The penetration of Netflix in the Asian market has benefited a lot of people, but none more than ASEAN filmmakers, who finally found a way out for their films, a number of which were not perceived as European or art-house enough to screen at festivals and did not include those local elements that would make them popular in their country's cinemas. “Ben and Jody”, actually the fourth entry in the “Filosofi Kopi” franchise, which includes two movies and a mini series, is one of these films.
Without so much connection to the previous entries, “Ben and Jody” begins with Ben being on the side of his hometown produce farmers, who are protesting the cutting down of the forest, against a corrupt local kingpin. Eventually, his henchmen attack, and the violent brawl that ensues ends up with Ben captured along a number of other villages. Meanwhile, Jody realizes that his friend is missing and starts searching for him, in a series of events that end up with him being captured by the same people. The two of them, along with the rest of the captives find themselves slave working in the forest, but Ben's coffee abilities kick start a series of events that raise the potential for an escape. Soon, the people from another village that have suffered similar fate also get involved, with two sisters, Rinjani and Tampora, standing out.
Angga Dwimas Sasongko directs a movie that is a mixed bag, and even a mixed bag in its mixedbagedness. To make things more clear, the film is too long, particularly because the first part lags significantly for no apparent reason, and also delaying the second part, which is where all the action everyone who saw the name Yayan Ruhian in the credits was expecting from the title. At the same time, and despite this issue, the muddy, dirty, violent and oppressive setting of the jungle the two protagonists find themselves in is quite appealing in entertainment terms, also highlighting how any setting can become a prison, under the influence of people. Furthermore, Arnand Pratikto's cinematography and coloring, and essentially the whole presentation of the “jungle-jail” is exquisite, in a cult/retro style that is also heightened by Ofel Obaja Setiawan's music, which has a distinct 80's vibe.
The moment the second village is introduced is where the film truly begins to pick up, especially due to the tension that becomes a central element of the narrative, even despite the fact that is evident where the story will go. The final raid, however, is where the it truly picks, and where Yayan Ruhian's action choreography, and his performance for that matter, find their apogee, in a series of quite lengthy, quite brutal scenes, that have all the protagonists fighting each other, either on one-on-ones, or in groups, in the most astonishing fashion. Particularly the one between Tubir and the two girls, and the one between Ben and Getem are a true wonder to look at, even if 54-year-old Ruhian as Tubir is still the fastest among them. Hendra Adhi Susanto's editing also finds its apogee in these scenes, with the music being also fittingly fast, essentially dictating the rapid tempo here.
Lastly, Chicco Jerikho as Ben, Hana Malasan as Rinjani, Aghniny Haque as Tambora, and Fariz Alfarazi (who looks like a metalhead Sammo Hung) as Getem give it their all in these scenes, adding much to the overall impression the title leaves.
As mentioned before, “Ben and Jody” is a mixed bag, and could definitely be much briefer than its 114 minutes, but the visuals of the first part, and most of all, the action of the last part, makes it a movie that definitely deserves a watch.
