On the Job (2013)

ON THE JOB is a dark, dingy, and rather sweaty Filipino thriller that has some stylistic similarities to the far superior METRO MANILA. Unfortunately this is ultimately a much lesser work in which promise at the outset soon devolves thank to some rather pedestrian writing. ON THE JOB is too long, too slow, and marred by unsympathetic characters who you don't give two hoots about despite their various problems.The story involves a real-life scandal around career criminals being given day release from prison to go around working as political assassins. It sounds great, but after the umpteenth long-winded scene of characters arguing and discussing their plight, it becomes merely average rather than profound. It doesn't help that the only truly likable character is the young crusading cop whose character is let down by possibly the most unsatisfying climax in a film ever.Director Erik Matti performs an able job behind the camera, creating a gritty and realistic look that brings out the poverty and grime of the surroundings. Individual scenes are powerful, and there are one or two good action moments, but the choreography is sometimes sloppy and the tedium occasionally overwhelming. These factors conspire to make ON THE JOB a distinctly average movie when it should by all rights be a good one.

Dark and Thrilling. Exactly what it has to be. Though it suffers from old movie clichés of it's genre and questionable camera handling, the film is still jam-packed with thrill and action good enough to keep your eyes to the big screen, eating your popcorn, contented and intrigued.The film is excels on it's smart writing, strong character development, realistic characters and character dialogue, and with a strong and commanding performance by Joel Torre and Gerald Anderson the movie is a masterpiece of the Philippines and a step to the right direction of the Philippine movie industry.All-in-all, if you want to see a hands-down, a recent Philippine masterpiece, "On The Job (OTJ)" is the nail-biting movie for you.

"On The Job" is jarringly excellent, with a brilliant ensemble cast playing interwoven and well-developed characters in a brilliantly lensed and thoroughgoingly scripted gritty underworld drama. Although this film is about nihilistic ways that are dark, one thrills to watch the creative accomplishments of artists so powerful and so effortlessly in mastery of their prowess as are on display here. "On The Job" is the strongest film of its kind since Hector Babenco's brilliant "Pixote." The bleakness has the redemptive and cathartic power of "Breaking Bad" and if this isn't the best film ever from the Philippines, the Filipino film that trumps it must be unimaginably good. I was spellbound, rapt, entranced, and find myself driven to re-watch "On The Job."

This movie is beautiful despite the fact that it depicts the dirtier aspects of our country - geographically, politically, socially speaking. Seriously, this movie is a must-see for everybody. I wish I see more of this in mainstream Pinoy cinemas. Everything is well put together, the music is exciting, the editing and cinematography is professionally done, the story is tight, the camera-work is engaging (a work of art, a labor of love. It's that good), the opening scene captures your attention, and the ending leaves you satisfied (or wanting more). It's perfect. read my full review on Blogger: http://strangereview.blogspot.com/2014/01/on-job- 2013.html#sthash.GKoXwyiy.dpuf