Movie Review on Tandem

Starring: JM de Guzman, Nico Antonio, Alan Paule

Directed by: King Palisoc

My Review:

Engaging! Thrilling! Compelling!

That is how I felt watching this indie film whose plot gradually develops from a petty to a big-time crime that entangles the lives of the protagonists into a  web of deception, illusion, desperation, and ultimately the loss of loved ones. The story revolves around the two brothers whose bond that ties include not only blood and genes but their tandem - in - crime as well.

The joy of watching a Filipino Indie Film is that it depicts real life drama of ordinary people in relation to the social reality where they live, or forced to live, in other cases. The freedom to choose social realities as a theme allowing the director to explore the common yet easily ignored reality because of its commonness runs through this film. This is what I observed upon watching this drama/thriller Tandem. It stars JM de Guzman and Nico Antonio as siblings who are partners-in-crime, in a socially relevant phenomenon known as "riding-in-tandem." 

Actually, what make this movie great are the believability of the actors and the unexpected twists and turns of events. Having seen so many "bad-guy movies" where the actor dies in the end , Tandem gives you an open-ended story where the viewer is left to his own opinion and imagination as to what happens to one of the main protagonists. Something that those who have not seen the movie yet has to find out and to opine- in freedom!

JM de Guzman and Nico Antonio have this chemistry that makes you believe how closed they are as brothers and how they try to keep the relationship stronger through thick and thin. And it shows naturally in most of their scenes together.  It's great to see young actors pulling off the drama in life convincingly and naturally. I never noticed a single awkward moment by these "brothers" as they both attacked their roles in various scenes, be it a crime, sex, or dramatic scene. 

A question was running through my mind as I was watching the movie: Is this movie glorifying the acts of these criminals? However, as other characters are introduced (like that of Alan Paule), I began to see a different angle of the story. The depiction of their crime is not glorification of the act itself but an invitation for the viewers to get into the minds of the protagonists and see how they are being manipulated and used by those we expect to help them get out from the pit where they fall. It is a depiction of a reality that is currently happening in our society and a call to be vigilant and not to ignore it.

Another plus to this movie is its ability to present the emotional upheaval that the protagonists are going through. They showed not only how good action stars they are but they also delivered strongly some emotion-laden scenes that reflect their ability as dramatic actors as well. Kodus to JP and Nico for such great acting.

I have to say that the sound editing and the music mixing have really made this movie pleasing to my senses, making the movie even more touching. Scenes like Nico humming a music (a lullaby?) to calm his wife and having a music of the same tune to what he is humming creates a spine-tingling feeling to its listener. It was not overdone. Just the right amount of volume. Congrats to this achievement.

Tandem is a major achievement in the film industry. That is why watching indie films is refreshing and, for me, a cure to the ailing and highly commercialized film industry that has big stars in the title role at the expense of a more socially-relevant theme. 

Thanks to its director who risks making a film with social relevance like Tandem. I hope more and more Filipinos will appreciate movies like this. The future in Philippine Cinema is really in the hands of this new generation of risk-takers. Mabuhay po kayong lahat!

My rating for this movie:         4 stars out of 5.