Review for On the Job

On the Job

Directed by: Erik Matti

Produced by: Leonardo T. Po

                           Dondon Monteverde

                           Malou Santos

                           Charo Santos- Concio

Written by: Michiko Yamamoto

                       Erik Matti

Music by: Erwin Romulo

Cinematography: Francis Ricardo Buhay III

Editing: Jay Halili

Casts:

Piolo Pascual as Atty. Francis Coronel, Jr.Casts:

Gerald Anderson as Daniel Benitez

Joel Torre as Mario "Tatang" Maghari

Joey Marquez as Sgt. Joaquin Acosta

Michael de Mesa as Cong. Manrique

Leo Martinez as Gen. Pacheco

Angel Aquino as Lolet

Vivian Velez as Thelma

Shaina Magdayao as Nicky Coronel

My Review of On the Job

There is a brighter future for the Philippine Cinema!

This, I believe, is the message of the Erik Matti film On the Job. Watching the film and following its twists and turns, its low and high moments, its chasing and hiding game, its low key and high profile personalities, was indeed an experience of a roller-coaster of emotional thrills. Never had I seen a Filipino crime - thriller so fast-paced and more graphic, reminding me of Hollywood crime-thrillers like The Training Day of Denzel Washington, The Departed with Jack Nicholson and Leonardo Di Caprio, and The Godfather with Al Pacino. I was actually stunned towards the end of the movie of how good the script was, how good the actors were, how well-directed it was, and how the story was so realistically told. 

And the music, wow! I am not fond of hard, rock music but even the loud, rock music on some scenes inside the prison makes one feel the chaos and the danger of life inside, and outside the prison. 

The ingenuity of the editor can also be noted in this film. Jay Halili managed to keep the pace fast without disorienting us to the flow of the story.

I could not help but talk about the movie to my friends for quite a time. And the words remarkable, poignant, amazing, compelling, and great keep popping out of my mouth.

Synopsis

The story revolves around the lives of the hired assassin - prisoners “Tatang” (Joel Torre) and his apprentice Daniel (Gerald Anderson) as they unquestioningly do their “jobs” whether in a public or isolated place, and carry out orders from their mysterious contact (Vivian Velez). Trailing them are NBI agent Atty. Francis Coronel (Piolo Pascual) and a police sergeant Joaquin Acosta (Joey Marquez). The lives of these four characters are entangled in the mouse-and-cat chase as each of them tries to do his responsibility and loyalty to the big bosses – the corrupt government officials and politicians. All of them are enmeshed in the lies, secrets, sex, and violence that will either make or break them. What is notable in this movie is its unpredictability – it slips away from a typical Filipino crime-thriller I saw since childhood – where the main actor dies in the end and the policemen in their patrol cars with the sirens whining arrived in the fighting scene. Even towards the end of this movie, one still hangs on the edge of his seat waiting for another surprise to surface.

Did the villains die? Did the heroes get their medals? Who are the heroes and the villains in the first place? Director Erik Matti did great in not answering these questions directly. It is left to the audience to determine who they are.

Star-studded Film

It feels great to watch the movie and be able to identify the actors one by one as they appear on screen. Amazing how it reunites the veteran actors  like Vivian Velez, Michael de Mesa, Leo Martinez, William Martinez, Angel Aquino, Niño Muhlach (my favorite actor, together with Dolphy, to whom I owe my love for films having watched most of their movies when I was a child!), Rosanna Roces, Al Tantay, Lito Pimentel – and how it showcased our promising young actors like Shaina Magdayao, Rayver Cruz, Piolo Pascual, and Gerald Anderson, among others. It truly is star-studded! And I congratulate those involved in the casting for being able to gather them and convinced them to appear in this movie, albeit just for a few minutes for some of them, but nonetheless with significant roles.

“Remarkable, poignant, compelling, great, and amazing film.”

Now, let me count the ways why I find On the Job remarkable, poignant, compelling, great, and amazing film.

Joel Torre’s portrayal of a hired killer was a surprise for me. I used to see him as a loving father, an amigo, a kind-hearted father or rebel, but never a ruthless, merciless hired killer! Yet, he nailed it. Physically, emotionally, he is able to radiate that numbed, calloused soul within him every time he is on the job. I could liken his transformation to Denzel Washington in Training Day where all you could see is a fierce and hardened killer (Actually, it earned Denzel his first Oscar Award for best actor!). And you will either hate him or despise him! With Joel, however, he is quick to show that softer part of his heart whenever he is with his family, particularly at the latter part of the movie with Gerald in the prison that showcased the most dramatic part of his character, and of the entire film I supposed, the part that lingers in my mind for quite some time because of too much emotion and superb performance of Joel. Truly a brilliant portrayal by a talented and intelligent actor!

Gerald Anderson’s “understudy” role to Joel’s job was a revelation to me of that other side of him. I saw a very different Gerald who used to play as a romantic lover and as the mentally challenged Budoy in a teleserye, the one which I believe showcased his versatility and intelligence as an actor and catapulted him to a higher level of his craft. He is indeed ready for a more matured role, this time from being Budoy to Bugoy! To be paired with Joel Torre was, I believe, a learning experience for Gerald. 

Piolo Pascual did justice to his role as an NBI agent who is caught between going with the flow or countering it for the sake of truth and justice. He manages to keep the tension all throughout the movie and projects a persona that keeps you wondering what his next move would be. He plays it cool and calmly. He attacked his role effortlessly, which for me is a sign of an innate acting talent.

Joey Marquez, the good cop who remained a sergeant after many years of service, is a gem in this movie. The range of emotions he has to emote makes me feel proud of Joey as being part of this film. As a cop who wants justice to be served, as a father who wants the best for his family, especially for his son (I loved Joey in his confrontation with his son in the latter part of the film), and as a friend who tries to protect his friends – I saw a Joey Marquez who compellingly acted on such demanding characterization.

Vivian Velez, as the contact person of the hired killers, did well as a villain. She creates a mysterious persona that makes me wonder who she really was, the answer, I believe, could be developed further in the second part of this movie. I find her character very intriguing, as a woman who could be as heartless as the assassins. What forced her to do that?

For the rest of the casts, I leave it to others to characterize them. For me, they create a symphony of superb acting that comes out so melodiously in this film, making me proud as a Filipino and keeping my faith and hope for the possibility of more quality Filipino films.

I look forward to seeing the second part of On the Job. Kodus Direk Erik Matti,   the editor Jay Halili, and to all those involved in the making of this great film.

I recommend this movie to all who want to take a closer look at the corruption in our country and are mature enough to masticate the nitty-gritty of a crime-thriller and not be repulsed by the violence that goes with it. On the Job is, for me, a tour-de-force in the Philippine cinema.

My rating for this movie, with 5 stars being the highest:  4 stars.