#Showbiz: Fantastic year for local cinema, says FINAS
A ‘great year’ for Malaysian movies, with three of them emerging as the country’s all-time box office hits.
IT has been a fantastic year for local cinema, as far as the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) is concerned.
Local movies raked in about RM111 million between January and November, compared to RM57 million over the same period last year.
And best of all, Malaysia’s top grossing trio of films also emerged in 2018 — Skop Productions’ spiritual thriller Munafik 2 (RM37.72 million) directed by Syamsul Yusof, Astro Shaw’s and Infinitus Gold’s Hantu Kak Limah (RM36.23 million) directed by Mamat Khalid, and Spectrum Films’ and Asia Tropical Films’ local navy seals adventure Paskal (RM22 million) directed by Adrian Teh.
Munafik 2 saw action hero Syamsul return as spiritual healer Ustaz Adam, whose latest mission is to rescue a group of villagers and their children from the clutches of a ruthless cult leader, Abu Ja, played with menacing fury by Nasir Bilal Khan.
Hantu Kak Limah saw Mamat’s beloved characters from Kampung Pisang, led by the perpetually unemployed Husin (Datuk Awie) visit the strange world of fairies and uncover the mystery behind a series of hauntings committed by a vicious ghost bearing an uncanny resemblance to their recently-departed, kindly neighbour Kak Limah (Delimawati Ismail).
And Paskal, with a RM10 million budget zoomed in on the real-life adventures of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Pasukan Khas Laut or Special Warfare Force.
It detailed two actual incidents involving the navy seals namely the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II in 1998, and the rescue of hostages from the MV Bunga Laurel, which was hijacked by Somalian pirates in 2011.
Paskal not only made waves around the country, it also received honourable mention in the United States’ Internet Move Database.
ESTABLISHED BRANDS
Finas board member Onn Norshal Hamzah said the popularity of “brand Skop” which specialised in action and thrillers, coupled with its frequent wins in film festivals, pushed Munafik 2 to the pinnacle of box office sales.
“The same can be said of Mamat’s Kampung Pisang adventures like Hantu Kak Limah, which are intelligent comedies and parodies of life in Malaysia.
“Mamat’s latest Kak Limah story has also turned out a blast because of its promotion of 1980s memorabilia especially the timeless rock songs, beautifully reinterpreted by Awie and Mus of May,” he said.
In the case of Paskal, Golden Screen Cinemas had a hand in its production and the cinema chain thus marketed it aggressively.
“This film is a story that is seldom told, and such stories arouse the curiosity of young movie-goers. And like Ola Bola two years ago, it celebrates the Bangsa Malaysia spirit, this time in building up a world class team of navy seals committed to fighting terrorism around the world.”
OTHER HITS
Onn revealed that other films that did relatively well this year included another Skop project, KL Special Force (RM12.22 million, 10th highest grossing film) directed by Syamsul’s younger brother Syafiq.
A first-time collaboration between Syamsul, veteran action hero Datuk Rosyam Nor and heart-throb Fattah Amin, it highlighted the daring and deadly exploits of undercover policemen, as well as the danger of criminals who colluded with corrupt officials.
The long-awaited Dukun directed by Dain Iskandar Said of Bunohan fame collected RM9.9 million and became the 13th highest grossing film.
Loosely based on the crimes of glamorous, yet ruthless bomoh Mona Fandey in the 1990s, this Astro Shaw project was completed a decade ago, and cinema-goers loved Datin Seri Umie Aida’s menacingly seductive portrayal of Diana Dahlan, a kebaya-clad killer inspired by Mona.
The country’s first biopic of a badminton champion, CB Pictures’ Lee Chong Wei — Rise Of The Legend collected RM4.75 million, the 44th highest grossing film.
Two new actors, Jake Eng and Tosh Chan, were discovered by director Teng Bee to play badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei, and audiences hailed them for their convincing portrayals of Lee at different ages.
Rosyam also did a star turn as Lee’s mentor, former badminton champion Datuk Misbun Sidek.
Another well-publicised biopic Pulang was a tear-jerker about real-life fisherman-turned-sailor Othman Alias of Serkam, Melaka. It raked in RM2.24 million and was directed by Kabir Bhatia of Nur Kasih fame.
Pulang saw Remy Ishak deliver a heartfelt portrayal of the adventurous sailor who promised his wife and son that he would return home, yet did not do so as a result of illness.
The country’s top grossing Tamil film, romantic comedy Vedigundu Pasangge directed by Dr Vimala Perumal took home RM1.32 million, and had Sangeeta Krishnasamy of Adiwiraku play the female lead.
Raja Mukhriz Raja Ahmad Kamaruddin’s Tujuh, depicted the excesses of hippies in 1970s Cameron Highlands, and saw Marsha Milan Londoh as the ghost of a Senoi woman who sought revenge against her killers. This film took home RM891,355.
Astro Shaw’s latest action movie Polis Evo 2 with Shaheizy Sam and Zizan Razak reprising their roles as Inspectors Khai and Sani respectively, is climbing the box office, although its collections stand at RM14 million. If there is one film which might oust Paskal from the top three, this is it.
UNFORTUNATE MISSES
Onn also said there were five well-publicised films which received good reviews from critics, yet did not do well at the box office.
The gritty and realistic “One Two Jaga” directed by Shahili Abdan a.k.a. Nam Ron, that focused on corruption in the police force and how it affected Indonesian migrant workers in the Klang Valley. Screened in several international film festivals such as the New York Film Festival and 12th Five Flavours Asian Film Festival, its star-studded cast comprising Nam Ron, Bront Palarae, Amerul Affendi, Zahiril Adzim and Indonesia’s Ario Bayu, collected RM566,598.
Nevertheless, its international popularity gives it a good chance of winning big in the Malaysian Film Festival next year.
Second, Rise: Ini Kalilah directed by Prem Nath, Saw Teong Hin and Nik Amir Mustapha. This was the first film based on a political event that took place within the year — the May 9 general election which saw Pakatan Harapan defeat Barisan Nasional, and herald Malaysia’s first “change of government” at federal level.
A feel-good Bangsa Malaysia film like Ola Bola, it is three intertwined stories in one, about policemen, teachers, first-time voters and journalists who are involved in the historic election, and shows viewers how it changes their lives for the better.
Despite a star-studded cast comprising Remy, Mira Filzah, and Sangeeta, it only collected RM58,411.
Third, Busker, a heartwarming tale of young musicians in love which took home RM96,925.
Set in the rejuvenated city centre of Johor Baru, especially the funfair at Danga Bay, it starred popular musicians Daiyan Trisha and Anas Ridzuan, as well as Hafeez Mikhail who learnt to be a street musician and recording artiste in the process.
It has a feel good soundtrack, with songs actually performed by Hafeez, and cameos by established singers as Altimet.
Fourth, Surf This Love, our first surfing film with great cinematography in idyllic Pulau Tioman, Pahang.
Directed by Waan Hafiz, it starred Shukri Yahaya as an aspiring surfer who hopes to follow his late brother’s footsteps, and Cristina Suzanne Stockstill as a journalist who is fascinated with the lifestyle of surfers.
Shukri learnt surfing from professionals on the set, and his meticulous preparations were equalled by co-star Josiah Hogan who played his brother’s arch rival.
Surf This Love took home RM47,724.
Lastly, Wheely directed by Yusry Abdul Halim was KRU Studios’ version of Disney’s Cars. Loaded with Malaysian jokes, it featured prominently on United States entertainment website IMDb and received 6.2 / 10 from reviewers.
Sadly it took home RM1 million.
OPTIMISTIC FOR 2019
Finas, Onn said, forsees lots of hope for the film industry in 2019.
“A number of credible projects are on the way to our 158 cinemas nationwide, and the chief among them is Skop’s Abang Long Fadil 3 which is of Hollywood standards. Once again directed by Syafiq, and starring the explosive combination of Syamsul and Zizan, it is likely to outdo the success of Abang Long Fadil 2 which raked in RM18.15 million as 2017’s top selling film.”
Onn also said Finas was optimistic that the industry will continue to grow as the new Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo has encouraged Malaysian filmmakers to go global and think out of the box.
“The Minister is very supportive of aspiring new filmmakers, and we are confident that new gems among them will soon be discovered.”