Reviews

What's interesting about Budi Pekerti is that it takes the most relevant elements in social media life today: virality, cancel culture, and popularity. In his latest feature film after Photocopier (2021), Wregas Bhanuteja presents characters full of ethical and personality complexity which have to face the nightmare of their actions because of social media which causes the boundaries of morality to become blurred. Wregas is an expert in exploring human emotions and how a person's choices will have consequences, especially those that happen to Mrs. Prani (played extraordinary by Sha Ine Febriyanti) so this film feels very close to us. What Wregas did was so precise and effective that Budi Pekerti deserves to be one of the best Indonesian films in 2023.

With a longer duration than the previous trilogy, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes should be our guide to exploring the past of Panem, the history of the Hunger Games and of course the dark story behind the main antagonist, President Snow. However, what the prequel presents feels shallow, rushed, and unsatisfying. This film is still interesting in terms of visuals, action scenes, characters (especially Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow and Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird) and the brutalist architectural setting of The Capitol. The Ballad may not be as good as the Hunger Games trilogy but it quite stands out among the franchise and of course Rachel Zegler can sing.

From the most memorable dialogue (Neng, ikut abang dangdutan yuk? NAJIS LO!) to the most iconic dangdut soundtrack (Jablai, TITI KAMAL SANG), Mendadak Dangdut will always be remembered as one of the best Indonesian comedy-drama films ever. With ambitions like an independent film production, this film focuses on the strength of the dialogue, brilliant acting, and the simplicity of the production design which makes this film a classic or even a cult. This film also marks an era of Indonesian cinema that prioritizes originality, which produces films that are fresh, entertaining and timeless. Moreover, Mendadak Dandut gives a message about the complicated relationship between sisters which seems tacky but in fact this is what we miss.

Padmaavat was produced amidst controversy over the film's shooting process and its original source, a 16th-century poem, which was also controversial. This does not prevent the famous Indian director, Sanjay Leela Banshali, from presenting an epic story about the sacrifice of love, loyalty and self-respect. The film focuses on the sacrifices of the women of the Mewar Kingdom led by Rani Padmavati to refuse to obey the cruel ruler who would colonize their land. Many things are made excessive and dramatic, but this is what makes Padmaavat feel so compelling. Impressive acting is provided by the three main actors: Deepika Padukone, Ranver Singh, and Shahid Kapoor. Not to mention the traditional Indian music played to convey the atmosphere of this film, the costume designs are very luxurious, the settings are stunning, the dance numbers are beautiful and the use of CGI which, although good, still looks too computerized in some parts. Padmaavat is Banshali's ambition to deliver a controversial tale in Indian history (or should we say historical fiction?) in the form of a classy epic film - and it shows.

The plot is quite simple: a mother ordered a suit for her son to attend his sister's wedding. It turned out that the tailor's assistant and some of his teenage friends planned to borrow the jacket and return it before morning, then things got complicated because of that. Even in his early works, Abbas Kiarostami was able to bring to life simple stories but focused on social commentary regarding class differences. With a duration of only about one hour, A Suit for Wedding is a funny, tense, but also satirical film. Kiarostami's ability to use children's characters as vocal points in depicting people's social life is truly amazing, observational and impressive.

Through the Olive Trees is the final film in the "Koker Trilogy" which began with Where's the Friend's Home? (1987) and continued with And Life Goes On (1992). Similar to the two previous films in this trilogy, Abbas Kiarostami presents a slice of life story that tells about the life of village people, without significant conflict, but has a meaning that can penetrate the minds of the audience. Kiarostami proves his love for cinema by presenting a beautiful story about humans which this time happens behind a film production, ordinary people with their daily lives and without forgetting to show the visuals of rural Iran - it's as if there is a universe of its own, isn't it? Kiarostami is an expert and he knows which sides can be explored to depict his vision. Through the Olive Trees is the best conclusion to a trilogy that succeeds in blurring the lines between reality and fiction.

After the success of Danur Universe and the box office record-breaking film "KKN di Desa Penari", it seems that Awi Suryadi has established himself as one of the promising horror film directors in Indonesia. Through Kisah Tanah Jawa: Pocong Gundul, Awi presents a back and forth narrative that is neatly woven through the main character who has retrocognitive abilities. This film provides enough horror, jump scares and gore but still provides adequate storytelling. A big applause was also given to the production value, music score and set design, not to mention the make up for the Pocong itself, which was very convincing and neat. "Pocong Gundul" successfully opened a new horror universe which seems to be increasingly popular recently.

Blackberry is a smartly directed and excellently written biopic that builds all the suspense well to make the audience witness the birth of the first smartphone. The humor shown in this story-based film is also very straightforward, sharp, entertaining and provides an overview of business competition in the technology industry. This film would not be as successful and uplifting without brilliant directing from Matt Johnson (who also played as supporting character) and stunning acting performances from Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton - the perfect trio combination that easily makes Blackberry one of the best drama films of the year.

In 2022 horror film, X (2022), Ti West provides nostalgia for classic road trips and slasher horror in the 70s - 80s, but in the prequel film, Pearl, presents psychological horror as well as a tribute to Golden Age Hollywood, especially The Wizard of Oz (1938). A fresh twist where this film explores the main villain's past history which turned out to be full of sadness and trauma. Pearl is certainly terrifying but Mia Goth's brilliant performance sucessfully make her a miserable figure. Pearl is a perfect horror that is also able to evoke a sense of sympathy in the audience for the main character.

J. Robert Oppenheimer is an extraordinary and famous figure who led the controversial "Manhattan Project" and this time he is shown so boldly in a biopic. Based on the 2005 biography "American Prometheus" by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, Oppenheimer is a testament to hard work, dedication and consistency. With more epic and historical scale than his previous works, Christopher Nolan presents cinematic perfection in terms of directing, screenwriting, visual effects, cinematography, casting, and music scoring. Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. Delivers a career-defining performance in this 3-hour film that is sure to be reckoned with in this year's film award competition. It's easy to call Oppenheimer the best film of the year, but more important is the proof that the only one who can beat Christopher Nolan is himself.

As one of the most anticipated films of the year, Barbie has managed to meet all audience expectations -especially cinephiles - and make it the most daring film of the year. Director Greta Gerwig (supported by screenwriter Noah Baumbach) doesn't just deliver a successful portrayal of all aspects of this popular icon: colorful set designs, stunning costumes and make-up, great music (they all sing!), the history of the Barbie doll, but also social commentary and philosophical analysis on existentialism, patriarchy, feminism, diversity, inclusion and all that packaged in sarcasm in the modern sense. As a film, Barbie delivers it all: fun, excitement and seriousness. The casting of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken is also the right choice. Barbie reminds us again that summer box office hits can be really fun and good.

Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's latest feature film "Shoplifters" focuses on the story of a lower-class "family" who commits petty theft to make ends meet. The film moves slowly to explore the struggles of each character which is filled with social comments but without being too melodramatic. Shoplifters can be extraordinary because of a well-written script, sophisticated directing, and brilliant performances by the actors. This film is very capable of capturing the harsh reality experienced by one of the strongest economic countries where invisible poverty still exists. Shoplifters so confidently make the audience feel warm, heart-wrenching but also entertained at the same time. It is an absolute achievement for the film to win the Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

Speak No Evil builds its story carefully and slowly to reach a satisfying climax. This film succeeds in stringing tension by building an uncomfortable and visually disturbing atmosphere, of course, supported by a sophisticated screenplay, directing, harrowing music score and good performances from the cast. Speak No Evil is a psychological horror film that does not support the audience's belief in the fate of its protagonist - which we already know but we really don't know. A film capable of showing the pure evil side of humans so that the audience forgets that this is a fictional story, not a real incident.

The Lunchbox takes viewers on a journey to the delights of love and life. A simple yet complex film full of meaning about the search for love, loneliness, fragility and loss. We are also invited to take a peek at the life of urban Indian society from the perspective of a lonely wife and an aging widower, not to mention the dabbawala (lunchbox distribution system) which is so interesting to know. Supported by strong acting performances from Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur, The Lunchbox is a warm, funny, romantic, contemplative and humble presentation - far from the Bollywood cliche. This film is a glimpse of life.

Films from legendary Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami have always had their own signature: like paintings on canvas or poetry, they always highlight the lives of ordinary people. This time, in The Wind Will Carry Us, the audience is brought back to the story of an ordinary man who struggles to complete his task in one day in a village of Iranian Kurdistan with a charming landscape. Like a gentle breeze, Abbas provides a touch of visuals and narration that is so humble, hypnotizing, mesmerizing but also charismatic. Nothing is superfluous here, The Wind Will Carry Us is like a window that draws our eyes into the lives of other people in Iran: beautiful and amazing.

In Andrzej Zulawski's horror classic, Possession provides a metaphorical concept of failed marriages and painful relationships. This film emphasizes psychological aspects but still presents scary visuals and a tense atmosphere. It is very visible that Possession is superior in terms of aesthetics, storytelling, cinematography, setting and music scoring compared to horror films that came out in the 80s. Besides Zulawski's genius directorial talent in being able to effectively visualize a divided Berlin, the film's greatest strength is the superb acting performances from Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill which make Possession an unforgettable cinematic experience.

Director Lee Cronin did not hesitate to optimize all the potential that Evil Dead Rise has as the best and most stylish sequel in the Evil Dead franchise. This film crystallizes the famous legacy of the classic horror franchise with endless gore, brutality and bloodshed which is certainly much better than the 2013 remake. By presenting the right amount of family drama and moving the location to an isolated apartment area, Evil Dead Rise provides a bit of dark humor about motherhood, sisterhood and parenting. Again, this film doesn't need to play in the realm of subliminal messages, everything is real in the non-stop entertainment where Evil Dead Rise deserves to be the best horror film in 2023.

Missing follows its predecessor "Searching" to become the most engrossing techno thriller released this year. The use of gadgets in this film has improved rapidly which makes the storyline even more interesting in providing mystery and tension. Missing is a thriller that is the answer to the era of social media, live streaming, internet, with a very enjoyable presentation, full of plot twists compared to previous film and all of them are well delivered by directors Nicholas D. Johnson and Will Merrick as well as the stunning performance of Storm Reid. With such good quality and acceptance, it looks like Missing will become a digital thriller saga that won't stop here.

There was a time when Hollywood was flooded with remakes of classic horror films. Some are very good like Marcus Nispel's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Rob Zombies' Halloween, and Alexander Aja's The Hills Have Eyes, but some are really bad and this film is one of them. When A Stranger Calls feels very blundered with director Simon West not providing any improvement, instead stuck in clichés that make this film even more boring and terrible. Unfortunately in this 2006 remake version, nothing can make the audience feel the same thrilling as the original. In the modern-day horror sense, When A Stranger Calls is completely unnecessary and out of date.

It's been a heartwarming journey watching the latest feature from director, screenwriter and producer Angga Dwimas Sasongko "Jalan Yang Jauh Jangan lupa Pulang". This film has succeeded to touch everyone's heart with its story of running away from the past, finding self-freedom, friendship and abusive relationship. As a sequel, "Jalan Yang Jauh" is certainly able to match the level of its predecessor (Nanti Kita Cerita Tentang Hari Ini) - with a narrower scope of conflict, this film even has a better ending. Of course what can't be forgotten is how Sheila Dara once again proved her acting skills as a struggling young middle class woman (also Lutesha as my favorite scene stealer). Personally it's easy to say "Jalan Yang Jauh Jangan Lupa Pulang" is the best Indonesian drama of 2023...so far.

Although not as strong and funny as the first movie, Cek Toko Sebelah 2 consistently presents a heartfelt, touching and entertaining drama. Heavy topics such as childfree, marriage and classism are delivered in the right portion without being too patronizing. Laura Basuki, who replaced the previous cast -Gisella Anastasia for the role of Nathalie, was also considered the right decision. Not to mention the undeniable performance of Adinia Wirasti, which feels more uplifting than the previous movie. Cek Toko Sebelah 2 is just another proof of Ernest Prakasa's expertise in working on romantic comedy movies.

The Whale is a film that has perfection in terms of directing, scriptwriting and acting. In a story that is so beautiful, melodramatic but also haunting, this film is yet another manifestation of director Darren Aronofsky's expertise in directing psychological drama films (The Wrestler, Black Swan, Mother!). Based on Samuel D. Hunter's stage play about an obese 600-pound man who has relationship problems with his daughter and makes amends with his past. The Whale manages to optimize its small-scale setting to deliver stunning performances from all of its characters. Most importantly, this film is a testament to Brendan Fraser's acting skills to the world and marks one of Hollywood's biggest comebacks.

Thanks to KKN Di Desa Penari as the highest-grossing Indonesian film of all time which opened up all possibilities for the Simpleman universe to be filmed, Sewu Dino was released with all the confidence it had. Kimo Stamboel can intelligently explore all aspects of the folk horror subgenre: mythology, witchcraft, possession, demons, the astral world, and the conflicts between powerful families. This film does not hesitate to show its full potential by raising the level of horror every minute and manages to maintain that atmosphere well and make it a gripping and satisfying spectacle. And if you have to choose, what are the best Indonesian horror films in 2023? Sewu Dino is an easy answer.

Which Scream movie has the best opening scene? Scream VI can be placed in the top 3. But when it comes to quality between franchises, this 6th installment can stand alone with new characters, clever storytelling, intriguing mysteries, non-stop brutality and comedy. Scream VI is the answer to keeping this legacy alive between attracting old fans and aiming for a new target: Gen Z. Moving the setting from a suburban residential area to Manhattan is also a smart option. Not many horror franchises have managed to maintain such high standards and interest until the latest film, Scream VI is one of them. And of course Jenna Ortega is the new scream queen in Hollywood right now.