In Pulang, Remy Ishak shed 7kg to achieve the gaunt look as he plays a struggling fisherman and sailor. - Photo: Primeworks Studio
An admirably good old-fashioned love story is not just the strength of Pulang, the movie produced by Media Prima’s Grand Brilliance. Added to that is the visual panache seldom seen in a local Malaysian movie. The incredibly stunning and believable computer-generated images (CGI) gives the movie an expensive look. But the entire film enterprise is not just about seeing and believing, it is also about good acting and smart direction.
I was sceptical when Remy Ishak was announced the lead actor of Pulang. He’s a cool dude, no question about that, but he’s your typical “bintang filem” (film star) – handsome, glamourous, showy and at times controversial. It reminds me of Ron Howard’s choice to showcase Chris Hemsworth as Owen Chase the First Mate in the whaling ship Essex in the movie, In the Heart of the Sea. He is simply too gorgeous to pass as a sailor. But he did a remarkable job, one of the reasons, the movie that did not do well at the box-office is watchable.
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