Alief Abdullah

This movie misses every beat and it goes no where. Tries to hard too to be artsy for no reason. I get that some movies usually have an underlying message and deeper meaning, but I didn't find anything that warrants it here. Don't waste your time with this one. It kinda pissed me off and its these type of movies that makes you question what the critics were smoking when they gave it an over 90% rating.

IG Review: @aliefizzani Frequencies - 6.5/10 Set in alternate reality not too dissimilar to our own, the social constructs of society is predetermined and measured through quantifiable luck, also known as frequencies. Opposites attract as Zak, a boy with unfortunately low frequency is infatuated by Marie, a girl blessed with high frequency. In the pursuit of forbidden love, he must now challenge the very laws of science and nature itself. The premise of Frequencies intrigues with it's imaginative and fully realized world. The society here values the pursuit of scientific knowledge above all else, even going as far as naming their children after famous scientists such as Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. Everything here including love, is conducted as a theoretical scientific experiment which compliments the film's need to explain the set of rules unique to its universe. The term “Knowledge determines Destiny” is prevalent amongst the characters and serves as an ongoing theme for the narrative. While the concept of forbidden love does serve as the primary motivations of the protagonist, expect more sci-fi than romance in this flick. Frequencies takes the classic Uptown girl trope (poor boy in love with rich girl) and turns it on its head by substituting wealth with the natural laws of science. It is a philosophical examination on Determinism vs Free Will more than a tale of star crossed lovers. This movie is not without it's criticisms. With a somewhat dead pan approach, some scenes feel awkwardly acted due to the film's hyper focus on providing exposition for its sci-fi driven premise. As for the plot, revelations in the third act of the film may seem too far-fetched for certain audiences expecting a more meaningful message. I also felt like more aspects of the relationship between the two protagonists could have been explored. Overall, Frequencies is an interesting watch for Sci-Fi fans looking for a dash of romance added to the mix. While it may be lacking in certain departments, the ambitious premise and original concepts makes it a welcomed addition to the genre.

IG:@aliefizzani Roh - 7/10 Roh (also known as Soul) is an indie arthouse horror film from first time director Emir Ezwan. Set in an undisclosed jungle of ancient Malaya, a widowed mother and her two children live a life of modest peasantry. On their way from one of their daily chores, the two children stumble upon a disheveled looking girl who follows them home. The family decides to take pity on the girl and have her stay with them for the night. Little do they know of the terrors that will follow suit. It's safe to say that Malaysian horror movies are more misses than hits. Bland storylines, an overabundant use of predictable jump scares and a healthy dose of gore are usually expected. Hence, it was so refreshing to see that Roh has neither of these tropes. Roh is a slow burn. Instead of jump scares, the filmmakers relied on brilliant use of imagery coupled by the calm jungle backdrop to dish out their narrative. Roh has one of the best cinematography I’ve seen from a Malaysian movie. Each shot feels like it could be a movie poster. The looming shots of the still jungle scenery are beautiful while also harboring an underlying sense of benevolence. Along with this, the film has an array of disturbing imagery that will unsettle you for the course of its runtime. The plot is engaging in its ambiguity, offering more questions than answers but in a good way. Folklore and superstitions definitely drive the narrative here. Overall Roh gives hope for people looking for a better quality Malaysian horror film. It was surprisingly the Malaysian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards. I would recommend this if you are looking for a decent arthouse horror movie or if you just want to watch something local deserving of our support.

IG Review: @aliefizzani Isle of Dogs - 9/10 An influenza virus linked to the canine populace threatens the livelihoods of the residents of Megasaki. An executive decree is issued by the authoritarian mayor to have all dogs exiled to a vast garbage-dump called Trash Island (also later known as the Isle of Dogs). Atari Kobayashi sets off to the Isle of Dogs in search for his beloved companion Spots. After crash landing, he is saved by a dog pack led by a stray by the name of Chief. With the help of his newly found friends, he now sets out on the perilous journey that will determine the fate of a whole city. Isle of dogs’ story is told from two different angles that converges into an entertaining narrative. The island and the city. The dog's side and the human’s side. On the island, the story focuses more on the bonds formed between Atari and Chief throughout their journey whilst also highlighting the harsh conditions faced by the inhabitants. In the city, pro dog activists try to unravel a conspiracy orchestrated by government officials. Controversially, Anderson chose to distinguish the two parties through a unique medium, language. The dogs speak English; the humans, for the most part, speak Japanese, which is often but not always translated. Drawing parallels from the plot, this intentional use of the language barrier was made as an allegory to real life political issues such as imigration and xenophobia which serves as the underlying message of the film. Visually, Isle of Dogs entices with beautifully crafted stop motion animation and a Japanese inspired art style. Megasaki is a bustling city full of life and rich with it's own historical culture. There is a definite air of authorianism that influences the city’s aesthetics that lends us insight to the mindsets of it's people. The island provides a stunning backdrop for Atari and the pack’s adventure. Reminiscent of a post apocalyptic world, there are a variety of scenic landscapes and oddities to discover. Respectively, the dogs themselves each don unique features that make them distinguishable. This is complemented by the stellar voice acting of the ensemble cast. If you have watched any of Wes Anderson’s previous work you will be familiar with his signature aesthetics and whimsical style of humour. Anderson doesn’t miss a beat here with a heartwarming story that delves into our relationship with man’s best friend. A joyous ride amongst Wes Anderson's best and a recommended watch with a pet doggo by your side.

IG Review: @aliefizzani The Pentagon Wars - 8/10 The Pentagon Wars is a military comedy based on the true accounts of Colonel James G. Burton, United States Airforce. In order to keep tabs on excessive spending, James Burton (Cary Elwes) was assigned by Congress to oversee and conduct testing on newly developed weaponry researched by the Pentagon. The most notable of these developments is the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Burton quickly discovers corruption and negligence surrounding the project. In doing his duty, he must now face corrupt individuals headed by Major General Patridge (Kelsey Gramar), who are willing to do whatever it takes to stop the truth from coming out. This movie was a trip. It carefully walks the line of being serious and absurd. Although the intention of this film was indeed satire and a degree of overdramatization was in effect, you can't help but feel like this is the sort of stuff that actually happens behind the scenes of the Pentagon. The film explores the concept of nepotism to the highest degree as well as the top brass’ profit biased mindsets. Burton plays the straight laced military man who serves as our medium in the story. I found myself laughing out loud with how incompetent the people in charge were and can’t help but empathize with Burton’s frustrations. The more he uncovers about the Bradley, the more absurd the circumstances become. General Patridge played by Kelsey Grammar steals the show here. Partridge constantly dismisses Barton’s request with sudden speeches on teamwork and duty to circumvent the protagonist's efforts any way he can. It's the antics between the two camps that makes this movie hilarious. The Pentagon Wars is a forgotten gem that really should be talked about more. The events that happened is still relevant to this day and the fact that it gave the Pentagon some bad press in real life just adds to the experience. If you fancy a laugh as well as a dive into military politics, this one comes highly recommended.

IG Review: @aliefizzani The Ipcress File When it comes to spy films of the 1960's, it's hard to not make comparisons to the most famous one of them all, James Bond. The Ipcress File aimed to be the polar opposite of the suave and lavish adventures of 007. A kidnapping is thought to be linked to the curious instances of several prominent British scientists abruptly leaving their fields of study. Harry Palmer, an agent of the ministry of defence, is called upon to investigate and rescue the victim. Palmer has to unravel the conspiracy before it's too late while being encumbered by something not so common to the spy genre, bureaucracy. Harry Palmer, played by Michael Caine, lives the unglamourous life of a blue collar government agent. You won't find fancy sports cars or vodka martinis here. Instead what we get is a down to earth and realistic rendition of the genre. I quite like the idea of us getting to peek behind the curtain of the inner workings of real life spies. Caine's portrayal of Palmer is the best part of the movie. Full of quirky remarks and one line comebacks. The plot does have a certain level of intrigue with the presence of shady looking characters lurking around the case. The twists here do feel dated at the time of this review but I get why this may have been enjoyable when it first came out. The pacing was the biggest problem I had with this movie. The story only really starts to get going at the end of the 2nd act. I felt like more narrative dialogue could have been explored for added context and fill up some of the empty scenes. The Ipcress Files is a decent spy thriller given its age. I feel like I want to rate it higher because it's a pioneer in the anti-Bond spy genre. However, the slow pace and predictable ending makes it lose some marks for me. I would still recommend it if you want to see a piece of cinema history, or just in love with the spy genre overall.

IG Review: @aliefizzani Impetigore - 7.5/10 After experiencing a traumatic event, Maya learns that she has inherited her rich and estranged family home. Struggling in the city and not willing to pass up on the opportunity of a lifetime, she and her best friend Dini make their way to the remote village of Harjosari. Once there, they unravel a curse that has plagued the livelihoods of the village folk and discover that their very lives may be at stake. Ahhh Indonesian horror. A true go to favourite of mine when in need of a horror fix. While unseasoned audiences may be entranced by the exotic village setting, Asian horror enthusiasts are very familiar with the tropes Impetigore has to offer. Heck, we practically grew up watching these kinds of movies. Creepy abandoned house? Check. Suspicious looking villagers who look like they know what's up? Check. A curse spurned by the misuse of black magic set in the backdrop of the jungle? Check. Check. These are all things that we have seen before. Therefore it came as a surprise when I couldn't stop watching this movie. Impetigore was not what I expected it to be. The intrigue of this movie sets it’s hooks in you within the first five minutes of it’s screen time and gives you a glimpse of things to come. Several questions arise on Maya’s journey to find out more about her ancestral home. What happened here? Who was her family? What do the villagers actually want? You know what’s coming, but can’t help enjoying the well crafted narrative and atmosphere the filmmakers are presenting here. Impetigore sets the right kind of vibes with great cinematography and solid acting. The movie unnerves with shots of haunting imagery driven by aspects of Javanese traditions and culture. Puppet shadows (wayang kulit) personally creeps me out anyways so that wasn't a hard sell. I was however slightly put off by questionable uses of CGI in some of the gorier scenes but it wasn't significant enough to ruin the whole experience. As for the actors. Tara Bastro is slowly earning her reputation as Indonesia’s premier scream queen, lending her talents to Maya’s constant state of emotional distress. Marissa Anita adds some levity as the designated best friend with her girl next door demeanor. Ario Bayu and Christine Hakim also give solid performances as the village leaders oozing with mysterious intent. This is Joko Anwar’s second outing in the horror genre after his much acclaimed Satan’s Slave. He successfully takes us on a mystery driven and suspense filled ride through the backwoods village of Harjosari here. While not the most original addition to the genre, Impetigore hits all the right notes in giving horror fans the familiar scares that we are all so addicted to.