• Leonor Will Never Die

    Leonor Will Never Die

    ★★★★★

    This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

    I think it's not hyperbolic to say this film is redefining cinema. How the film blends with the filmmaking process is something I've never seen before. Turns out a film can be very honest as in how Ramirez Escobar (the director) shows her process inside the film and also Leonor (the character) puts resemblance of her life into her script. It's a remarkable exploration on multiple genres that genuinely reflects what Ramirez as a Manila-based filmmaker has experienced. At first…

  • Stealing Raden Saleh

    Stealing Raden Saleh

    ★★★½

    It has everything needed in a heist film, but this doesn't mean it is perfect. I wonder why they decided to go with English terms—considering the characters—that make certain dialogues not believable. There are also plot holes that make you questioning the police. However, it is a well-produced film and Umay and Iqbal delivered a great performance. Let's hope it's a start for more local films in this genre.

  • The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic

    The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic

    ★★★½

    A fresh take on how it'd be like to be a disabled person. The film successfully makes the idea interesting by making a horror of its kind.

  • Before, Now & Then

    Before, Now & Then

    ★★★★½

    A beautiful portrayal of a Sundanese woman who lived during a political conflict in 60s. Her story of struggles and hard decisions she needs to take are well delivered through an assembly of talented casts, great direction, and beautiful cinematography and scoring. Too bad I didn't get to experience it first on a big screen.

  • Satan's Slaves 2: Communion

    Satan's Slaves 2: Communion

    ★★★★½

    A visually pleasing sequel that will answer some questions you had and leave you with more.

    The film opens with a very strong scene, setting the mood just right. Interesting that the story starting to connect with Indonesian history at the time. Joko successfully brings back every fan-favorite bit from the first film without making it boring. Unfortunately the film doesn't end as strong as the setup. Well, but we are finally able to see Ical Tanjung's beautiful cinematography on IMAX.

  • Decision to Leave

    Decision to Leave

    ★★★★★

    Park Chan-wook's take on simpin' and I love it

  • Thor: Love and Thunder

    Thor: Love and Thunder

    ★★½

    Taika Waititi is the one who saved the Thor-franchise and ruined it again to be the worst of MCU

  • Everything Everywhere All at Once

    Everything Everywhere All at Once

    ★★★★★

    Everything is just perfect. Protect the 7 people in their VFX team at all cost.

  • 8½

    ★★★★½

    Beautiful. The fact they made this in 60s is unbelievable.

  • Mandibles

    Mandibles

    ★★★★½

    Ri-toro-culous 🤘🤘 Dumb people will always find their way to keep living. Adèle Exarchopoulos is amazingly funny.

  • Broker

    Broker

    ★★★★½

    Kore-eda is just a master on this kind of film. An interesting combination of Japanese director who won Palme d'Or for Shoplifters and Korean actor Song Kang-ho who also won the same award for Parasite a year later.

  • Looking for Alaska

    Looking for Alaska

    ★★★★★

    So good! Years ago a friend who reads (a lot) made me read it and was my first English fiction book. I liked the book and was upset when they cancelled the movie. Now I realized a movie won't do justice to the book — as we need to fall in love with Alaska and the series (with great casting!) successfully does that.