Anak Halal (2007)

Farid Kamil takes advantage of Fasha Sandha.

At a glance:
Brave expansion of early Osman Ali short, starrin Farid Kamil, Maya Karin, Fasha Sandha, Raja Farah, Bront Palarae, Adiputra and too many others. This, I thought, was a great all-in Malaysian package with crime, violence, action, romance and drama. Most notable is its realistic everyday dialogue, somethin many producers seem to neglect in Malay movies. Leaps and bounds better than most of the crap we're used to.

"Give me back my nasi kerabu!"

Bad news on the doorstep:
Anak Halal (2007) bombed at Malaysian box office, nowhere recoverin its RM 1.8 mil budget. Distributor Tayangan Unggul attributed the failure to its unusual title. I just thought the movie tried to do too much. Some of the character crowdin caused a few odd character decisions.
Perennial wonderment:
Where is Fasha Sandha now? She was frontrunner as a true screen queen replacement for Erra Fazira at one point before pissin off the local press, who now shun her at every event. Seems to have packed a coupla kilos now as well. In this movie, she plays a rich man's daughter who falls prey to psychotropic drugs. Nope, nothin too sexy from this role (though there is a Raja Farah rape scene) - except maybe her voice. It doesn't sound quite as annoyin as usual.

Because heroes don't catch colds.

Watch out for:
Adiputra, the best performance of the lot, as a swearin good man. Of course Maya Karin is always watchable on any level.
Most memorable line:
Oh I can't remember now.
Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?
Couldda been a solid four with better editin.★★★1/2
Bonus material:

Still sexy as fuck, no?

This Longing (2008) @ Punggok Rindukan Bulan

At a glance:
In director Azharr Rudin's own words, the word is symbiosis – the relationship between a people and the place they live in. Theme could hardly find a more claustrophobic settin than the now-demolished Bukit Chagar flats in Johore near the Causeway, where most of this offbeat art movie was shot. It was, I understand, the city's most famous eyesore, a low-cost housin development built in the 80s. In the brilliantly written production notes, you can read that it is within those narrow corridors and walls that the world of a boy and his father would grow too vast and vacuous when they are abandoned by the lady of the house.
Watch out for:
Brief cameo by Maya Karin. A few clever sequences too but special mention goes to non-pro Salehuddin Abu Bakar, particularly impressive in his small role as Lelaki Kurang Kemas.
Reminds me of:
Time Of The Wolf (2003), Tokyo Tower (2007) and Lilja 4-Ever (2002).
Amacam joker, berapa bintang lu mau kasi?
So damn contained. Like in Gaspar Noe's Irreversible (2002), there could scarcely be a better endin to Punggok for the purposes of deliverin the message that time destroys everythin. ★★★★
Trailer for the curious:

Update:
Now available for viewing absolutely free on Vimeo. Enjoy and share!