Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Review - Dalam Botol


...Dalam Botol... or as it was originally titled Anu Dalam Botol... so I guess if the original title offends people, then all we gotta do is just put dots in place of the offending word ala 'Perempuan, Isteri dan ...' back in the day... although there was a movie called Jalang right? Last year? Also a movie called Bohsia... no negative connotation there?
But I digress...
Dalam Botol tells the story of Rubidin (Arja Lee), who had a sex change operation because of his lover (Wan Raja), but was later spurned by the same lover. Then, because of a family incident/emergency, he returned to his hometown and experienced a moment of normalcy when he hangs out with a girl (Diana Danielle).
That's the gist of the movie...
I thought the storylines were okay. There was substance to it. In fact, with the layering of the subplots, it was quite interesting to watch. Unfortunately, some storylines were too neatly resolved, although I know this was based on true events, but it doesn't seem realistic.
For example, the money part. Rubidin owed money to some ahlong I think and he was at his wit's end already but then he inherited a whole lot of money and all his troubles went away. Too neatly resolved there for my liking. If that really happened, then Rubidin's a lucky girl in life, although not so much with his love life.
And then some issues along the way... such as the money from the ahlong... I assumed he took the money for the operation... but then, he said he owed the guy 40K... yet he has 20K in the bank account... and the lover has squandered 20K... so how much was the operation?
And why did someone go off for a sex change operation and did not bother to get boobs? He forgot? Or he just wanted the vagina? That seemed a bit odd to me... and he was still wearing a wig... so why bother going through with cutting it off if you're basically no different from a drag queen?
Also, how come these people keep on repeating the same thing over and over again? Like when Ghaus and Ruby were talk-arguing... he kept asking Ruby where she went for a couple of months and kept talking about the surprise and what the surprise was... it's like he did not know she went and got herself a vagina or something... sigh...

Acting-wise, the cast was not too bad... the supporting characters ie the ladies are by far the better actors here... Fauziah Ahmad Daud, Normah Damanhuri and Diana Danielle. A movie about gay men and they are all upstaged by the girls? Kinda ironic... oh before I forget, one comment on Arja Lee... he doesn't seem like he can't act but there are times when it just was not right... maybe it's because he is not that pretty when he is a girl... or maybe the fact that he was pouting and did this high pitched voice when he was Ruby... I dunno... but there was something off about his performance, like he did not connect or something... and good God, his character's drag version was sooo annoying, not because she was needy but her voice was getting on my nerves and the crying without the tears thing? Come on!... I do have to point out that he was quite okay in his scenes as Din though...
Then there was my problem with the setting up of the shots... and no, I ain't talking about the metaphors that they put on throughout the movie... yes, Rubidin got his thang cut off... no need to put a severed tree trunk in the scene right? We got it already. Remember when he opened the fridge after coming back... you can see two eggs... yes, his two eggs were also chopped off... sigh... but no, I was not talking about that...
I am talking about the shots of two people talking but you don't see them talking, you see the scene partner... it worked well when Ruby was facing the mother about his financials... coz it was a delight watching the mother's reactions... now that was a necessary scene for that kind of shot... but why must a lot of other scenes shot that way as well... Dina talking to Ruby about her problems... and Din's face remained stoic... if he identified with his problem and gave facial expressions then okay lar... but nothing... should've focused on Dina and have her emote... why would you show the back of someone's head? Is it because they cannot act? Or did not really carry the scene well?
A colleague of mine said that it was done to be artistic... but I say artistic should not compromise a scene and its contents... Diana Danielle, who I think is a capable actress, especially in this movie, should've been given the chance to face the camera and emote, which would be so much better than seeing the back of her head emote...
Anyway, given the fact that we only have one other gay-themed (yes, gay-themed and not gay movie... I don't believe this would fall under the latter category), Dalam Botol, when compared to the horrors that was 2 Alam, can be considered one of the 10 Best Picture nominees come Oscar time.
But, if you watch it on its own merit and as a regular movie, I believe it's not a bad movie, but not particularly good either, but a good step for Malaysia's cinema to stop being ruled by the censorship board. And yes, I enjoyed watching the movie. :)

7 comments:

fadz said...

yey, great points bro, what uve read is exactly the same, its just, im much more magnanimous towards the actors. ahha

The Wan And Only said...

entah lah bro, i think i am just nitpicking kot... hehe

azmiyogi said...

Ok... to be honest, it took me a few days to decide if I would take the chance on this movie. Since there was not anything much to do at 11.30am at the Curve this morning, I thought what the heck. I am one that is not always turned on by a Malay movie, with the exception of those by the late Yasmin Ahmad. Since she left, there has never been a movie that could remotely match her boldness and audacity to put reality, honesty, and the most painful truth on the big screen. Until now.

I am not just saying this because of its theme in relative to my own life but solely because of Khir Rahman's ability to capture the essence of the character played tastefully by Azra Lee. Its like wow!!! I thought Khir must be one that has truly connected with Ruby AND Bidin. And for Azra Lee, who has obviously studied his character meticulously, it is kinda hard to imagine anyone who has not been a transgender to pull something like this off and come out tops! If you know me, I am very very stringent about crediting Malay movies. While others thought Merong Mahawangsa should be given an A for bravery, I think the only A I would give Yusri is for his effort in trying, the rest of it should be slaughtered off at the guillotine. But this movie, never mind its compromising title, should, no, MUST be put on TV, the stage, and into the very heart of a society that is still blind towards the existence of the transgender.

Khir Rahman has oh so took the incredible effort of choosing his characters well and it was such a treat to watch the veterans like Normah Damanhuri, Fauziah Ahmad Daud and Jalil Hamid played out their characters with such professionalism that their prowess showed in an engaging manner and left me wanting for more. I was so in delight that some part of me wanted to jump out and said YES!!

Even the sub characters Ghaus (Wan Raja) and Dina (Diana Danielle) who played Ruby and Bidin's partners consecutively were played out with such tenacity that I cannot even think at that moment could be played by anyone else. Kudos to all these characters. My high respect to all of you! Gosh, did I just say that?

Ok this movie MUST be made into a stage play, I don't care, it MUST! I think the presence of characters on stage would further enhance its intrepid message through strong delivery. Any takers? Common guys, stop taking on movies like all the superstitious and imbecile themes that all it does was to scare people thoughtless. And honestly, they always end up a laughing stock. And to make people believe in those things is HARAM mak oiii!!! Tahyul!! Adus!! never stop. Ceh! Have you all not learned? More real stories from the very backyard of our lives like ...Dalam Botol should be brought out in the open. Or maybe it was just the amazing combination of Raja Azmi brilliant depiction and Khir Rahman that has brought this incredible true story to life!

Truth be told, I am now for one that is going to be on the look out for movies by Khir Rahman. My highest and most honorable respect goes to him for effort, courage, dauntlessness, and sensitivity. You really make me miss the late Yasmin Ahmad, but yeah, now that you have arrived, I thank you.

yaya said...

i watched it last nite and i like it. no doubt it's slow, but to me it's effective. i could still feel the effect until now - maybe bcos it's based on a true story!

but what spoiled my mood during the show was this bunch of youngsters among the audience who were laughing, giggling, yucking most of the time with ruby's character. her sensational acts, her voice, her cries - all made them laugh/giggle and yuck! this group was so annoying. to me, if they want to watch a comedy or romance movie, they definitely were in a wrong cinema. well, what can i say? "malaysians!!" why can't they just watch and enjoy the movie first before condemning or yucking it during the show and disturbing other audiences like me who wants to watch and enjoy it? they are, like, don't want to try to understand the movie or maybe cannot accept transvestite (or their kind) that exists among us, altho' i'm sure at least once in their lifetime, they must have acquainted with this people - just look around us, they are everywhere, aren't they?

to the blog owner,please accept my apology if i used this space to vent my little disappointment here! sincerely i like the movie, worth my cents for the ticket!

The Wan And Only said...

azmiyogi & yaya: thanks for visiting my blog and commenting or should I say venting. Glad I could help in that manner :)

Anonymous said...

i thought the movie lacked a basic instinct. here's what i wrote in full - http://tinyurl.com/3tez7ml and i Liked that you talk about hair emoting. funny, but point well taken. i just feel sad that there was only 1 camera for every scene. or at least it looked to me like it.

Anonymous said...

I have seen other gay theme movie before. Brokeback Mountain, Maurice, Kiss of Spider women, but nothing prepare me for this movie. You can actually feel the humiliation, regret , remose, rejection (no happy ending here). Arja Lee and Wan Raja play their part perfectly. As a matter of fact everybody play to perfection.
Tq Raja Azmi for touching my soul and making this unforgetable movie.

Kefli