Change Your Image
nurazeem
Reviews
White Chicks (2004)
Ridiculously Hilarious!
Laughs - in fact, loud guffaws - are guaranteed for anyone who watches this comedy. A good number of comedies are not funny at all; I would barely even smile. But this one really made me laugh. The whole premise is already quite silly, and you wonder why the "white chicks" could ever be mistaken for the women they're masquerading. (That's the whole joke.)
The Wayan brothers were certainly hamming it up in this one. Also, some of the situations actually mirror real life, but this being a comedy, things get exaggerated. Like how the thin lady became a psycho in the dressing room and how one of the "white chicks" was made to squeeze into clothes that were too small.
I would recommend anyone to show this movie to people they know who are dead-serious; would they, at least, chuckle? I imagine anyone in a bad mood would have their spirits lifted after watching this rib-tickling gem.
The Entitled (2011)
Didn't regret watching this
Movies with bigger budgets have bored me with inane story lines and characters I don't care about. And I don't write a review for every movie that I'd watched, but I am certainly moved to do so for this one: it deserves a high rating, especially for the fact that the cast was not from the A-list crowd (except for Ray Liotta). Simply put, it's a solidly suspenseful movie, and I like the idea that it's about psychopathic behavior in its different guises. There is a bit of social commentary as well, as one can't help thinking about what is good/right/legal and bad/wrong/illegal. I was rooting for the protagonist and hoping he would get away with it, and then stopped to ask myself, "Is what he's doing good? Isn't he supposed to be the bad guy?" Any movie these days that make me think just that little bit deserves some kudos.
Ombak Rindu (2011)
Ombak Rindu/Gila is incredible ... in a VERY bad way
Welcome to the weird and wonky world of Ömbak Rindu, where the hero is the most slimy character (he will be referred to as The Maggot from here onwards) and the heroine is the personification of a doormat (and she will be called thus).
But before I begin with the actual review, consider this alternative storyline:- The Doormat escapes from The Maggot after earning his trust, and attempts to seek justice through the court system (i.e. The Maggot is charged with partaking in human trafficking, kidnapping, and rape), with the help of a lawyer who offers to represent her pro bono. She may have been a naive village girl, but she is inspired to do all she can to assert her rights and regain her human dignity. As in the original movie, she is religious and gains inner strength through her faith that Allah is on her side. The court case garners international scrutiny and The Maggot is eventually guilty as charged. Meanwhile, The Doormat's love interest from the village resurfaces in the city and gives her his full support. He truly loves her. The movie ends with the two returning to the countryside and planning to wed.
What actually happens in Ombak Rindu is quite the opposite, where The Maggot marries a very-willing Doormat. It is not possible to overstate the fact that this movie is marked by the lackadaisical handling of grave issues, namely human trafficking and rape. After putting these subjects to the fore, they are then summarily dismissed as insignificant, because what matters most is the love between the two insipid protagonists. *pass me the barf bag*
It is unfortunate that the makers of Ombak Rindu had squandered away the opportunity to make a more cerebral piece that could have reached a much wider audience (perhaps in foreign film festivals). Instead, they have settled on the easier, "senseless fluff" route, which could only appeal to a very limited market, namely women who are so blinded by their infatuation with the actor who plays The Maggot, or the idea of a fantasy-romance with a rich guy. (I have to think of reasons why this movie has proved to be so popular in Malaysia.)
A movie's social role in propagating ideas cannot be underestimated. That being said, let's go through the lessons gleaned from this seemingly innocuous film :- (1) It is fine to buy women as sex-slaves and rape them. (The Maggot did not experience any negative consequences.) (2) It is fine to be violent and harsh to women, as they will fall in love with you. However, to be fair, there is a caveat; this would only work if you are rich and good-looking. (3) Being good in character does not pay off when it comes to getting the woman of your heart, when you are poor and from the village. (4) The ideal Malay-Muslim woman is passive, pious, and pretty, as well as android-like, as she can go through being sold and bought, and raped and physically-abused without bearing any psychological trauma.
In short, Ombak Rindu is a misogynistic piece, which attempts to normalize crooked values. It is a really sick fantasy-romance.
p.s. There is a chance for redemption, though. A sequel, which reveals The Doormat as a gold-digger par excellence who has been scheming to have her revenge all along, would shed light on her befuddling behavior in the first movie. Still donning that hijab and oh-so-meek demeanor, she plots to take possession of The Maggot's wealth, before kicking him to the curb. Sadly, this is just wishful thinking.