‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of David Grann’s novel of the same name. Ela Bicera reviews the film and offers a different perspective on how proper representation is of utmost importance in telling the stories of an oppressed nation like the Osage tribe’s. “Can you find
Category: Theatrical Release
Toubab (2021) review: Laughing through labels
Fake it ‘til you make it. Nowadays, it’s no longer uncanny to talk about issues of homophobia and racism in comedies and so in Florian Dietrich’s attempt to discuss these in a lighthearted manner in his 2021 film Toubab seems commendable enough. That is until we get towards the third
The Ordinaries (2022) review: ‘Lights, Camera, Revolution’
‘The Ordinaries’ is one of seven films featured in this year’s Kinofest 2023, the German Film Festival. Sophie Linnenbaum’s satiric film takes meta-cinema with social commentaries that is one of the more lighter, entertaining films in this year’s festival. There’s something about Sophie Linnenbaum’s debut film that takes your breath
Republic of Silence (2021) review: Unveiling the heart of the Syrian conflict through personal perspectives
‘Republic of Silence’ is a powerful documentary that shows the Syrian conflict through personal perspectives gathered by Diana El Jairoudi and fellow activists for twelve years. Read more of our review here and watch the film at this year’s KinoFest 2023 at Gateway Cinemas. To say that Republic of Silence
A glimpse beyond the corset: ‘Sisi and I’ review
Not to confuse you with the 2022 film Corset, ‘Sisi und Ich’ (Sisi and I) offers a different perspective of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as ‘Sisi’ to her legion of fans. In this film, mixed with female-led grunge and 70s underground tunes, we see Sisi’s worldview through the
Unearthing family secrets: a review of ‘Hao Are You’
‘Hao Are You’ is a moving documentary on the history of the Vietnam war and how it coincides with the traumas a family has experienced even post-war. Dispatches from our coverage of this year’s KinoFest 2023. What does it mean to be a stranger in your own family? This is
Elaha (2023) review: Challenging Norms, Redefining Autonomy
Elaha is a film that tackles more about the ‘female gaze’, but the incredulous ways women’s sexuality has been re-written in history by men. Princess Kinoc reviews this film that is currently a part of the German Film Festival. The first time I heard about the word hymen, I was
JFF Independent Cinema reviews: ‘Bachiranun’ and ‘Follow the Light’
John Tawasil reviews ‘Bachiranun’ and ‘Follow the Light’, two of the films featured in this year’s Japanese Film Festival – Independent Cinema. Yonaguni is the westernmost inhabited island of Japan, only a short distance away from Taiwan. It has a language that is distinct from Japanese and is spoken by
‘A Muse Never Drowns’: navigating love and artistic expression – JFF Independent Cinema review
In ‘A Muse Never Drowns’, John Tawasil examines the many ways we draw upon our lives in the creation of art. This film is one of the twelve feature films in this year’s Japanese Film Festival – Independent Cinema. Art binds us together in many different ways. It helps us
Lonely Glory (2022) review: the cost of success is a lonely pursuit
In ‘Lonely Glory’, Keitaro Sakon explores the inner turmoil of a twenty-something woman named Haruka, in her ambitious pursuit of success. Princess Kinoc reviews this film from this year’s Japanese Film Festival In the eyes of Haruka and everyone else, she is very good at her job. She knows it.
Acting Brilliance Meets Dark Comedy in ‘A Very Good Girl’, a spoiler-filled review
John Tawasil writes about Petersen Vargas’ latest Star Cinema film starring Kathryn Bernardo and Dolly de Leon. We have warned you about the spoilers this review may contain. NOTE: I am going to spoil most of A Very Good Girl in this review, so if you haven’t seen it yet,
Third World Romance review: Love in the midst of hardship
As a middle-class worker in Metro Manila, I find it funny that I paid around P370 to watch the talented Dwein Baltazar’s fifth film Third World Romance starring real-life couple Carlo Aquino and Charlie Dizon. To save money, I walked 1.5 kilometers from my day job in Mandaluyong to SM
Marupok AF review: Twisted truths and tangled tales
Don’t be fooled by the rambunctious laughter and collective groan Marupok AF (Where is the Lie?) produced when it kickstarted Cinemalaya 19 at the Philippine International Convention Center last Friday, August 4. Quark Henares’ latest project, an adaptation of the unbelievably crazy and scandalous viral Twitter thread in 2020, knows
About Us But Not About Us (2023), a Summer MMFF review
Two men dining in a restaurant in BGC and talking for 90 minutes sounds perfect for a stage play but not for the big screen. But in the inaugural Summer MMFF Best Picture About Us But Not About Us, director Jun Lana and his team made an intense, intriguing, and
HERE COMES THE GROOM (2023), a Summer MMFF review
The 1st Summer Metro Manila Film Festival would not be complete without a lighthearted, fun, campy comedy film, and Chris Martinez’ Here Comes the Groom fills in that slot thanks to its ensemble cast. The sequel to the 2010 commercial and critical hit Here Comes the Bride, The Groom uses
Creed III Review: A Knockout Debut from Michael B. Jordan
Creed III is one helluva knockout debut. Says John Tawasil in this review. The best sports movies aren’t actually about sports, but about how sports brings out the best and the worst in us, using it as a means to examine the human condition. 1976’s Rocky is one of the
Film Review: “Triangle of Sadness” (2022)
There is nothing new with Ruben Östlund’s latest black comedy, anti-one percent film Triangle of Sadness and that has been the main concern of some critics about the film. With the rise of anti-capitalist films and TV series lately, the latest Palme d’Or winner is a critique of capitalism and
![This ‘Joyland’ review examines the parallels of the characters living in a [societal] box](https://www.filmpolicereviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Joyland-1170x603.png)
This ‘Joyland’ review examines the parallels of the characters living in a [societal] box
Joyland, as shown in the film, is an amusement park located in Lahore, Pakistan. It seems that anything is possible inside Joyland. The rides are thrilling, you can have fun, and freedom is alive and felt. But amusement parks are walled, and it requires payment to get in. Unfortunately in
We’re sad you missed it, but here’s a review on “Security Academy” (2022)
We didn’t have a press release for the film, so we made up our own poster. To be a security guard is one of the most underappreciated and overlooked jobs in the country. Often made to work long hours for insultingly low pay (on average around 15,000 pesos a month,
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022) Review
Is ‘Wakanda Forever‘ a strong enough sequel to the 2018 powerhouse film that made a strong statement for the African community? How can the most powerful film studio in the world immortalize the legacy of one of its promising actors who left the world too soon? Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Review: Everything, Everywhere All At Once
Removing the scientific jargon and overwhelming explanations, the concept of multiverse is simple, at least in the literary and audiovisual art: There’s a parallel universe where you have a different career, friends, partner, and destiny. Such a thought-provoking premise that could exploit a storyteller’s imagination, however, recently became banal. Ironically,
PeliKULAYa 2022 dispatches: Short film competition
In its third year, Pelikulaya, the international LGBTQIA+ film festival organized by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), holds a hybrid format. Coinciding with the Pride Month celebration, the festival offers a slate of local arthouse films and internationally acclaimed titles, such as Ishmael Bernal’s Manila by Night,
Ngayon Kaya (2022): Timing is Everything
In “Ngayon Kaya” Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez offer low-key charming performances on the big screen, while Prime Cruz’s direction of Jen Chuaunsu’s musically delectable time-travelling script juggles the idea of reality getting in the way of romance. Caution, major spoilers ahead. Music, when used as a device in films,
Top Gun: Maverick review, a thrilling celebration of cinematic experience
Who knew that a film about flying fighter jets can bring people together and make everyone feel good? This is certainly not a simple nostalgia film anymore. Top Gun: Maverick (2022) is about how Pete “Maverick” Mitchell was ordered back to teach the new generation of the Top Gun graduates
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the Godfather II of all Sega-related films
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a far more entertaining film than the first, but with its lack of world-building in this sequel means we probably have to lower our expectations on the third. Remember when you had to trick your older brother so you could play Sonic the Hedgehog all
