The Big 4 - A Movie Review

Indonesia's Timo Tjahjanto is a director who fully embraces the absurd potential of filmmaking. As a child, I recall hearing someone say that the best action movies show you something you've never seen before and you're not sure is even possible. Tjahjanto seems to agree with this idea, as he is known for taking a chaotic, comedic approach to action filmmaking, reaching his career peak in the enthralling "The Night Comes for Us." This film was such a success that even Netflix asked him to make another action extravaganza, and he delivered with "The Big 4," a shoot-'em-up featuring his unmistakable flair for the ridiculous.

While critics often compare well-choreographed action in films like "The Killer" or "John Wick" to ballet, where every movement feels precisely considered for the best impact, Tjahjanto's films have a more reckless energy to them. Despite being just as carefully planned, they maintain a style that is closer to slapstick, akin to The Three Stooges with bazookas. Even though "The Big 4" is too long and talky, its impact is felt when it explodes onto the screen.

One of the film's best scenes opens it, as Tjahjanto reminds us of his horror background by dropping us into an orphanage used to harvest organs for the rich. We discover that the heroes of this tale are already undercover in this grotesque establishment, and they destroy all of its employees in an increasingly grotesque fashion. A sniper's bullet doesn't just drop an enemy in a Tjahjanto film—it blows half his head off.

During this opening sequence, we meet the quartet of vigilante assassins that give the film its title: leader Topan (Abimana Aryasatya), the intense Alpha (Lutesha), marksman Jenggo (Arie Kriting), and the youngest Pelor (Kristo Immanuel). These angels have a Charlie in Petrus (Budi Ros), who decides it's time to retire from the team as his daughter Dina (the excellent Putri Marino) is retiring from the police academy. It's hard to lead a group of people who operate outside the law when your offspring is now the law. Unfortunately, Petrus can't enjoy his retirement and is murdered in what is essentially the film's prologue, sending his four assassins to a remote island. Three years later, Dina tracks them down, and so does the killer of her father (Martino Lio), who now has a whole team to enact his vengeful will.

"The Big 4" is at its best when it's at its most ludicrous, whether it's the striking opening showdown or a wonderful later scene in which Topan has to ward off a pair of villains behind a door without revealing the violence to Dina. Lio leans into his villain role with fantastic facial hair, a silly number of knives sheathed on his body, and a fashion sense that seems built around his snarl. Most people who watch "The Big 4" will be drawn to its cartoonish action, but the cast is solid from top to bottom, especially Lio, Marino, and Aryasatya.

As the film progresses, it becomes less and less about the plot, making its 141-minute runtime a bit much. Nevertheless, all is forgiven when it finally takes off, which it does with enough rhythm to get you from the intense prologue to the insane final half-hour, during which Tjahjanto pulls out all the stops. It is said that he hopes that this will be the start of a franchise. While it is hard to imagine how the sequel could be even bigger, I bet he'll find a way.

While "The Big 4" may not be the most plot-driven film, it makes up for it with its sheer audacity and inventiveness. Tjahjanto's penchant for the absurd is on full display, and it's hard not to be swept up in the madness. From the opening scene to the jaw-dropping finale, "The Big 4" is a wild ride that never lets up.

One of the film's strengths is its cast, which is uniformly excellent. Abimana Aryasatya is a standout as Topan, the leader of the titular quartet of assassins. He brings a charismatic intensity to the role that makes him impossible to ignore. Meanwhile, Lutesha, Arie Kriting, and Kristo Immanuel are all equally impressive in their respective roles, and they have great chemistry together as a team.

But it's not just the heroes who shine in "The Big 4." Martino Lio is a scene-stealer as the film's villain, with a flamboyant performance that's both menacing and hilarious. Putri Marino is also fantastic as Dina, the daughter of Petrus who sets out to avenge her father's death. Together, the cast delivers a film that's as entertaining as it is absurd.

Of course, what really sets "The Big 4" apart is its action. Tjahjanto has always had a knack for inventive, over-the-top set pieces, and "The Big 4" is no exception. From the opening battle in the orphanage to the final showdown on a deserted island, the film is a non-stop barrage of gunfire, explosions, and bone-crunching fight scenes. It's like a John Woo movie on steroids, with a healthy dose of Looney Tunes thrown in for good measure.

But while the action is undoubtedly the film's main attraction, there's more to "The Big 4" than just mindless mayhem. Tjahjanto injects a surprising amount of heart into the film, particularly in the relationship between Petrus and his daughter. It's a testament to the strength of the performances and the writing that the film manages to balance its absurdity with genuine emotion.

In the end, "The Big 4" is a film that's hard not to love. It's a testament to Tjahjanto's skill as a filmmaker that he can take such a ludicrous concept and turn it into something that's genuinely thrilling and entertaining. If you're a fan of action movies that push the limits of what's possible on screen, then "The Big 4" is a film you won't want to miss.