Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Billie Morin This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Roy Hart If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

sydneyswesternsuburbs Director and writer Erik Matti has created a gem in On the Job.Starring Piolo Pascual.Also starring Gerald Anderson.Also starring Joel Torre.I enjoyed the violence and realistic settings.If you enjoyed this ass much as I did then check out other classic hit-man flicks, John Wick: Chapter 2 2017, Collateral 2004, The November Man 2014, 24 Hours to Live 2017, The Silencer 1999 and No Country for Old Men 2007.If you also enjoyed seeing a classic flick from the Philippines then check out Metro Manila 2013.

Leofwine_draca ON THE JOB is a dark, dingy, and rather sweaty Filipino thriller that has some stylistic similarities to the far superior METRO MANILA. Unfortunately this is ultimately a much lesser work in which promise at the outset soon devolves thank to some rather pedestrian writing. ON THE JOB is too long, too slow, and marred by unsympathetic characters who you don't give two hoots about despite their various problems.The story involves a real-life scandal around career criminals being given day release from prison to go around working as political assassins. It sounds great, but after the umpteenth long-winded scene of characters arguing and discussing their plight, it becomes merely average rather than profound. It doesn't help that the only truly likable character is the young crusading cop whose character is let down by possibly the most unsatisfying climax in a film ever.Director Erik Matti performs an able job behind the camera, creating a gritty and realistic look that brings out the poverty and grime of the surroundings. Individual scenes are powerful, and there are one or two good action moments, but the choreography is sometimes sloppy and the tedium occasionally overwhelming. These factors conspire to make ON THE JOB a distinctly average movie when it should by all rights be a good one.

Catie Chan Erik Matti's On The Job---WOW. In my opinion, our country's finest film in recent history. There's no kidnapping (and eventually rescuing)the leading lady, no song and dance numbers or field trips to the beach, no fake punch audio--well just the unnecessary sex scenes and the subtle product placements--I'm looking at you Nescafe, Marlboro and Tanduay!--But this movie is the space shuttle that rockets our formulaic film industry light years forward to at least catch up to respectable standards. It doesn't do justice to say that On The Job may very well be the Filipino version of Breaking Bad but there are undeniable similarities.Joel Torre is your Heisenberg. Unlike Heisenberg, Tatang doesn't start out as your naive chemistry teacher desperate to earn money for his cancer treatments and support his family. Joel Torre's Tatang Maghari (name roughly translates to Old King or Old Ruler) portrays your very cerebral and methodical veteran hit-man but he does have a soft spot for his family and his rookie...(In fact, since a US remake is in the talks, may I please suggest that they use Bryan Cranston to play Joel Torre's role?) Gerald Anderson is cast as your local Jesse Pinkman. Foul mouthed, messes up the job a lot. Very rough around the edges but what he lacks for in finesse and discretion, he makes up for in his loyalty to Tatang and willingness to learn. He is kind of a douche bag but still somehow endearing. This guy has great potential as an actor. I hope he gets more challenging roles in the future.While Piolo Pascual top bills this movie, he really has more of a supporting role alongside Joey Marquez. But they do some mighty fine acting. (Definitely Joey Marquez's best performance ever). Piolo plays the conflicted NBI detective who wants to do the right thing but is burdened by his ties to the evil forces. I do feel that they could have cast someone better than Joey Marquez as the cop. Maybe it's just his voice and his history of comedic roles that make us unable to take his portrayal seriously.Michael De Mesa and Leo Martinez are noteworthy villains too. They're both very calm and collected even when their vehicle is being shot or when Piolo was going to draw his gun right in front of the small man that is Leo. They're just oozing with confidence that they've got all the power and money in the country to get away with just about anything. Reminds me of Gus Fring. Quiet but formidable.Erik Matti does an excellent job with the writing and directing. The plot uncovers without having to spell everything out for the audience and there are a few surprises thrown in at the end which leaves us wanting more. And that's always a good thing when you leave your audience wanting more.Writeups say that Matti is planning a sequel but will Rayver Cruz prove to be a worthy adversary to Joel Torre or will there be different characters to continue the plot? I give it a 9.5 out of 10....but only for some unnecessary sex scenes, conveniences in the plot and weak acting from Shaina Magdayao and Angel Aquino. Heck, even Rosanna Roces' acting was more memorable than theirs...and they had more screen time!

Mek Torres On The Job has some intriguing stuff, it's a story about four lives connected in one conspiracy behind the law. What's going on is as many as its moral ambiguities. It is a heavy story, but it consistently delivers thanks to the people who are involved. The craft is excellent for giving an absorbing quality with pure tension. The stellar cast brings plenty of life within the characters. Beyond the surfaces, the film is already fascinating itself, but it's a very ambitious picture. OTJ is a rare modern Filipino film that has an actual engaging story to tell in a brilliantly slick and exhilarating way.The subjects of the film are the realities of crime and moral ambiguity. Even though the lead character's motivation is good, it won't make his job look any less terrible. It never glosses anything about what they do and that's the interesting part. There are no actual heroes and a dirty work will always be a dirty work, which provides absolute danger within the surface. The film is best at tension, every set piece is like a ticking bomb, it gets louder and louder until it fires to an unpredictable shock, then more action. It's amazing stuff. When there's no blood and gunshots, the film explores the characters. They are in fact not bad people after all. They have their own problems and only do those things to provide for their loved ones, though there's a fear that they might bring their work into their personal lives, but that just makes it human.Tatang is mostly ruthless, but Joel Torre gives all the humanity which balances the character's depth and criminal side. Gerald Anderson shines remarkably. His greatest feat is the arrogance he brings, makes his character feel more threatening. Piolo Pascual surprisingly has something beyond his typical charms. My favorite among is Joey Marquez, who gives the cop a natural rage and fear that can be relatable and somehow enjoyable to watch.The film never depicts Metro Manila as pleasant, it's like hell on earth where violence may happen anytime in the city. Well it is in fact one of the rotten places of the country. Other than that, the film has most the best things in a classic crime thriller: noir feel, anxiety filled action, twisted dark humor, and a cinematography that glamors around the filth. Director Erik Matti keeps everything interesting and magnetic.OTJ is a great surprise among the local blockbusters today. We don't usually get a well made Filipino movie like this nowadays unless it's an independent film. Otherwise, it's a compellingly grim crime drama that may possibly stuck in your mind in a while. Personally, I think this is the best film I've seen this year so far. Since it's not really the greatest ever, I think this is what we need. It has a lot of what's missing in most modern blockbusters. It also has the craftsmanship and down-to-earth performances that would impact more to the audience. With all the merits, OTJ is easily recommendable.