men, Anthony ‘Pete’ Petty, Colie Levar Long, and Gene Downing, who are in various stages of working with the Second Chances laws present in Washington D.C. Which are indeed designed to look at certain cases of individuals that committed violent crimes and were given giant sentences, to see if they deserve another shot at life in the regular world, because they are in fact… rehabilitated.

Which really is the perfect way to showcase the flaws of our judicial system and the importance of these laws. Because we come to learn through Pete, Colie, and Gene… how the system failed them. Courtesy of ridiculous bias at the time they were sentenced, bias that still exists today and it is important to showcase that. Because justice is supposed to be impartial and we don’t call out enough that it isn’t and it hasn’t been for a very long time, so this documentary deserves a round of applause for speaking that truth, and for deeply exploring the inner workings of how these men found themselves locked away and forgotten, and the dangerous struggles they encountered on their way out of the broken system that exists. Because it truly allows for a grand discussion to take place regarding the need for reforms and laws such as these so that others don’t have to struggle in the manner that these gentlemen did.

But while that does make for some fascinating learning about our legal system and it's unfortunate but fixable flaws… what truly makes this documentary so powerful, is in the humanity it showcases. Because getting to spend time with Petey, Collie, and Gene… allows for us to understand, that not all violent offenders and criminals are the monsters they are portrayed to be. They’re people. People that yes, committed a crime and were convicted, but are people none the less. Who really did make a poor choice out of the folly of youth and the environment that surrounded them. But harbor remorse, harbor an understanding of how their crime was wrong and how it impacted lives, and why they need to atone for it. Which is something we don’t see often in film, but it is necessity, because it hammers home the reality that we can learn from our mistakes and pay it forward and do right.

Which we see happen often in this story, and that is inspiring and powerful. Because it speaks to the reality that with some genuine care and deep reforms, we can in fact, create a justice system that does what it is supposed to. All of which makes this, a poignant and important documentary. One that really does go bold places that no other documentary about the legal system goes, in an honest and objective manner. Which is also important to showcase since now and again you run into documentaries that want to push an agenda. But Director Wynette Yao and Cinematographer Travis Edwards simply capture the reality of our legal system in 2023. Where people that are embracing the error of their ways and are desperate for a chance to repay their debt, are fighting tooth and nail to do so. Courtesy of a broken system that is in desperate need of reform so that it provides everyone with the second chance and fairness it promises.

To learn more about this documentary, check out our interview with Director/Producer Wynette Yao and Cinematographer/Editor Travis Edwards, here.