Setem (2009) - Movie
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Movie Plot |
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In 1847, Lord Arthur Barring asks a watchmaker to invent a postal stamp. However, an Indian governor laughs because there are some mistakes on the stamp. Lord Arthur Barring got angry and decided to throw away the stamp. 160 years later, Barring's grandchild, Charles Barring IV, produces the stamp at a press conference, now worth millions of ringgit. Scheming Joe (Afdlin Shauki) and Sid (Rashidi Ishak) want to steal the stamp. However, they are not alone.
User's Review and Ratings |
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Setem
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
What I loved most: Harun Salim Bachik and Isma Yusoof's roles
What I really hated: Diana Danielle - she really spoilt the ending
The last local movie that I enjoyed was CINTA. And I had skipped SEPI on purpose. But now that SETEM offers both Rashidi Ishak and his lovely wife, Vanida Imran, I had to make an effort to go watch it in the cinema instead of waiting for it to be aired by teresterial television during Hari Raya 2011. And I loved it. I would've given it a cool 5 star rating if not for some gripes which won't go away even after I've relived the good scenes in my head. I'm talking about Diana Danielle, who I found too wooden, and was standing out like a sore thumb to the entire movie. And I had problems with Vellu's spanking new blue uniform. But I loved it. I enjoyed Rashidi's handsomeness, Adflin's natural funny self, Harun Salim Bachik and Isma Yusoof's uncanny Indonesian slang and also rib-tickling Cantonese and Tamil from Piranha Lim and Satthiya.
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CO's Review |
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If you like comedies with Jack Black, Adam Sandler or Ben Stiller, then Kabir Bhatia's "Setem" is your cup of tea. This is an action comedy that promises a fresh, unique experience, different from the previous love story movies that the director is synonymous with.
Riding on a simple enough plot about a hunt for an expensive postal stamp, "Setem" has a story (Kabir's solo try at a maiden script) that is attractive not only to Malay audiences but others too, with its sharp dialogue and clever execution. An entertaining cast consisting of old hands Aziz Sattar, Indi Nadarajah, Afdlin Shauki and Harun Salim Bachik help its cause, not to mention rising stars like Isma Yusof dan Diana Danielle. Kudos to Kabir for getting the best out of all 23 of his stars!
The Afdlin Shauki-Rashidi Ishak combo hits the spot. Afdlin's role as Joe is easy and 'standard' so the better performance here is by Rashidi, with his simple and effective acting. Debutant Isma Yusof plays an Indon immigrant exceedingly well and doesn't look out of place despite being surrounded by big names. However, special mention goes to Sathia who made his name through TV's "Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu" - his was a colourful and humourous performance as Vellu the security guard.
On technical aspects however, Kabir holds on too strong to his advertising-type camerawork throughout the movie. This extreme neatness in angles and perspective can get rather boring because it's just like watching an advertisement on TV so why try so hard to think of beautiful show-off shots? The co-editing with Faizul Mohd Noh is commendable for its accuracy and detail when changing scenes but Kabir really ought to do something about the obsession with advertisement-like camerawork.
"Setem" enjoys a lot of advantages over the other Malay movies we have been watching of late. However, in true Tayangan Unggul tradition, the impact of this film diminishes as soon as it decided to go on for a couple more scenes when it should have stopped at a particular point. Why stretch and convolute an already excellent story? Let's have a break from this annoying overshooting, please?
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