Hall Of Frame

Ferdinand Chandra
7 min readDec 31, 2022

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Photo by Myke Simon on Unsplash

This is my “hall of frame”. A list of must-watch movies curated by me. Movies that make these cuts are the ones that I rated 9 or 10.

1. The Big 4 — 9 ⭐️

https://www.tribunnews.com/seleb/2022/12/03/daftar-pemain-dan-sinopsis-film-the-big-4-segera-tayang-di-netflix-ada-abimana-dan-putri-marino

The most recent one. An action comedy film that has it all. The Big 4 is a story about 4 hitmen known as… well… the Big 4 (duh!). It has great action sequences, the story goes at a perfect pace with one of my favorite family tropes. Coupled with outstanding cinematography and on-point comedy relief. I just don’t know why is it not in the cinema, very well deserved.

2. 3 Idiots — 10 ⭐️

https://www.okezone.com/tren/read/2020/08/21/620/2265501/sinopsis-3-idiots-kisah-tiga-sahabat-berpikir-kritis

I swear the “2. 3” is not intentional (*lol). It revolves around one of my most passionate themes — education. A story of Rancho, along with his 2 mates on their uni day. They have to deal with all the pressure and all the bad study culture around it. Rancho, being in the center of it, is trying to make it better. Full of messages that I think really important, especially for the modern education system. It might be too lengthy for some people cause the movie is almost 3 hours long. But I assure you, it’s so worth it.

3. Everybody’s fine — 9 ⭐️

https://e-bluespirit.tistory.com/13737847?np_nil_b=2

This one is a personal favorite. It’s the first movie that successfully makes me feel pain for the first time when I’m watching. I love the cast: Robert De Niro and Kate Beckinsale. A story about a dad who decided to visit his children one by one because they don’t come home in a long time. Just prepare your tissue if you decide to watch it. It’s a family trope, what do you expect from me? 😢

4. Cek Toko Sebelah — 10 ⭐️

https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cek_Toko_Sebelah

It’s a story of a Chinese dad who wants to bequeath the store to his son, but sadly the son doesn’t interested. It’s a clash between personal dreams vs parents’ legacy which everybody can relate strongly with. I think it got such a high score cause it’s so close to me and relatable. It’s a comedy film, but it also has family intrigue and scenes which showcases Chinese culture. Too bad the sequel can’t live up to the expectation of the first one 😦

5. Chef — 10 ⭐️

https://www.kompasiana.com/muhammadhasfi/56bb4a9d957e61cd0853ac64/chef-2014-antara-kuliner-dan-media-sosial

As a food enthusiast, of course, I had to include this one. It’s a story of a chef who one day decided to resign from a restaurant and open a food truck. Great cinematography, well-written story, and most importantly… lots of good food 😋 That toast and Beignet still haunts me ‘til this very day.

6. Click — 10 ⭐️

https://www.netflix.com/title/70041162

I must confess, being able to stop time is a fantasy of mine. This movie tells a story about a guy who discovers a remote that can control your life. Starring one of my favorite actresses, the gorgeous Kate Beckinsale. This well-written movie is top-notch on my list. You’ve got comedic moments from Adam Sandler, but also many heartwarming moments that can bring tears to your eye. I’ve gotta say, this movie has “clicked” my heart.

7. Coach Carter — 10 ⭐️

https://www.netflix.com/title/70019004

A story about a high school basketball coach who also ended up coaching life lessons to his players. If you’re a basketball player, or a soon-to-be basketball coach (especially this one), you got to watch this movie. The story itself is well-written with so many great moments. This movie teaches you about work ethics, respect, and teamwork. I can’t think of a better cast than Samuel L. Jackson for this movie. Perfection 😘

8. Grown Ups — 10 ⭐️

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1375670/

I’m a sucker for family tropes in a story, and this one is it. Five best friends reunited to mourn the death of their coach and later decided to hang out after such a long time. It’s basically watching five grown-ass men, being converted back to boys. It’s very funny with lots of unexpected plots you can’t even imagine. Can’t lie, it’s a personal dream for me as well. I hope that my friends and I will still be equally ridiculous as these guys are at that age.

9. Last Vegas — 10 ⭐️

https://www.hulu.com/movie/last-vegas-da36864f-a70b-45af-9347-d3ff593c2be0

It’s another family trope. But in this case, it’s a lil’ bit older. Four elderly friends decided to go to Las Vegas for a bachelor party. Little that they know that Las Vegas would open up secrets within them. Staring four great actors of a lifetime: Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline. It’s like the Avenger, but with old people.

10. Now You See Me — 10 ⭐️

One of a movie with the greatest ending I’ve ever seen. A story about four magicians which been accused of robbing a bank in a live show. After that, they’ve been closely watched by a special agent from the FBI. A semi-action movie with a lot of misdirection and clues hidden during the story. It makes it a very unique, second-to-none movie. Except for its sequel, I guess. But I do think the first one is better.

11. The Bucket List — 10 ⭐️

https://medium.com/the-ascent/7-life-lessons-from-the-movie-the-bucket-list-d866a2433c20

I think this movie is the one responsible popularized the term. As you may know, a bucket list is a list of things that you wished you accomplished before you “kick the bucket” — which this movie is all about. Starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson as two elder gentlemen who try to fulfill their bucket list before they die. It’s a well-written story with lots of life lessons. Oh, and also prepare your tissue.

12. The Intern — 10 ⭐️

https://diary.marshabeauty.com/beauty_article/the-intern-film-seru-untuk-menemani-rasa-bosan-saat-weekend/

Ever seen a ray of sunshine in a form of a human? That is Robert De Niro in this heartwarming movie. It tells a story of a senior citizen who decided to leave retirement and starts working in a startup. He then befriended the CEO, and become her guardian angel. It has a unique and interesting plot, lots of comedic relief, and of course great cast selection. Love it, 10 out of 10.

13. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery — 10 ⭐️

https://www.netflix.com/title/81458416

I always love a mystery-themed movie, this one literally has one written in its title. Set in a covid era, this sequel is fun to watch. We follow Detective Benoit and an eccentric group of friends who decide to meet up on a certain island. The story goes with a non-linear progression as the mystery starts to unsolved. It can make you recontextualize what you’ve watched so far in the middle of the movie. Great cast, great storytelling, and great lines. Perfect for a murder mystery movie.

14. The Raid: Redemption — 10 ⭐️

https://www.reelrecon.com/the-raid-redemption-review/

One of the best action movies of the decades. A simple storyline of the raid of a building full of criminals by the local policemen force, but full of memorable actions sequence, gory scenes, and on-point choreography. It’s a solid 1.5 hours filled with not only actions but also twists and turns that leave viewers unbored. It’s the definition of simple and perfect.

15. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — 10 ⭐️

https://www.orami.co.id/magazine/spider-man-across-the-spider-verse

This movie is everything we asked for, and a lot more! Where to start? It has a strong start which will hook you instantly. The combination of action choreography and the setup for the plot progression is on point. It connects the sequel seamlessly. There are callbacks and references that Spidey fans can easily pick up on. Several new art styles are being introduced, and even being used as a means of story-telling. But not just all that, from the storywise side — it is perfect. Every dialogue, every interaction, and minor gesture… is just right. No more, no less. I was really focused for 2.5 hours, just because of how the story progressed. Without spoilers, I’m gonna say this. It is truly told a story about the “Spider-Verse”. The only letdown is the finale (*iykwim 😏)

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