Monahan sets sail

I got a chance to see BODY OF LIES over the weekend and was very pleasantly surprised. I was expecting some typical convoluted political thriller, but instead I was treated to some of the most entertaining bouts of political espionage and terrorist head-busting since season 3 of “24”. Couple that with DEPARTED, and writer William Monahan is officially a force to be reckoned with and a man who we should all pay serious attention to.

With a slew of projects on the way, most of which he wrote, Monahan shows no signs of slowing down. He has written and is set to direct the film THE ESSEX, an historical drama about Captain David S. Porter and his out of control sea battles against the British during the War of 1812. History shows that the ships of the British Royal Navy heavily outnumbered the American naval fleet, but Porter managed to steer the Essex past British cruisers to reach the Pacific, where it pulverized the British whaling fleet before engaging in a final battle with a special Brit squadron.

Although not known for his historical epics, the first major script that Monahan ever sold was TRIPOLI, which covered the same historical time period and is currently in production. Monahan also has the Mel Gibson vehichle EDGE OF DARKNESS on the way as well as his directorial debut LONDON BOULEVARD starring Keira Knightley and Colin Farrell. Behold ladies and gentlemen; the year of the Monahan.