MY MOVIE JOURNAL: THE BEST INDONESIAN MOVIES OF 2019

Sedikit menurun dari tahun lalu dengan angka total rilisan 2019 sebesar 49.924.027 dan tahun kalender 2019 sebesar 50.930.709 (belum termasuk tambahan angka penonton Habibie & Ainun 3 – berdasarkan data akun twitter @bicaraboxoffice), namun ada 15 film Indonesia yang melewati angka 1 juta penonton, naik 1 dari total 14 film di tahun lalu, film Indonesia masih tetap mempertahankan momentum terbaik yang diharapkan akan terus meningkat di tahun berikut dengan film-film high profile yang akan dirilis sepanjang 2020. 

Tahun ini ada beberapa kasus-kasus misfire dari  beberapa blockbuster lokal yang diharapkan dengan target cukup tinggi di pasaran. Gundala, Foxtrot Six, Warkop DKI Reborn – di antaranya, termasuk Bebas yang bergerak sangat lambat, sementara Ratu Ilmu Hitam juga urung mencapai jumlah 1 juta penonton. Secara keseluruhan dari sisi kualitas pun, belasan film dari seratusan total film Indonesia tentulah belum lagi tergolong ideal. Apalagi, beberapa gebrakan genre baru belum bisa menyegarkan stagnansi genre yang ada di film kita.

Untunglah tetap ada sejumlah filmmaker yang tetap konsisten melahirkan karya-karya yang bukan saja berkualitas tapi juga laku di pasaran. Ernest Prakasa dengan Imperfect, Keluarga Cemara di awal tahun, adalah beberapa di antaranya. Ada pula beberapa kejutan tak terduga dari sejumlah film yang tanpa disangka bisa menawarkan penyegaran dalam genre masing-masing. Yang jelas, mari terus mendukung film Indonesia dengan tidak melewatkan film Indonesia berkualitas yang tayang di bioskop, juga festival/event yang menyediakan jalan untuk perkembangan sinema-sinema alternatif.

So here’s my list of this year’s finest Indonesian movies, 19 judul yang walau jelas diwarnai subjektivitas, namun paling tidak dipilih berdasarkan inovasi masing-masing terhadap konsep, konten dan pencapaiannya secara keseluruhan. Ada pula yang urung masuk karena memang terlalu lemah dibandingkan potensi yang dimilikinya. Di tahun yang cukup sibuk ini pula, di mana kita terkadang masih tak bisa menghindari singkanya masa edar film lokal yang langsung tergerus bila tak menunjukkan performa kuat di Kamis pertama tayang, ada beberapa judul yang terpaksa terlewatkan termasuk film terbaik pemenang FFI 2019, Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku. Sayangnya, penayangan ulangnya pun masih terbatas pula tanpa kesempatan ke daerah-daerah.

Sebagai catatan tambahan dari tiap judul, saya mencantumkan kembali capsule review dari akun sosmed @danieldokter atau link full review dari danieldokter.com. Semoga bisa menjadi rekomendasi buat yang belum sempat menyaksikannya di bioskop atau platform lain, dan menjadi retrospeksi yang baik buat para pencinta film Indonesia.

1. TWIVORTIARE

Rolling around everyday matters in relationships, made alive & real by an out of this world intimacy between Reza & Raihaanun, #Twivortiare aiming deep for every heart out there that refused to give up. To love, you never stop learning.

2. 27 STEPS OF MAY

Breaks you slowly in a surreal silence, #27StepsOfMay dives deep to explore psychological trauma in such delicate details. Could feel like a stage play at times, but every emotion lies strong with the remarkable acts. Bagus.

3. IMPERFECT

More than a plus-size romcom, #Imperfect expands weight to a relevant, both heartfelt & funny tales of women’s insecurities & self acceptance. @jscmila & Reza lead the stellar ensemble with @shareefadaanish @kikysaputriisteal their scenes.

4. PEREMPUAN TANAH JAHANAM

Back to his most comfort zones, Joko Anwar leads us through one hell of a cinematic journey feeling discomfort as if something evil creeping beneath our skin. The cast are all remarkable. #PerempuanTanahJahanam memang JAHANAM.

5. DUA GARIS BIRU

Facing some consistency problems, #DuaGarisBiru did reach a timely relevant level revisiting our undying social theme of unwanted pregnancy & parenting. @ginaSnoer‘s strong directing & stellar ensemble made it more a reminder than education.

6. LAGI-LAGI ATENG

While one must’ve known Ateng-Iskak’s comedy style more to get the jokes, The Parent Trap-esque delightful family drama will universally work for others. Yet above all, the ensemble from Augie, Surya even to Rohana are truly on point. Bagus!

7. SUSI SUSANTI: LOVE ALL

Embracing wider nationalism issues beyond our history of Chinese discrimination more than just a sports biopic & more, #SusiSusantiLoveAll serves on the right courts in Sim F’s competent debut. @laurabas wonderfully leads a great ensemble!

8. PRETTY BOYS

Carefully took its time to resolve conflicts – more heartfelt than funny, #PrettyBoys ironically used its drag jokes over Vincent-Desta’s on-screen comeback to throw relevant issues from TV showbiz to friendship & family. Directing debut yang oke!

9. DOREMI & YOU

Hit most of the right notes with such wonderful songs, good hearts and many things to learn as the part of Indonesian diversities without being pretentious, #DoremiAndYou really shines for just being simple, yet delightfully sweet!

10. 99 NAMA CINTA

There are dynamics which move along with sweet & steady chemistry between @septriasa_acha & @DevaMahenra in #99namacinta, making its distinct theme of TV irony meets romance w/ religious glimpse blends satisfyingly well. Loved!

11. BEBAS

Effectually transforming the universally acclaimed #Sunny into our culture through characters & quite a bible of mid 90s local playlists, #Bebas soars with full-hearts to ring us how a true friendship stays beyond forever. Ensemble & cameo2nya TOP!

12. BUMI MANUSIA

To some; romance, to some; courage & equality, #BumiManusia pulled off a rich, well-ensembled, long awaited adaptation by sticking the most grounded idea about learning to live & love beyond motherland & mankind’s worst conditions. Bagus!

13. RATU ILMU HITAM

Straightforward crazy, disturbing and brutal with just the right pitch to its original source, #RatuIlmuHitam departs you on another hell of a horror-ride this year.

14. TERLALU TAMPAN

Fun, stylish, hip, yet still gets a good glimpse of a teen dramatic touch, #TerlaluTampan never failed the chance to be the first Indonesian webtoon movie adaptation. And hey, the unexpectedly killer cast, too!

15. KUNTILANAK 2

Continuing the new myth w/ the similar elements, #Kuntilanak2 surprisingly pulled this one up w/ effective use of its right set pieces into a fast moving horror ride. @ksuwandi makes one of the most iconic evils on screen! Freakin creepy!

16. HIT & RUN

Unusual cast mix & match and reality TV Cops a la backstories underlined the hilarious comedy and hard-yet-fun-hitting showdowns in #HitAndRun, making it a rare blend of Indonesian action comedy, mostly for our Eid holiday blockbusters.

17. SI DOEL THE MOVIE 2

Moves forward doubling the dose of nostalgia with glimpses to the original excerpts, #SiDoelTheMovie2 might be soapy, formulaic as ever and also far from over, but doing it in all the perfect pitch. Tetep bikin gregetan.

18. SUNYI

One of the much better – if not the best, Indonesian horror flicks, #Sunyi recaptured the original Korean feel & atmosphere and blend it somehow in just the right amount of local ways. Bagus!

19. MY STUPID BOSS 2

If you dig the first one, #MyStupidBoss2 goes even crazier & way lunatic w/ the solid, comical pack of culture clash comedy in the last half. Reza & BCL still rocks, yet again, the blast comes from supporting acts, from @chewkinwah to @morganoey.