OTJ (On the Job)---just some random thoughts (2013)

Deplorable...Despicable...Disturbing

Reviews

• On the Job: Cannes Review by Neil Young
• With ‘On The Job’, Erik Matti delivers an instant classic
• On the Job: It's "bitter" in the Philippines

Erik Matti is a very versatile director and one of the best writers this country has produced. ON THE JOB(OTJ), for me anyway, is his best so far, as a writer and director.

If you're looking for a film review, go ahead and click the links above.  I think everything has been said already.  After all, this film has received a lot of accolades already.  Some say that except for that "extra" love scene(I don't know which one), the one shown in the Philippines is a tamer version. Until I watch the one viewed in the Cannes Festival, I really wouldn't know.

All I know is that when I watched the film, I was very, very impressed with everyone.

There's one thing, among others, my parents and I noticed.  For a PMA graduate with a law degree who is an NBI agent, Piolo Pascual as Francis Coronel Jr., did not run that fast.

I vaguely recall Piolo running in other movies and TV shows.  I think he was much faster in other flicks.  Our excuse for him is that his character was inspired by a certain person, so maybe that person was just as fast as he was.


Over cups of coffee, we talked about the big fuss people had over the phrase "Gates of Hell" describing Manila and about the trauma experienced by Claire Danes when she did that movie with Bill Pullman(Brokedown Palace).  We overreact about those things said, while our very own writers depict Manila as worse than how "they" described her.

OTJ does not show the beautiful beaches and other famous tourist spots.  It does not candy-coat anything.  It shows the horrifying reality that even if there are still lots of things to be proud of, graft and corruption is very, very rampant.

 Some people accused were just red herrings for the bigger fish.  The bigger fish are made to swim free in the vast ocean.

Sigh.

Anyways, I'll just end this piece by saying that EVERYONE did his/her job well. 

Kudos to the cast and crew!

I can hardly wait for the sequel(heard from the grapevine).

From Wikipedia:

Directed by	Erik Matti
Produced by	Leonardo T. Po Dondon Monteverde Malou Santos Charo Santos-Concio
Written by	Michiko Yamamoto Erik Matti
Starring	Piolo Pascual as Atty. Francis Coronel, Jr. 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 Nikki Coronel William Martinez as Rex Rayver Cruz as Bernabe Empress Schuck as Tina Dawn Jimenez as Diana Rosanna Roces as Joaquin's wife Lito Pimentel as Paul Michael Flores as Freddie Al Tantay as Niel Salcedo, Chief of Police Niño Muhlach as Ramon Baldo Maro as Esteban Mon Confiado as Boy Mark Andaya as Simeon Jayvee Gayoso as NBI chief Irene Celebre as Daniel's mother Mike Castillo as Badong Iking Santos as Rex's assistant Jhappy Bahian as prison food server Stephen Ku as Johnny Tiu Joger Go as Charlie Tiu Cristy Fulgar as Linda Carag Joel Saracho as driver Ronald Santos as janitor Marites Guillen as hospital nurse Glenn Picazo as gay prisoner
Music by	Erwin Romulo
Cinematography	Francis Ricardo Buhay III
Editing by	Jay Halili
Studio	Reality Entertainment Star Cinema
Distributed by	Star Cinema (Philippines) Wild Side Films (France) Well Go USA Entertainment(North America) Madman Entertainment(Australia) XYZ Films (worldwide)
Release date(s)	May 14, 2013 (Cannes) August 28, 2013 (Philippines)
Running time	121 minutes
Country	Philippines
Language	Tagalog English
Budget Box Office	₱ 47 million (US$ 1.08 million) PHP13,459,037 (Philippines) $164,620 (US)

Cannes Film Festival Trailer Official Website OTJ @imdb @Rotten Tomatoes @Well Go USA Entertainment