Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Great Film overall

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Absolutely the worst movie.

I think with a bit of polish and some better music choices, this flick would rank up there with "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now" - everyone involved should be proud of this work. It is really that good. It's hard to discuss without diving into the plot or discussing local and global politics. Just watch it!

I actually wanted to watch "Foxcatcher", but the screening was sold out, so I decided I'd go and watch this instead. And why not? Had no idea what to expect and was mostly entertained by it. The story this is based on, something that seems to have happened is completely crazy. As they say: You could not make this stuff up (well maybe some of it, but the core is true).The acting might not be always up to the challenge, but the violence and the "reality" of it, will hold your attention to it and will grip you from start to finish (if you don't mind reading subtitles that is like I don't). While it's straightforward, there are a few surprise twists here and there awaiting you. More than a decent thriller then

On The Job begins with clips of recent news going on in the Philippines. As the movie gets timely, it holds an aura of not being sensational. With the issues confronting the country the film's significance is impossible to notice. It illustrates how the politicians and criminals work hand in hand to achieve power, position and money.Director Erik Matti gave in to a political underground story this time dealing with authority, politicians and position but his signature with how the Filipino family bond has never changed. Thanks to our corrupt penal system they're regularly let out of prison to act as contract killers with the perfect alibis. Though the film was slow at first, it maneuvers to cover each and every aspect of the story. Tatang (Joel Torre), a prisoner-hit-man who eventually turned insecure when his boss Thelma informed that he can't work full time due to his age portrays more than the murder. The darkness in his eyes conveyed more about his character than the conversations did. His assistant Daniel (Gerald Anderson) played a very talkative rookie following Tatang's footsteps. His character was more of a naive prisoner who has a bit of an attitude. These two characters played major role as prisoners who gets out from jail time to time killing. As inmates, they share the father and son relationship. The film was widely arranged where jail wardens also act as accomplices. The cast of SPO1 Acosta (Joey Marquez) was played brilliantly. An SPO1 with 35 years of service stayed as SPO1 since he turned out to have the cleanest conscience. Integrity was challenged when he became the aid of Francis Colonel Jr. (Piolo Pascual) who takes part by being an NBI agent who's entrapped by being an excellent cop, compromised by being a son- in-law of a politician (Michael Demesa) indirectly involved with the killings masterminded by Gen. Pacheco (Leo Martinez). The love scenes portrayed were also timely and sensible still; the story remains intact despite the diversions. Angel Aquino, Rayver Cruz and Lito Pimentel also delivered well. "On the Job" is a cynical, realistic portrait of PHL politics and crime. Be warned: the film does not end on a hopeful note. It may even make you rather sad and ashamed at how real the film feels, especially in light of the country's current events.But when people urge you to watch On the Job, do it. A film like this, an uncompromising commercial success, hasn't happened in a long time, though now that it has, our standards are irrevocably raised. - AdoboAll we need to do now is to wait for the film's international version.

The story and pacing smoothly complimented each other. I like how the intensity just builds up right from the get go during the first scene up until the last one. Wonderfully moody cinematography combines with an excellent soundtrack and some breathlessly tight editing to create a surprisingly dark and nihilistic film.It's also great to see characters that were fleshed out especially that of the three main characters. We get to know them more instead of simply just following what they do. This is one of the things I like about the film in terms of characterization, we get a glimpse of their individual lives as opposed to just going right at the center of the conflict.This film pretty much shows what an ensemble really is. There are really no small roles here, as everyone's given something to do and they all did their parts well. From the opening assassination to the hospital shootout to the sequence that closes the film, the action beats in "On the Job" are technically polished while simultaneously visceral—even intimate—in their brutality. Matti and his cohorts have scored a home-run here.