NETFLIX: UNCUT GEM

Release Date: Netflix Malaysia, 31 Jan 2020

Genre: Drama / Thriller

Running Length: 2:16

Cast: Adam Sandler, Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Lakeith Stanfield, Eric Bogosian, Judd Hirsch

Director: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie

Screenplay: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie, Ronald Bronstein

The backdrop that UNCUT GEMS transpires against is not new - the gemstone industry. But the way this movie unfolds is refreshing.

The pace is relentless with shady characters and con artist talking and shouting on top of each other at any one time. I was trying hard to understand what was going on 10 percent into the movie and my head wanted to explode. I wanted to scream, "WTF is going on??! Can all of you just SHUT UP!!!"

But if you can power through and not be distracted by pausing or fast forwarding or even walking to the fridge to get something (since this is streaming on Netflix), the payoff is worth it.

Gemstone dealer Howard Ratner (Sandler) is the film’s high-strung protagonist who likes to live on the edge and is always on the verge of an eruption. He is a womanizer, compulsive gambler and all-around crook. Howard is pinning all his hopes on an Ethiopian opal that would get him out out of his debt situation. Throughout the film, he is a ticking time bomb. 

This is one of those rare gems of a movie that almost everything about it, from the directing to the acting and the technical aspects of it, is flawless. Adam Sandler received so many critical praises for his performance here I had to check it out (I'm never a big fan of Adam). If I'm one of the film studio executives, I wouldn't be able to imagine Sandler in this role, "C'mon, this role is totally out of his league!"

It’s a tough part for anyone to pull off, but Sandler nails it. His character is repulsive but yet, oddly charismatic. I can't help but to root for him.

Set in New York in 2012, the Safdie Brothers successfully captures the overwhelming and chaotic energy of the city with the extreme close-ups of the characters, intentional haphazard editing and its synthesized score.

This movie is uncompromising, stressful and exhausting - but a very necessary watch.

RATING: 9.5/10

THE TWO POPES

Release Date: Netflix Malaysia, 20 Dec 2019
Genre: Drama

Running Length: 2:05

Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce, Juan Minujín

Director: Fernando Meirelles

Screenplay: Anthony McCarten

Based on true events, THE TWO POPES imagines a meeting between Pope Benedict/Cardinal Ratzinger (Hopkins) and his future successor, Pope Francis/Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Pryce). Benedict is a conservative leader while Francis is more of a liberal and modern thinker; and one of Pope Benedict's harshest critics.

I was expecting this movie to be dry and talky-talky. Yes, it's talky-talky but it's absolutely not boring.

There are elements of faith in this movie but the filmmakers are more concerned with giving us an inside look on the political side of the church and a rare behind-the-scene peek into the process of voting for a Pope. 

Of course, the highlight to me was seeing the meeting of the two men of faith. The bulk of the film happens when Pope Benedict summons Bergoglio to visit him in Rome with the purpose of informing him of his resignation, and tries to convince him to be his successor. 

What really spoke to me was seeing Bergoglio trying to avoid his destiny to be the future world leader because he felt undeserving due to a crisis of conscience (he was scarred by a particular incident that happened to him when he was a young man, shown here in flashbacks).

The performances from both Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce are on point. You can see both their character's arc transform on screen throughout the course of the movie. The dialogue is sharp and peppered with just enough humour to make me see them as imperfect humans; one more close-minded than the other, but both equally passionate for God and compassionate for His people.  

What I also like is the unconventional cinematography and editing choice the filmmakers made to keep this film moving along swiftly. The decision to use the shaky cam approach for some scenes were distracting at first, but overtime, it did successfully gave us the audience, a more intimate and almost voyeuristic view into the conversations of these two godly men.  

This is such a fascinating movie as it demystifies these divine men as mere mortals, and surprisingly, it made me reflect my relationship with God and who I am as a human being.  

RATING: 8.5/10

MARRIAGE STORY

Release Date: Netflix Malaysia, 06 Dec 2019
Genre: Drama
Running Length: 2:16
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Laura Dern, Ray Liotta, Alan Alda, Azhy Robertson
Director: Noah Baumbach
Screenplay: Noah Baumbach

MARRIAGE STORY is a love story but not that kind. It's humourous, honest and heartbreaking. 

This movie is about the exploration of marriage; the happier days and the end it. When the movie begins, Nicole (Johansson) and Charlie (Driver) are in the process of splitting up. All they want is to ensure that they can still raise and provide the best for their son (Robertson). And when the movie ends, it would leave the audience on a bittersweet note. 

Most films about divorce focus on the bitterness and the shouting matches but not this one. Almost the entire length of the movie, it centres around how these two adults try to cope with what's happening in a, well....adult way. Most of the the time it involves a lot of talking or just silence.  

What I appreciate about this movie is how the filmmakers showcase the process of a divorce especially when the lawyers are involved. Well, there are a few heavy handed scenes to caricaturize the lawyers but most of it are true; all they care is about being paid and "winning". 

I'm also glad the director didn't take sides on who's the "bad" person and who's the "good" one. We clearly know why Nicole wants out from the marriage but the audience can also empathize with Charlie.  

The watch-ability of Marriage Story is squarely on the shoulders of the stellar performances of Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver. There is this one argument scene which was so intense it really got to me. 

(Strangely, I feel if this was made into a small-scale theater production, the raw emotions shown by the actors would have been more affecting and powerful for its audience.) 

The film’s themes and emotions are universal. One doesn't have to have gone through a divorce to "enjoy" this film but whoever has been through a break-up will appreciate the sensitivity shown in how a separation will take a personal toll on the respective parties. 

RATING: 8.5/10

FORD V FERRARI

Release Date: Malaysia, 14 Nov 2019

Genre: Drama

Running Length: 2:32

Cast: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe, Tracy Letts, Josh Lucas, Noah Jupe

Director: James Mangold

Screenplay: Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller

Do not be put off by the average looking trailer. When I first saw it, it looked uninteresting. But thanks to some positive reviews and buzz worthy word-of-mouth, I'm glad I checked it out. FORD V FERRARI is anything but boring!

This movie is probably the most entertaining feel-good movie of the year for me. And this is coming from someone who has zero interest in cars. Why I really enjoyed this film:

• It has all the beats of a good sports movie; the underdog, the washed up coach, the training montage, the competition, the tension, the victory. 
• Excellent chemistry between movie stars Damon and Bale. It's their "bromance" that makes this movie rise up above the other movies from the same genre. (Side note: This seems to be the year where star-driven movies are making a comeback vs superhero action genre. Case in point; Once Upon A Time in Hollywood)
• The races are beautifully shot. It's not confusing and you can easily make out who's leading the track and who's lacking behind. The race scenes feel real and dangerous, with death a high possibility. Apparently, no CGI was used for the racing scenes. The energetic and pulsating score also added to the intensity of these "action" pieces. 
• The father (Bale) and son (Jupe) relationship here is touching.
• The filmmakers take on who's the true villain (and it's not Ferrari).  

Overall, Ford v Ferrari isn’t necessarily a ground breaking movie, but it’s a solid entertaining blockbuster driven by human drama.

RATING: 9/10

JOKER

Release Date: Malaysia, 03 Oct 2019
Genre: Drama / Crime

Running Length: 2:02

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen

Director: Todd Phillips 

Screenplay: Todd Phillips & Scott Silver

JOKER is certainly a provocative film. 

To me, it was uncomfortable at times to witness an individual with a fragile mind slowly descending into madness. Some viewers may also find this movie unsettling because of the glorification of our main villain and his excuse for violence. And for some, with what's happening in the world today, the scenes depicting the public taking their frustration into the streets to riot and loot may just hit it close to home for them.

The reason Joker is believable is squarely because of Joaquin Phoenix’s dedicated and uncompromising portrayal of Arthur Fleck/Joker. For those who doesn’t know his work, they will be in for a treat. But for those who are familiar, we know he is definitely most capable of such tour de force. However, what I am most captivated about his performance here is his physical transformation and his ability to be both scary and sympathetic at the same time. Phoenix puts his own spin on the maniacal signature Joker laugh (His character Arthur claims it's an uncontrollable medical condition but then in one scene, he could just stop laughing at will).  

As for the film itself, I can't help but find it to be too visually perfect. I mean, it seems as though almost every moment was intentionally shot and edited with the purpose of creating an impact. Don't get me wrong, the film looks grainy and gorgeous but I was distracted with these "moments". In fact, I felt Phoenix went a little too method in some of these shots (it looks stunning in the first teaser trailer, but to see such "BE AWED" moments repeatedly over the course of a 2 hour film can be a tad too self indulgent and even tedious)

And when it comes to references, although I have only watched a few clips from Taxi Driver, there were just too many scenes in Joker aping that movie. Also, I get it that this movie exist in the Batman universe, but I felt the filmmakers here tried a little too hard to have a force connection with that universe. 

Plus, I felt that the pacing was a little off. I can't put a finger to it but I felt some parts were disjointed and inconsistent. Not too sure if it was the result of writing, directing, editing or all three. For example, the film experiments with the unreliable narrator angle but I just couldn't feel the "Oh wow, I didn't see that coming! That was smart" impact when they unveiled it. 

All in all, is Joker a good film? Well, at times I felt the filmmakers bit off more than they could chew but it's still a necessary film to watch. Warning: If you're going into this film to be entertained, be prepared to be disturbed instead. The very fact that I was still thinking about this movie long after the curtain fell says something about this film. 

               

"Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?"

RATING: 9/10

AD ASTRA

Release Date: Malaysia, 19 Sep 2019

Genre: Science Fiction / Drama

Running Length: 2:02

Cast: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Liv Tyler, Donald Sutherland, Ruth Negga

Director: James Gray 

Screenplay: Ethan Gross

"He could only see what was not there and miss what was right in front of him."

AD ASTRA (Latin for "to the stars") isn’t the sort of sci-fi motion picture with action and explosion aka Armageddon, eventhough it has Liv Tyler in this movie. Instead, this movie is in the same vein as The Martian, Gravity and Interstellar where the focus is on the human spirit and relationships. What I really enjoyed about this film is the use of space exploration as a canvas to look inward at the very core of our humanity - what does it mean to live and to love? 

This film spoke to me and probably most men, as our masculinity are pegged with our drive, performance and success in reaching our quest. And if we fail, we are told to "man up". As a result, we are good at compartmentalizing how we feel. Such suppression usually leads to loneliness and being distant in our relationships.

Brad Pitt, fresh off the recent Once Upon A Time in Hollywood turns in another stellar performance. His performances here reminds us that he’s more than a pretty face. He is restrained throughout the entire film (probably because his character's heart rate doesn't go up more than 80 bpm even when he is faced head-on with fight-or-flight situations).

The cinematography and set design captures the vastness of space and just so gorgeous to look at respectively. And the soundtrack complements the film instead of trying to forcefully draw out a certain emotion from the audience.

All in all, it was a meditative and healing experience for me as this film develops at its own pace. At times, it feels personal and intimate as though Brad Pitt was still reeling from his recent split from Angelina Jolie and their children. It feels like we're inside Brad Pitt's brain as we see him close-up in almost every frame and hear him narrating calmly in voice-over throughout the film. A mesmerizing film. 

RATING: 9/10

TV Review: MINDHUNTER (SEASON 2)

Release Date: Now streaming on Netflix (Malaysia)

Genre: Crime / Drama / Thriller

No. of Episodes: 9

Cast: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv, Albert Jones, Lauren Glazier, Stacey Roca, Michael Cerveris

Series created by: Joe Penhall

When MINDHUNTER first came out almost 2 years ago on Netflix, I was completely captivated by it. It showed the power of dialogue done right. I was genuinely creep out by the interviews between our two FBI protagonist (Groff and McCallany) and the serial killers. This video explained it best. 

So when the second season recently came out, I was stoked. So, is season 2 better than the first one?

But before I give my review, for those who have yet to watch Season 1, here's what this crime series is all about. Set in the late 1970s, two FBI agents are tasked with interviewing serial killers to determine patterns on why they did what they did. By profiling them, such behavioral research will be used to solve open cases.

Season 2 picked up immediately from the ending of Season 1. Some of the infamous serial murderers who appeared in this season include: Son of Sam, Charles Manson, Tex Watson, Paul "Bag Murderer" Bateson, BTK and Wayne Williams.

I found this season not as gripping as Season 1. Perhaps I was expecting more of those chilling interviews to understand deeper what was going on in the minds of the criminals. But this season instead chose to tackle an ongoing case, the politics and bureaucracy of the justice system and the personal drama of some of the characters.

If there is one thing I learned about a profile pattern from this season is the need to control. Also, this season competently explores the question of, "Are serial killers born or made?" through a family tragedy.

All in all, I'm still invested in this series and I can't wait for Season 3!

RATING: 7.5/10

PARASITE

Release Date: Malaysia, 15 Aug 2019

Genre: Thriller / Drama

Running Length: 2:12

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-Kyun, Jo Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-Shik, Park So-Dam, Lee Jeong-eun
Director: Bong Joon-Ho
Screenplay: Jin Won-Han, Bong Joon-Ho

PARASITE, the latest from Bong Joon-Ho (The Host, Snowpiercer, Okja) tells the tale of a lower-class unemployed family of four. Luck (or some may argue bad luck) came upon them when they chanced upon a glamorous higher-class family of four and in no time, their lives get entangled in the most unexpected way. 

Bong Joon-Ho has crafted a rare and bizarre movie but yet it's very accessible and believable to audiences worldwide. Parasite is a multi-genre movie where it has elements of dark comedy, drama and thriller. And somehow it works. 

The performances are on point. What I do like are the restrained set pieces and how the cinematographer is able to bring out the best with the limitations. The spaces where the poor lives feels really claustrophobic and "smelly" while the rich; spacious and clean. 

Just like Okja, if there is one thing which I felt was a tad too heavy-handed is its social commentary. Also, the length of the movie especially the middle portion could have benefited if it was trimmed down a little. 

RATING: 8/10 

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Release Date: Malaysia, 15 Aug 2019

Genre: Drama / Comedy

Running Length: 2:41

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant

Director: Quentin Tarantino 

Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino 

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD is nothing like anything being released recently from the Hollywood factory. There isn't really much of a plot. As an audience, I was just kinda "hanging out" with the two leads; Leonardo and Brad, throughout the almost 3 hours movie length. However, the final hour of the movie really paid off with an unexpected jaw dropping "Holy SH*T!" ending! 

When Tarantino announced he would be doing a movie with Charles Manson in it, he wasn't lying when he said this was NOT a movie about Charles Manson. 

I heard of "Charles Manson" but I really didn't know much about him until this movie. If I knew more of what he did and his movement, I'm sure I would have enjoyed this movie more. So here you go if you don't know who the Manson Family is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manson_Family Read this before you watch this film. 

Instead, this movie is about middle-aged fading star Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his buddy/stunt double, Cliff Booth (Pitt). Set in 1969 during the flower power Vietnam War years, this fairy tale like movie intersects with real historical tapestry, giving us a contrasting look at larger-than-life movie gods and their hedonistic life vs. a more cynical common American society. 

What I like about this movie is its comedic moments especially of the violent variety (although the level of violence in this film is significantly restrained compared to Tarantino's other movies). Tarantino also had some fun here with the audience with his signature treatment of tension and suspense as it plays out counter to what we expect. 

DiCaprio and Pitt are perfect here as buddies. I did enjoy "hanging out" with them. The rest of the performances are on-point too. 

And the set design here is perfect. This film feels like the 60s. I believe this sixties atmosphere is also contributed by Tarantino's decision to shoot this movie on film (and the camera movements). It does make a difference in the output - it looks older and warmer. 

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood might be too long and meandering for some. It's a little self-indulgent too, as expected since we're talking about QT here. But thankfully it's saved by great performances, an excellent atmospheric 60's Hollywood set design and brilliant memorable moments. 

It's true. Quentin Tarantino is really passionate and loves cinema movies with all his heart. 

RATING: 8/10  

Review: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY

Release Date: Malaysia, 8 Nov 2018

Genre: Drama / Musical

Running Length: 2:13

Cast: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Allen Leech, Tom Hollander, Mike Myers.

Director: Bryan Singer

Screenplay: Anthony McCarten, based on a story by Anthony McCarten and Peter Morgan

What's this movie about? 

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY chronicles 15 years of the classic rock band Queen, from their early days in England to the their legendary performance at Live Aid in 1985.

Of course, this movie centres around lead singer Freddie Mercury's (Malek) flamboyant and "drama mama" life as he struggles with fame.

Highlights and Lowlights

The most compelling thing about the movie is the celebration of Queen's music and its musical sequences. It was a good move on the the filmmakers part to opt for a behind-the-scenes look at how some of their "greatest hits" were developed. I tell you...those instances were feel-good-toe-tapping-sing-along moments man.

Unfortunately, despite a strong performance and dynamic stage presence by Malek, the non-performance part of the movie just can't find its footing. The dramatic arc is well...predictable. The filmmakers had to insert a "villain" and even re-arranged the timeline of certain events to make the film more cinematic.

To be fair, it's not plain but it's an expected story of a 70s/80s rock band; their meteoric rise, the break up and getting back together again. We've seen all these before. 

Speaking of Malek, his version of Mercury is initially distracting but as he loses the big hair and grows the moustache in his later years, his transformation is complete.

There are some nice little touches peppered throughout the film that made me smile such as the customized 20th Century Fox opening theme, some good old British one-liners and Mike Meyers' character. 

Of course, the highlight to me was the re-creation of the 1985 Live Aid performance which book-ended the film. That 15-minutes was so electrifying I had tears in my eyes. That voice, that energy, that defiance - there will never be another Freddy Mercury again.

In summary

This is a bias review because I enjoy Queen's songs - alot.

Those expecting a warts-and-all version of a Queen biopic will be disappointed. Instead,  BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY is more of a celebration of the band's songs. If you're a fan, this movie will leave you stomping your feet (twice) and clapping your hands (once) when the credits roll.

RATING: 8/10

Review: FIRST MAN

Release Date: Malaysia, 18 Oct 2018

Genre: Drama / Adventure

Running Length: 2:21

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll

Director: Damien Chazelle 

Screenplay: Josh Singer, based on "First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong" by James Hansen 

What's this movie about?
FIRST MAN follows the story of astronaut Neil Armstrong on his journey to become the first man to walk on the moon in 1969.

Not only it focuses on the years leading up to that historical moment, this film also offers an intimate behind-the-scenes on his relationship with his family and what goes through his mind.

Highlights and Lowlights
Despite being a film about space adventure, I'm so glad the filmmakers didn't turn this into a special effects-loaded production. Most of the "space" scenes are from the POV of the astronauts inside the ship. And wow, David Bowie singing "Am I sitting in a tin can" in Space Oddity really rang true for those sequences!

And the moon scene is truly jaw-dropping.

In summary

Damien Chazelle's Whiplash left me breathless and it was one of the highest rated films of 2015 for me. His follow-up La La Land - man, the final act sucker punched me in the gut.

So it was with great anticipation I had for FIRST MAN, his third film. But somehow, the experience left me...emotionally detached.

I couldn't figure out what's wrong because this is a very accomplished film with good performances and technical achievement. Thus, I concluded that "it's not you, it's me". I am the problem. (Perhaps it's because I have never had any interest in the space race or even astronomy.)

That said, at least this movie sparked off some kind of interest to find out more about the Cold War. 

RATING: 7/10

A STAR IS BORN

Release Date: Malaysia, 18 Oct 2018

Genre: Drama / Musical

Running Length: 2:16

Cast: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott, Andrew Dice Clay, Ravi Gavron, Anthony Ramos, Dave Chappelle

Director: Bradley Cooper

Screenplay: Eric Roth and Bradley Cooper & Will Fetters, based on a story by William A. Wellman and Robert Carson

Note: The best way to enjoy the full experience of A STAR IS BORN is not to have watched any of the previous versions (this Bradley Cooper's take is the 4th, the last one was in 1976), read any reviews or even listen to any of the music from this soundtrack. 

I will keep my review as spoiler free as possible, but that said, please discontinue reading if you've yet to watch this movie.

What's this movie about?

In essence, A STAR IS BORN is about one comet rising while another crashes. 

Jackson Maine (Cooper) is a fading country rock music star who accidentally discovers a talented unknown, Ally (Lady Gaga). They started a whirlwind romance as he took her under his wings. 

We've seen this story many times, haven't we? Soon, Ally's singing career skyrockets, leaving Jackson behind. It doesn't help too that Jackson is an alcoholic.  

Highlights!

I'm in awe of Bradley Cooper's capability as a first time director. I could really feel his passion and raw-ness on every frame of the movie.   

The technical choices he makes; the camera angles, the sound and the very close-up shots of the characters, made me invested in Jackson and Ally at get go. It felt immersive - like I was right there next to Jackson and Ally when they were singing in front of thousands of audience.

As good as Lady Gaga's performance is (her acting and the her chemistry with Cooper's character is so very believable), I thought Cooper gave his best performance ever here. 

One can really feel him spiraling out of control and losing the battle to his inner demons. As a rock star, he is never cocky. In fact, he's a good man. That's why it was difficult to watch him struggle through his emotional agony. 

The supporting cast are all very capable too. 

And the songs - it's really good! A big portion of the movie's screen time is devoted to performances which ranges from familiar covers to original composition (some were co-written by Cooper himself). I read today that the soundtrack has held on to its No.1 spot this week on the Billboard 200 chart for the second straight week.

Lowlights

I thought the middle portion was a little flabby. I get what the filmmakers were trying to achieve, but yet, it was draggy at times. 

Also, I'm not sure if it was done on purpose but I couldn't seem to keep track of the timeline of this movie. There were moments I went, "Wait a minute, did months just passed by?" Maybe Cooper was trying to inform his audience that his character Jackson was so drunk, he just couldn't keep track of time? I dunno.  

And of course, the resolution. As emotionally heart wrenching as it was, I personally felt some people would take it the wrong way and may view it as a permissible way to cop-out. 

In summary

Bradley Cooper's A STAR IS BORN has Oscars written all over it. It has the package - strong performances, a very good soundtrack, capably directed and most importantly, it's relatable to today's social issues. 

This is a raw and heartbreaking movie man...

RATING: 8.5/10

ONE TWO JAGA (Malaysia, 06 Sep 2018)

Genre: Drama / Thriller

Running Length: 1:20

Cast: Zahiril Adzim, Rosdeen Suboh, Ario Bayu, Asmara Abigail, Timothy Castillo, Iedil Putra, Azman Hassan, Amerul Affendi

Director: Nam Ron

Screenplay: Ayam Fared, Pitt Hanif, Nam Ron

What's this movie about? 

ONE TWO JAGA, an indie film produced by Bront Palarae and directed by Nam Ron, is an important local release post GE-14.  It's the first film in Malaysia that PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) has approved which depicts the corruption within the Malaysia's police force.

The title of the movie is taken from the chant of the children game, "Police and Thief". For those old enough to remember, it goes something like, "Police and thief one two jaga. Police mati, pencuri jaga!" 

The plot of this crime drama threads on grey morality; that thin line between the good and the bad, as it deals with police corruption and illegal immigrants.

Highlights!

• Finally a local movie which doesn't preach at you. I like how corruption is depicted here - it is what it is as a way of life as characterized by the partnership of Hassan, a senior cop and Hussein, a rookie. Also the similar approach is used effectively to chronicle the story of Sugiman-Sumiati, a brother and sister from Indonesia who works as foreign workers in Malaysia.  
• Good performances from the main and supporting cast especially from Zahiril Adzim who plays the rookie cop, Ario Bayu the hardworking foreign labourer and Amerul Affendi a loose canon with a heart. (Interestingly, Zahiril, Amerul and Iedil Putra have acted together in Pekak, a 2016 local production which I enjoyed)

Lowlights

• Pacing issue. I have no problems with slow burn thrillers but the uneven pacing somehow made the film draggy and boring during some parts. 
• Too many characters. Perhaps the problem with the pacing has got to do with an unnecessary story dedicated to a cash-strapped Filipino immigrant (Castillo). The filmmakers could have omitted that whole story line altogether and focused on the stories of Hassan-Hussein and Sugiman-Sumiati. 
• Bleeped out dialogues and blurred out images. If only the censorship board allowed these parts to pass through, it could have showcased a more realistic day-to-day life of our characters. 

In summary
ONE TWO JAGA is a mashup of Denzel Washington's Training Day and the current foreign labourers situation in Malaysia. 

Despite an unnecessary side plot and the uneven pacing, the third act redeems itself. Not as explosive as Denzel's "King Kong ain't got sh*t on me!" conclusion in Training Day but it's memorable nevertheless.    

The intertitle ending reminded me of the alternate Infernal Affairs cut which markets like us and China got. Personally, it's not the ending I wanted. That said, this movie is definitely an important stepping stone for more gritty and realistic Malaysian cinema to come. 

RATING: 7.5/10

BIG BROTHER (大师兄) (Malaysia, 16 Aug 2018)

Genre: Drama / Action

Running Length: 1:41

Cast: Donnie Yen, Joe Chen, Kang Yu, Jack Lok, Bruce Tong, Chris Tong, Gladys Li, Gordon Lau

Director: Kam Ka Wai

Screenplay: Chan Tai-lee

What's this movie about?

BIG BROTHER (大师兄) tells a tale of a soldier (Donnie Yen) who takes up a high school teacher position in a public school in Hong Kong. He uses unconventional teaching methods to connect with his students. He has a heart for this group of rebellious students who comes from troubled backgrounds. Familiar? Yes, think Dangerous Minds or even Dead Poets Society.

This is not your typical Donnie Yen movie. There are a couple of his signature MMA styled fight scenes but this is primarily a drama film.

Highlights!

• The young actors cast as the students. A little rough at the edges but you know they gave their best and most sincere performances. Standouts for me are Bruce and Chris Tong (twins and sons of veteran TV actor Kent Tong) and Gordon Lau, who is cast as a 3rd generation Pakistani living in Hong Kong who aspires to make it big as a musician. 
• A good awareness to social problems. And that's a lot of them highlighted here from localised HK issues to global problems; the tremendous pressure faced by students in HK, crammed living conditions and the immigrant life. And there's war, racial discrimination and even about the ills of alcohol and smoking. Thankfully the filmmakers didn't preach about this but instead used it as a canvass to paint the family troubles and relationships of the students.  
• Fight sequences. There are a couple here but the final one in a classroom was the highlight for me. It's creative, realistic and painful looking.  
• Kang Yu as the protagonist. I've not really heard of him before but I really dig his maniacal performance. He looks like a buff up Namewee. 
• Old TVB and HK movie stars round up the cast as supporting actors and cameos. It's good to see them again on big screen as they bring a certain familiarity.

Lowlights

• Too easy resolutions. Pretty heavy handed at times as there were some family issues brought up one minute and the next minute, it was solved just like that, thanks to Donnie Yen the teacher. 
• More is less. There were just too many side stories and social highlights and what not. As a result, the main plots felt diluted and shallow. 

In summary

Surprisingly, I enjoyed BIG BROTHER despite its predictable plot. Perhaps it appealed to me as I have the heart of a teacher with a soft spot for the marginalized.

It's refreshing to get a legit movie star ie. Yen, to produce and star in such a movie and to release it during the summer blockbuster season. Despite some eye rolling moments and oh-so-easy resolution, it's generally a positive, educational and entertaining flick.
.

Rating: 8.5/10

MEN ON THE DRAGON (Malaysia, 02 Aug 2018)

Genre: Drama / Comedy

Running Length: 1:32

Cast: Francis Ng, Poon Chan Leung, Kenny Wong, Tony Wu, Jennifer Yu, Nancy Wu

Director: Sunny Chan

Screenplay: Sunny Chan 

What's this movie about? 

MEN ON THE DRAGON (逆流大叔) tells the tale of four men who work for a telecom company who decide to join the company’s dragon boat team in a bid to avoid a corporate layoff.

If I'm not mistaken, the direct translation of the Chinese title means "uncles going against the tide", which is a more accurate description of this underdog sports comedy-drama. The real focus here is more about these four lovable losers going through mid-life crisis instead of the sport of dragon boating.

Highlights!

• Conceptually a good story. I have always had a soft spot for HK movies. I grew up with it and I could relate to their stories. But in the past decade, high quality HK movies are as rare as hen's teeth. So kudos to director and scriptwriter Sunny Chan for crafting out an original story about working class middle aged men and mashing it up with a sports theme.
• A movie for HK people. This is not a China funded production and I'm not sure if it's even going to be screened in mainland China - which is great. Without Big Brother watching over, the filmmakers were free to develop a true HK movie, resulting to nuances and pop culture references which I truly appreciate eg. kids today speaking in Mandarin, using Chow Yun Fat's classic A Better Tomorrow as a reference point. But the biggest theme that stood out for me is the 'Lion Rock' spirit (HK people's can-do spirit), told from the perspective of both the individual characters and Hong Kong as a country.     
• Intimate cinematography. A big shout out to the person behind the camera for successfully capturing the realistic HK life cinematically eg. small and crowded flats, interesting angles during the dragon boat races.  
• The theme song by Rubberband. Great guitar riffs and a catchy chorus. Instantly likeable. 

Lowlights

• Mediocre execution. Although the premise is interesting, the film falls short in its execution. Perhaps there were just too many themes the filmmakers wanted to explore in 90 mins. The story tries hard to balance between the challenges of the personal lives of our 4 men and a sports movie. As a result, it lacked depth in both areas and when the finale came, there was no emotional payoff. 
• Casting. I can sense that everyone in this film really gave their best in their performance. However because some of them were placed in the wrong role, they ended up being unbelievable.     

In summary
MEN ON THE DRAGON (逆流大叔) is not going to end up as a classic HK movie but it's definitely one of the more enjoyable ones in recent years. It's not your typical underdog sports movie but more of a bittersweet tale about men in mid-life crisis. 

RATING: 8/10

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (Malaysia, 22 Feb 2018)

Genre: Drama
Running Length: 1:55
Cast: Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Abbie Cornish, Lucas Hedges, Caleb Landry Jones, Peter Dinklage
Director: Martin McDonagh
Screenplay: Martin McDonagh

In my opinion, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI exists in a universe where God's grace does not exist and the path to redemption is dependent on their own hands. The film takes viewers on an unpredictable ride while balancing between tragedy and dark comedy.

What's this movie about?

A grieving mother (McDormand) personally challenges the local authorities to solve her teenage daughter's murder because they were taking too long to arrest the culprit. She provokes them by advertising on three billboards, hence the name of the film. Not only does she get their attention but also the attention of the town folks. 

What I like about it?

• Its unpredictability. There were times I thought I knew where the story was going but yet it surprised me with its twist; some of it karmic and some are shocking.   
• Character arc. As much as the narrative is engaging, it's the inner journey of its main characters which were the highlight for me.
• Excellent acting. All of the main cast even the supporting ones give a memorable performance; McDormand, Harrelson, Rockwell. Peter Dinklage has one short-but-powerful monologue.
• Tonality. As the themes explored here are serious, the filmmakers expertly uses dark comedy to keep the film from becoming too gloomy. It's a nice a movie to look at too - clean and clear.

What I didn't?

• Excessive swearing.
• Emotionally not satisfying. This film appealed to me intellectually but I was hoping for a more moving film. A story that would provoke me for days to come. But all I felt after the movie was, "That's refreshing". Perhaps I couldn't  relate to the context as I'm not from that part of the world. Maybe if it was set in an Asian context exploring Asian themes but told in such an interesting story structure with award winning performances - it would just punch me in the gut. 

RATING: 8.5/10

DARKEST HOUR

Malaysia Release Date: 31 Jan 2018
Genre: Drama
Running Length: 2:05
Cast: Gary Oldman, Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn, Stephen Dillane, Ronald Pickup
Director: Joe Wright
Screenplay: Anthony McCarten

DARKEST HOUR is a good companion piece to last year's excellent DUNKIRK. It gave me a more complete perspective on the evacuation at Dunkirk, France. While Christopher Nolan's masterpiece focuses on what happened at the battlefield, Joe Wright's Darkest Hour delves into the behind-the-scenes of what Winston Churchill had to go through to mobilize a civilian fleet to get the 300,000+ soldiers at Dunkirk back to England.

Although this movie doesn't feature any war scenes, that doesn’t mean there isn’t any "war". Churchill faces a different kind of war, as his battlefield is in the House of Commons. The newly elected PM's approach was "victory at all costs" but the majority instead favoured "peace at all costs" ie. the latter approach would force England to negotiate and make "peace" with the Nazis.   

I went into this movie wanting to know more about Churchill as a leader as I didn't know much of him in all honesty. And I got what I was looking for and more. It made me wanting to find out more about this part of history.

Of course the highlight of Darkest Hour is Gary Oldman's performance as Winston Churchill. Firstly, the make-up work is remarkable. It's so believable. But more importantly, it's the little things that Oldman expertly aced such as the man's mannerism, his mumbling, his worldview, sense of humour, power, doubts and vulnerability. Oldman is like a chameleon, he disappears into every role. But his performance here should go down as one of his best.

And there is this scene of Churchill engaging with the everyday citizens in the subway which I really like. Somehow it just got to me emotionally. 

However as a whole, I wished the movie was more compelling. I was hoping it would play out more like a thriller to amped-up the suspense (I remember this old movie Thirteen Days, about the real events of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, which got me sitting at the edge of my seat eventhough I knew the outcome) but instead the filmmakers resorted to creative edits and camera shots to move the movie along. As a result, some scenes especially the ones in the middle were not as engaging.

RATING: 7.5/10

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

Malaysia Release Date: 28 Dec 2017
Genre: Musical / Drama
Running Length: 1:45
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Keala Settle, Sam Humphrey
Director: Michael Gracey
Screenplay: Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is supposedly based on a true story of P.T. Barnum, the creator of the "circus" we all know today, yes...the trapeze, elephants, lions etc all under the signature red and white striped tent. Although the filmmakers featured characters and key events that actually happened, I highly doubt the motivations of P.T Barnum (Jackman) is truly represented in this movie. (I believe this article reported in The Daily Mail UK is more accurate of his colourful life)

Nevertheless, what really worked for me are the songs. To side track, I dislike musicals, even cartoons with characters singing about "no worries for the rest of your days" or "letting it go". (La La Land worked for me not because of the songs but because of its realistic ending). So you can imagine the feeling of dread as I sat uncomfortably on the cinema chair. But the moment the opening number kicked off the film, it got my attention!

I think what worked for me are the pop and hip-hop inspired tunes. It was written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the duo behind La La Land. It's upbeat, clappy and foot-stomping catchy good! (The soundtrack is currently the no. 1 album in US, UK and a few more countries). And the singing and high energy dancing are all very well choreographed. It just makes the audience feel happy.

As for the story of how the poor boy Barnum became the rich and famous P.T. Barnum, it's ok but not remarkable. In fact as mentioned earlier, the screenplay downplays the aspect that Barnum was actually exploiting the misfits of society for his personal gain. However, he is re-framed here as someone who provides equality, diversity and self-empowerment. As well-meaning as these elements are, it feels forced to fit today's context.   

Jackman, as always is reliable, charismatic and highly energetic. Overall, it’s an entertaining family friendly film packed with infectious and crowd-pleasing numbers. (The other highlight for me was this couple sitting next to me who was so into the movie the girl would exclaimed loudly during key moments; "Oh NO!" "SH T!" "Nonononono").

RATING: 8/10