Mencuri Raden Saleh

This movie is not exceptional by doing something new, but because they know how to make each part fun and enjoyable. As a heist movie, it manages to capture adventure, drama, romance, and mystery in one pack with great storyline that came up from a single premise.

The writer/director clearly knows how to give an equal spotlight for all aspects involved from character development, technicalities, visual effects, and so on. I still got bored at times due to very long runtime (2.5 hours) and the pacing is a bit odd with few plot holes, but I have to say it's a very great experience to watch a movie as fulfilling and complete as this. Very recommended.

This movie was a lot better than I expected. At first I thought it would be a bit cheesy especially looking at the cast that consisted of young actors and actresses. But as I continued watching, it was surprisingly good with some smooth transition between one plot to another and a wonderful story telling with some excitement throughout the movie.

It obviously had high production value with the awesome setting, amazing fight choreography, some cool enough action sequence and especially the heist itself. There was even a trademark plot twist of such genre that was brilliantly inserted in here. With such ending, I would not mind to see a sequel should they chose to do so, even if this time the duration was probably a bit too long.

Great job from the cast and crew, in particular Angga Dwimas Sasongko as the writer and director who I believed had put in so much effort into making this as good as it is.

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.

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!

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.