The OTJ: The Missing 8 Experience

07/20/2022 09:38:00 AM

There are certain milestones in life which are truly timeless and remarkable – at least, for one’s personal satisfaction. For some, seeing their name published in any publication is already a mark; others who would be featured in a still photograph is another; and for select people, getting credited in a project – be it a full movie, music video, or a TV or radio program – is already like a stamp that can’t be erased from their memory. 

Flick ReView: On The Job – The Missing 8

11/28/2021 12:23:52 PM

John Arcilla as Sisoy Salas for On The Job: The Missing 8 (Photo credits: Reality MM Studios, Globe Studios, Variety)

Eight years after releasing its maiden film, Reality MM Studios (formerly Reality Entertainment) completed the first sequel to Erik Matti's On The Job series. It was a long-time coming that went further prolonged due to the pandemic.

Lessons From That OTJ Movie

10/5/2013 11:55:48 AM

Sa totoo lang, bihira lang ako makapulot ng mga aral sa mga palabas. Lalo na sa panahon ngayon na kung anu-anong kalokohan at kababawan na lang ang nakikita ko sa parehong mundo ng telebisyon at pelikula. As in hindi mo na siya mahanapan pa ng lalim, o ng kulay, o kung anu-ano pa na maaring maging kapaki-pakinabang.

Nabago lang ulit ang pananaw ko sa mga pelikula noong natuto ako manaliksik at manuri ng mga palabas. Salamat sa isang subject ko nung estudyante pa ako sa kolehiyo; at sa tila prebilehiyo na makakapanood na ulit ako sa sinehan dahil nagkatrabaho na ako. At mas lalo nabago pa ito noong pinanood ko ang pelikulang ito (sabay turo sa banner ng pelikulang On The Job).

Sa halos dalawang oras na nakatutuok sa malaking screen na ’yan, marami akong natutunan sa pelikulang On The Job. Anu-ano ang mga ‘yun? Huwag kang mag-alala, ike-kwento ko na siya rito.

Flick Review: ON THE JOB

9/29/2013 11:28:50 AM

"A likably rough-edged hitmen-vs-cops thriller." 

- Hollywood Reporter.

"Gritty, convoluted but steadily engrossing crime thriller from Filipino genre maven Erik Matti." 

--Variety

“On The Job, is no doubt, the best action movie at the present era of our (Philippine) cinema.” 

These are the usual words that I used to see from a lot of movie reviews, be it a legitimate critic or just an amateur from the bloggers’ circle. And come to think that noir poetry (or better known as “poverty porn”) is on the roll again, be it a Jessica Hagedorn book or a “Gates Of Hell” remark from Dan Brown.

Positive feedback aside, I used to wonder if Star Cinema marketed the movie enough since they tied-up with Erik Matti and Dondon Monteverede’s Reality Entertainment, the real group behind OTJ’s conceptualization-to-execution plan (and aside from the former’s celebration of their 20th anniversary). That is something I cannot tell since I don’t really watch the shows from channel 2; and since the time I realized the epidemic dumbness of the present mainstream.

But either way, that made my drive for curiosity to watch that film. Good thing that despite the time I only had in my hands (since only local “rom-com” movies and foreign action counterparts do last for more than a month in cinemas) – I still managed to watch “On The Job” at one of those movie houses in Eastwood City (at that moment, OTJ was only shown in 3 theatres – SM Fairview, Robinsons Galleria and Eastwood Cinemas).

Okay, after 121 minutes of thrilling action, I can only come up with a lot of words to tell about this movie.