Mencuri Raden Saleh

Once in a while, an Indonesian thriller that doesn't feature Iko Uwais succeeds. This film is one of them. It might be carried by a young cast but the actors prove to be equal to the challenge of making a good action movie/thriller.

Angge Dwimas Sasongko is able to put together a heist movie that doesn't disappoint, and which, in fact, totally gets the viewer's attention. The plus factor is that the object of the heist has great historical significance for Indonesia's struggle against Dutch rule. It's, thus, a worthy object of desire.

Raden Saleh is a highly respected Javanese painter in the 19th century, who like many artists of his age who were involved in nationalistic movements, spent time in Europe. His painting, The Arrest of Prince Diponegoro, which he did in 1857, is considered as his definitive work, and reflects his deep nationalistic fervor. Diponegoro was a key figure in the Java War. He remains, to this day, a key figure in Indonesia's nationhood.

Like any respectable heist film, this has veritable twists. And the way it's carried out is believable.

Kudos to the writer and director for an admirable work aided much by a young cast that performs like veterans on the screen.

This is the new face of indonesian movies! Actually i am not really fans of indonesian movies, but this movie really make me questions myself. The actings is really good, i love the effort from the actors doing some action and make it really cool, their expression seem so natural and make me impressed. The storyline is good, is not perfect but it's still good, there still some plothole in this movies and i hope the scriptwriter can fill it in the sequel, but it's really good, it's so rare i see some good storyline in indonesian action movies. The CGV is really amazing, it's good and felt so natural. The make up artis, they did a perfect job, but For make up after fighting, you have to add more bruises. It's really worth my 2,5 hours watched this movie. Keep the good work guys, and i hope i can hear a good news about the sequel.

This feels weird to me because I can seperates the reviews of this movie into two parts with different impressions. The first part of the movie was very awkward, the actors were overacting, and the catchphrases were very cringe. The personality of actors seems forced that make it looks like they were acting rather than a natural act. It makes me feels like watching a soap opera rather than an action movie. They were very bad at explaining that it feels like they were reading a textbook. The good first part was when the protagonist angry out of stress after done making the art. After that the movie back again with a cringe moment where they create a plan and explaining it. It just very bad in that sense so I score it around 4 only for the first part.

But after the first heist done, somehow the movie feels very different and become more interesting. The acting more fluid and more natural. The heist become really-really good, and the action said the same. The only awkward thing was when they added a new character out of nowhere, who was good at fighting, but there was no explanation who he was. And the other bad thing was about the ending where the movie just ends abruptly, even though there still so many thing that need to be questioned and answered.

Overall for the entire length of the movie, the second part contrastly different than the first part, make it just like a different movie mashed up together, that's how awkward is this. For the second part I give 8.5.

Next is music. The music (or OST) in this movie is very horrible and out of place. It just like an ost out of a comedy sketch. This should be not implemented in this kind of movie. Even if it is, it should not be placed in the entire of movie. It was very unbearable, especially for someone that enjoy atmospheric music in movie like myself.

The Cinematography of this film is superb. That's the only thing I constantly enjoyable from start to finish. If there was no noticable CG, I score it 10 for cinematography alone. But because there were a minor imperfect CG, I score it 9.

Looking at the after ending, my expectation there will be a second movie. I hope the producer learn from mistakes and create more enjoyable movie in the future.

Exceeds my expectation!

The story telling (which I consider usually lacking in most Indonesian films) is very good even with the twists and turns. Very good pacing that makes 2,5 hours gone in a flash.

Great characters introduction and development to make the audience invested in them. No character is wasted. The casts clearly put themselves into their characters to give such great performance.

Great cinematography, action choreography and editing that enhance and emphasize the scenes and story. No scene is wasted or draggy.

And I also love the backstory of the painting itself and the philosophy that becomes the theme of the film.

Mencuri Raden Saleh is the best Indonesian film in 2022 so far.

Mencuri Raden Saleh? I was, "Hah? What kind of movie is this?" The title didn't attract me, lol, and I didn't expect this movie to be this good, like AT ALL. I watched it because of the hype on social media a.k.a Instagram and Twitter and some friends recommended it to me bcs this movie is different, they said. Turned out the movie, the plots, are full of unexpected things and I love that! I recommend this movie to anyone who loves to watch movie that makes you guess and think. 8.6/10 for me. Far above my expectation! Well done! Would love to see more movies like this one! Big appreciate to the producer, crews, and of course the great actors!