BuyBust
BuyBust | |
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Directed by | Erik Matti |
Screenplay by |
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Story by | Erik Matti[1] |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Neil Derrick Bion |
Edited by | Jay Halili |
Music by |
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Production companies | |
Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 126–128 minutes[2][3][4] |
Country | Philippines |
Language | Filipino |
Budget | ₱86 million (US$1.6 million)[5] |
Box office | ₱97 million[5] |
BuyBust (stylized as BUYBUST) is a 2018 Philippine
Production on Matti's "first full-on action film" began in 2016, and Curtis and Vera were cast as leads the following year. On a budget of ₱86 million, principal photography began in March 2017. The film premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) on June 29, 2018, had a wide Philippine release on August 1 and a limited North American release on August 10. Critical reception to the film was generally favorable, attaining praise for its action scenes, theme, technical aspects and Curtis' against-type performance, but was often criticized as a rip-off of the 2011 Indonesian film The Raid. It grossed ₱97 million worldwide.
Plot
Due to the
Rookie police officer Nina Manigan (Anne Curtis) joins a new anti-narcotic elite squad of the PDEA after surviving the slaughter of her entire former squad in a drug raid compromised by corrupt cops. Her new squad is chosen to conduct the mission against Chen; the entrapment is to take place in Plaza Rajah Sulayman. Teban is used as a bait to lure Chen, but the latter did not appear.
The squad then proceeds to the slums of Gracia and split up into the Alpha and Bravo teams. Inside, Teban meets with Chongki (Levi Ignacio) to take him over to Chen. However, the operation was revealed as bait to massacre the PDEA officers. The Bravo team is slaughtered, leaving Dela Cruz as the only survivor. The Alpha team, led by Lacson, fall back but find themselves trapped by slum settlers and drug mafias in which they must fight their way out. Manigan then kills Dela Cruz upon finding out that he is a part of the illegal trade.
Fed up with the relentless operations conducted by authorities, the dwellers of Gracia erupted into a violent riot against the PDEA officers and the drug lords. In the ensuing chaos, Rico, Bernie, Teban, Chongki, Solomon, Manok and hundreds of other civilians are killed amid the riots and the gunfights. In the aftermath, Chen is captured, and Manigan, who ends up as being the sole survivor of her squad, finds out that Detective Alvarez was the one behind the illegal drug trade from Chen. While in police custody, Manigan notices Alvarez talking with someone over the phone regarding "loose ends". After the phone conversation, Alvarez kills Chen; Manigan wrestles for Alvarez' gun then kills him and his men, she shoots her leg on purpose then places the gun on Chen's lifeless body and takes the phone that Alvarez was using for possible evidence. When other PDEA agents ask Manigan what happened, she stated that the Chen "fought back". The film ends with the news stating that "only 13 people" died during the encounter while the camera glides upon hundreds of dead bodies.
Cast
- Anne Curtis as Nina Manigan[1]
- Brandon Vera as Rico Yatco[8]
- Victor Neri as Bernie Lacson[3]
- Arjo Atayde as Biggie Chen[3]
- Nonie Buencamino as Detective Alvarez[3]
- Lao Rodriguez as Detective Dela Cruz[3]
- Alex Calleja as Teban[3]
- Levi Ignacio as Chongki[3]
- Ricky Pascua as Solomon[3]
- Joross Gamboa as Manok[8]
Production
Production on BuyBust began as early as mid-2016 which, according to director
Anne Curtis and MMA fighter Brandon Vera joined the cast in late June 2016.[11] A week before filming, Curtis performed rigorous training at the Scout Ranger Training School, where she undertook knife fighting in close quarters and basic weapon handling.[12] Curtis was also trained in Pekiti-Tirsia Kali,[13] and running while encumbered with 12 kg (26 lb) of weight.[12] She elected performing most of her stunts by herself.[9][12] Lawyer Chel Diokno did the voiceover in some of its most crucial scenes.
Principal photography began on March 28, 2017,[9] with Neil Derrick Bion serving as cinematographer. Shooting lasted 56 days,[14] during which a total of 1,278 extras and 309 stuntmen cooperated.[15]
Theme
Journalists write that the film served as a social commentary on the
Release
At the urging of the producers, Matti submitted the BuyBust script to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival, but was rejected in the first tier of the selection process.[16][17] The executive committee who rejected Matti's script was composed of three new members that were tapped as replacements to those who had resigned due to issues of corruption within the committee. The resignees alleged that the committee favored "putting too much emphasis on commerce over art".[18] Matti denounced the incident on a lengthy Facebook post, in which he argued that the selection process was "rigged" to favor "the powerful personalities controlling the festival".[19] In the wake of the incident, he stated in early July 2017 that he does not intend to submit the finished film, which is the second tier of the selection process.[16]
The film was initially scheduled for a Philippine premiere on February 28, 2018, but was postponed after U.S. distributor
The film had its world premiere at the
Reception
Box office
The film grossed $178,471 in the U.S. and Canada,[22] and ₱97 million worldwide.[5]
Critical response
The film enjoyed good reviews upon its United States theatrical release.[23] Rotten Tomatoes gives a score of 83%, with an average rating of 6.5/10, based on 18 reviews from critics.[24] On Metacritic it received "Generally favorable reviews," with an average rating of 68 out of 100 based on 10 reviews.[25] Members of the Cinema Evaluation Board gave the film an "A" grade.[14]
Foreign and domestic critics praised the film for the intensity of its action scenes, commentary on the Philippine Drug War, Anne Curtis' against-
Some critics were less enthusiastic about the film. Stephanie Mayo gave it 1 out of 5 stars in a pan review for the
See also
- The Raid, a 2011 Indonesian action film with a similar premise
References
- ^ InterAksyon.com. Archivedfrom the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Tsui, Clarence (July 17, 2018). "'BuyBust': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kuipers, Richard (July 16, 2018). "Film Review: 'BuyBust'". Variety. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ a b Berra, John (July 16, 2018). "'BuyBust': NYAFF Review". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ a b c Dimaculangan, Jocelyn (August 25, 2018). "Anne Curtis-starrer BuyBust grosses PHP97 million in global box office". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Anne Curtis' 'Buy Bust' to premiere in New York film fest". ABS-CBN News. June 13, 2018. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ Cabana, Ysh (August 24, 2018). "Anarchy in anti/pro-drug war film - Film Review: BuyBust". The Philippine Reporter. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Hawson, Fred (August 1, 2018). "Movie review: Explosive 'BuyBust' not for the faint of heart". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Anne Curtis starts shooting action film". ABS-CBN News. March 29, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ Miralles, Nitz (March 31, 2017). "Unang full action film ni Erik Matti, sinimulan na ang shooting". Balita News Tabloid (in Filipino). Archived from the original on December 19, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ Castillejo, Dyan (June 29, 2016). "Anne Curtis to star in action film with Brandon Vera". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ a b c Dimaculagan, Jocelyn (August 5, 2016). "Anne Curtis shows knife fighting skills; joins Scout Ranger Training School". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ Abanilla, Clarizel (June 19, 2018). "Anne Curtis thriller to open locally on Aug. 1". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
- ^ a b Bayle, Alfred (July 20, 2018). "Erik Matti believes 'Buy Bust' his best work so far". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Watch: Anne Curtis, Brandon Vera behind the scenes of 'Buy Bust'". Rappler. November 17, 2017. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ a b Radovan, Jill Tan (July 5, 2017). "Erik Matti won't re-submit Buy Bust to MMFF". InterAksyon.com. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ Severo, Jan Milo (April 17, 2017). "Erik Matti airs frustration over MMFF selection process". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ "'MMFF put emphasis on commerce over art' – resigned execom members". ABS-CBN News. July 5, 2017. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ "Erik Matti not giving up on destroying alleged MMFF 'cartel'". ABS-CBN News. July 12, 2017. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (February 18, 2018). "Berlin: Well Go USA Takes Erik Matti's 'Buybust' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ "Cinemalaya 2018 opens with 'BuyBust'; Anne Curtis overwhelmed by cheers". ABS-CBN News. August 4, 2018. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
- ^ "Buybust". Box Office Mojo. Amazon (IMDb). Retrieved September 11, 2018.
- ^ Afinidad-Bernardo, Deni Rose M. "'BuyBust,' Anne Curtis get rave reviews from Hollywood press". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ "BuyBust (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- CBS Interactive(CBS Corporation). Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- Spot.PH. Summit Media. Archivedfrom the original on August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ Cruz, Oggs (August 3, 2018). "'BuyBust' review: Violence, deaths, and discourse". Rappler. Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ Desingaño, Rokey (August 8, 2018). "'BuyBust' brings action films to another level". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ^ Mayo, Stephanie (August 5, 2018). "Review: BuyBust". Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ a b Hunter, Rob (July 20, 2018). "'BuyBust' Review: An Action Film Where Quantity Reigns Over Quality (Fantasia 2018)". Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ a b c Mack, Andrew (August 2, 2018). "Fantasia 2018 Review: BUYBUST, Bust is One Word For it..." Screen Anarchy. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2018.