BuyBust boasts of a strong and resourceful heroine
Though Erik Matti's "BuyBust" (2018) may initially look similar to the Indonesian action film "The Raid", it is really a far cry from it. Even if it is entirely implicit for the majority of its running time, the film's political message finally rears its head in the later part, something which cannot be found in "The Raid", which is purely a non-stop genre exercise in brawny and bloody thrills. Suffice it to say that the film could not be more timelier given the current administration's brazen all-out war against illegal drugs in the Philippines. But we will get back to this particular point later.
As an action-thriller, "BuyBust" delivers the goods more than enough. It can definitely be put alongside such extreme Asian action flicks as Indonesia's "The Raid" and "Headshot", Thailand's "Ong Bak" and Cambodia's "Jailbreak". It is as visceral and graphic as it can get, unlike most of the Filipino action movies of the 80s and 90s where despite all the heavy gunfire not a spurt of blood could be seen. There is even a minutes-long single-take fight sequence here that is certainly for the books. The director wastes no time in thrusting the viewers into all the chaos and destruction right away.
In fact, the slum dwellers (whether they belong to the drug gang or are just plain residents) who attack the ill-fated anti-drugs police squad may be compared to the zombies of any George Romero film (or of any horror movie for that matter): merciless and brutal bloodhounds who are ready to kill without second thoughts. They seem to be indestructible and indefatigable as they appear and pounce from all corners, armed with anything from knives to guns. The Tondo slum setting (referred to as "Grasya ni Maria") is a vividly literal manifestation of hell on earth. It is not hard to believe that once inside this hellhole, there is no escape anymore for the squad - they are doomed for good.
The action-thriller elements are easily discernible: a police mission gone awry, a traitor in the group, some corrupt top officials, some excess baggage of the heroes and some tragic deaths. But the execution is done with such conviction and bravery that you just embrace the familiarity. With regards to substantive character backgrounds, "BuyBust" could have probably done better with more as the script (co-written by Matti and Anton Santamaria) provides scarce details as possible. All we know is that Nina (played by Anne Curtis) is still reeling from a previously botched police operation, that Rico (played by Brandon Vera) strongly believes that the amulet given to him by his mother protects him from any danger and that Bernie (played by Victor Neri) is finally given the chance to lead an elite buybust squad. While the rest, we know practically nothing of. Furthermore, Nina's motivation for joining the buybust operation is being fueled not by revenge or hatred, but by the simple fact that it is her job. A less "dramatic" motivation, after all. On the other hand, the scant character development may really be intentional, as "BuyBust" is not so much a character study as a social commentary working in the mold of the action-thriller genre.
This is not to say that there are no commendable performances in the film. Some of Matti's castings simply fall flat (like Gerald Anderson in "On the Job" who is like a sheep thrown into a den full of lions and Ronnie Alonte in "Seklusyon" who shamefully lacks depth), while the others work wonders. The latter is the case with "BuyBust". As with John Lloyd Cruz in "Honor Thy Father" who is marvelously cast against type after years of doing rom-coms, Anne Curtis in "BuyBust" is someone we have never seen before. Doing away with all the cutesy antics she has shown in her rom-com movies and the bitchiness she has displayed in her mistress movies, Curtis as Nina is a force to be reckoned with in Matti's film, a resourceful and strong-willed heroine whose determination to survive cannot be crushed by all the destructive forces around her. Nina is essentially a low-key character, which makes her fight scenes all the more revealing and stirring. Brandon Vera as Rico is another formidable presence, his burly physique making such an indelible (and at times even humorous) impact in his scenes of combat. He is an incredible hulk who needs no mutative transformation. Nina and Rico are such a strong pair that we are really rooting for them to make their way out of that forsaken place.
Though I find the concluding part of the film to be somewhat preachy, the message is strong and clear: that is, the government's war on drugs is nothing but an orchestrated sham, a convoluted web of corruption, betrayals and cover-ups. This is all voiced out by the film's "target" villain, Biggie Chen (played by Arjo Atayde, who actually made such a strong impression in his limited screen presence). Though when compared to the scenario depicted in the recently released "Sicario: Day of the Soldado", our own drug war seems like a child's play. Still, when the lives of ordinary and innocent people are already at risk, there is nothing playful about it. When we hear another buybust operation next time, we may as well pause to think: Is it really meant to eradicate one of the country's main social ills or is it merely a decoy to protect some of the powers-that-be?
As an action-thriller, "BuyBust" delivers the goods more than enough. It can definitely be put alongside such extreme Asian action flicks as Indonesia's "The Raid" and "Headshot", Thailand's "Ong Bak" and Cambodia's "Jailbreak". It is as visceral and graphic as it can get, unlike most of the Filipino action movies of the 80s and 90s where despite all the heavy gunfire not a spurt of blood could be seen. There is even a minutes-long single-take fight sequence here that is certainly for the books. The director wastes no time in thrusting the viewers into all the chaos and destruction right away.
In fact, the slum dwellers (whether they belong to the drug gang or are just plain residents) who attack the ill-fated anti-drugs police squad may be compared to the zombies of any George Romero film (or of any horror movie for that matter): merciless and brutal bloodhounds who are ready to kill without second thoughts. They seem to be indestructible and indefatigable as they appear and pounce from all corners, armed with anything from knives to guns. The Tondo slum setting (referred to as "Grasya ni Maria") is a vividly literal manifestation of hell on earth. It is not hard to believe that once inside this hellhole, there is no escape anymore for the squad - they are doomed for good.
The action-thriller elements are easily discernible: a police mission gone awry, a traitor in the group, some corrupt top officials, some excess baggage of the heroes and some tragic deaths. But the execution is done with such conviction and bravery that you just embrace the familiarity. With regards to substantive character backgrounds, "BuyBust" could have probably done better with more as the script (co-written by Matti and Anton Santamaria) provides scarce details as possible. All we know is that Nina (played by Anne Curtis) is still reeling from a previously botched police operation, that Rico (played by Brandon Vera) strongly believes that the amulet given to him by his mother protects him from any danger and that Bernie (played by Victor Neri) is finally given the chance to lead an elite buybust squad. While the rest, we know practically nothing of. Furthermore, Nina's motivation for joining the buybust operation is being fueled not by revenge or hatred, but by the simple fact that it is her job. A less "dramatic" motivation, after all. On the other hand, the scant character development may really be intentional, as "BuyBust" is not so much a character study as a social commentary working in the mold of the action-thriller genre.
This is not to say that there are no commendable performances in the film. Some of Matti's castings simply fall flat (like Gerald Anderson in "On the Job" who is like a sheep thrown into a den full of lions and Ronnie Alonte in "Seklusyon" who shamefully lacks depth), while the others work wonders. The latter is the case with "BuyBust". As with John Lloyd Cruz in "Honor Thy Father" who is marvelously cast against type after years of doing rom-coms, Anne Curtis in "BuyBust" is someone we have never seen before. Doing away with all the cutesy antics she has shown in her rom-com movies and the bitchiness she has displayed in her mistress movies, Curtis as Nina is a force to be reckoned with in Matti's film, a resourceful and strong-willed heroine whose determination to survive cannot be crushed by all the destructive forces around her. Nina is essentially a low-key character, which makes her fight scenes all the more revealing and stirring. Brandon Vera as Rico is another formidable presence, his burly physique making such an indelible (and at times even humorous) impact in his scenes of combat. He is an incredible hulk who needs no mutative transformation. Nina and Rico are such a strong pair that we are really rooting for them to make their way out of that forsaken place.
Though I find the concluding part of the film to be somewhat preachy, the message is strong and clear: that is, the government's war on drugs is nothing but an orchestrated sham, a convoluted web of corruption, betrayals and cover-ups. This is all voiced out by the film's "target" villain, Biggie Chen (played by Arjo Atayde, who actually made such a strong impression in his limited screen presence). Though when compared to the scenario depicted in the recently released "Sicario: Day of the Soldado", our own drug war seems like a child's play. Still, when the lives of ordinary and innocent people are already at risk, there is nothing playful about it. When we hear another buybust operation next time, we may as well pause to think: Is it really meant to eradicate one of the country's main social ills or is it merely a decoy to protect some of the powers-that-be?
(Anne Curtis and Brandon Vera fight their way out of a hell on earth in Erik Matti's "BuyBust")
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