On the Job: The Missing 8

Sisoy Salas (John Arcilla), a corrupt reporter for a local newspaper, is forced to start an investigation following the disappearance of his colleagues and pits him against his personal interests. Meanwhile, Roman Rubio (Dennis Trillo), an inmate who is routinely released from prison to carry out assassinations, is sentenced to life in prison for a crime he did not commit and, not wanting to spend the rest of his life as a hitman, begins to plan ways to regain his freedom by any means necessary.

• John Arcilla as Sisoy Salas{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/on-the-job-the-missing-8-venice-2021-1235011403/|title = 'On the Job: The Missing 8': Film Review | Venice 2021| website=The Hollywood Reporter |date = September 10, 2021}}
• Dennis Trillo as Roman Rubio
• Dante Rivero as Mayor Pedring Eusebio
• Christopher de Leon as Arnel Pangan
• Lotlot de Leon as Weng
• Leo Martinez as Gen. Pacheco
• Agot Isidro as Senator Alice Samson
• Andrea Brillantes as Diane Salas
• Rayver Cruz as Bernabe
• Joey Marquez as Sgt. Joaquin Acosta

Director Erik Matti had originally intended the On the Job sequel to be a web series, until it was reported in 2018 that he was making it a feature-length sequel instead.{{cite web |title=An 'On The Job 2' is in the works |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/erik-matti-on-the-job-2-movie-in-the-works |website=Rappler |date=December 12, 2019 |access-date=June 16, 2021}} With On the Job 2, Matti wanted to tackle corruption in the Philippine media and deliver a social commentary on the current state of the Philippine government.{{cite web |last1=Palumar |first1=Khyne |title=Director Erik Matti on the sequel to 'On The Job': "Yes, it's an angry movie" |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/pinoy-director-erik-matti-on-the-job-sequel-political-angst-2887418 |website=NME |date=February 24, 2021 |access-date=June 16, 2021}} According to Matti, the film will pick up where the original left off and will feature four interwoven storylines in "a three-hour and 28-minute movie". Erwin Romulo, reprising his role from the first film as musical director, has said On the Job 2 is Matti's "angriest work". Matti agreed, having told NME in a February 2021 interview:

I think for On The Job, I guess… yes, it's the angriest I've been. But what I do mostly in my films is to explore. I'm interested in processes: how does a newspaper get its news? How does one build a church in the guise of getting money from its parishioners? Those are things that matter to me. There's a lot of research that went into it. Of course, we found out that in small towns mainly you have politicians taking care of newspapers and radio stations, and that's where the problems with self-interest come in.

Dennis Trillo, Lotlot de Leon, Ricky Davao, William Martinez, John Arcilla, Dante Rivero, Vandolph Quizon, and Eric Fructuoso were reported to have joined the cast in 2018. In 2019, Rayver Cruz, Christopher de Leon, Soliman Cruz. Ina Feleo, Isabelle de Leon, and Andrea Brillantes were announced as co-stars.{{cite web |last1=Biong |first1=Ian |title=Erik Matti teases 'On the Job 2: The Missing 8' in post-production |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/360961/look-erik-matti-teases-on-the-job-2 |website=Inquirer.net |date=January 21, 2020 |access-date=June 16, 2021}} Filming began that same year, and was completed in August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |last1=Arcadio |first1=Ryan |title='It's a goddamn fu&#in' wrap!': Erik Matti finishes filming of 'On the Job 2' |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/389103/its-a-goddamn-fuin-wrap-erik-matti-finishes-filming-of-on-the-job-2 |website=Inquirer.net |date=September 1, 2020 |access-date=June 30, 2021}} Post-production was completed in June 2021, lasting for "around seven months".{{cite web |last1=Biong |first1=Ian |title=Erik Matti says sound mixing for 'On the Job 2' done; film 'ready for the world' soon |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/414012/erik-matti-says-sound-mixing-for-on-the-job-2-done-film-to-be-ready-for-the-world-soon |website=Inquirer.net |date=June 26, 2021 |access-date=June 30, 2021}}

The film was screened for the main competition at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, with Matti and Trillo in attendance. It received a 5-minute standing ovation during the premiere. During the awards ceremony, John Arcilla became the first Southeast Asian and Filipino to win the Volpi Cup for Best Actor in the festival's history, with Matti accepting the award on his behalf and Arcilla giving his acceptance speech via online video call after not being able to attend the ceremony due to filming commitments.{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2021 |title='On the Job: The Missing 8' gets 5-minute standing ovation at 78th Venice Film Festival |website=Manila Bulletin |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/09/12/on-the-job-the-missing-8-gets-5-minute-standing-ovation-at-78th-venice-film-festival/}}{{Cite web |last=Cruz |first=Marinel |date=2021-09-13 |title=John Arcilla gets job done, wins best actor in Venice Film Festival |url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/421292/john-arcilla-gets-job-done-wins-best-actor-in-venice-film-fest |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}} It was also screened in 'Harbour' section at the 51st International Film Festival Rotterdam held from January 26 to February 6, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://iffr.com/en/iffr/2022/harbour|title=In Harbour|work=International Film Festival Rotterdam|accessdate=26 December 2021}}

On the Job: The Missing 8 had its Philippine premiere on February 18, 2022 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as part of the "WAGI!" film screenings, an event celebrating Filipino film excellence.{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2022 |title='On the Job: The Missing 8' to have PH premiere at CCP |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/10/22/on-the-job-the-missing-8-to-have-ph-premiere-at-ccp |access-date=October 4, 2022 |website=ABS-CBN News}}{{Cite web |last=Plaza |first=Marane A. |title='On The Job: The Missing 8' Philippine premiere set |url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/movies/2022/02/04/2157845/on-job-missing-8-philippine-premiere-set |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=Philstar.com}}

{{main|On the Job (miniseries)}}

A six-part miniseries were created and developed by Erik Matti for HBO Asia. It was adapted from the two On the Job films— the 2013 film, and its sequel The Missing 8. The first two episodes of the miniseries are a re-edited and remastered version of the first film.{{cite news |date=1 August 2021 |title=The 'director's cut' of 'On The Job' to premiere as a series on HBO GO |work=Rappler |url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/series/erik-matti-on-the-job-series-premiere-hbo-go-september-2021 |access-date=13 September 2021}}

Matti revealed that a second sequel is in the works, which will feature "characters from the first two [instalments]" and "might be the end of the franchise".

Both the film and miniseries have received largely positive reviews from critics. Writing for Variety, Jessica Kiang called the film "a sprawling, satisfying big-screen binge."{{cite news |last=Kiang |first=Jessica |date=September 11, 2021 |title='On the Job: The Missing 8' Review: Sprawling, Uneven but Gripping Thriller About Multi-Level Filipino Corruption |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/on-the-job-the-missing-8-review-1235061810/ |work=Variety|location= |access-date=September 13, 2021}} Keith Uhlich, of The Hollywood Reporter, praised the film's set pieces but criticized some of the film's stylistic choices.{{cite news |last=Uhlich |first=Keith |date=September 10, 2021 |title='On the Job: The Missing 8': Film Review

|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/on-the-job-the-missing-8-venice-2021-1235011403/ |work=The Hollywood Reporter |location= |access-date=September 13, 2021}} In a review of the HBO miniseries, Marcus Goh of Yahoo News praised the dramatic elements of the series and its handling of characters, concluding that "the Philippines can be a strong contender for Asian crime thrillers, rivalling that of more established places like Hong Kong."{{cite news |last=Goh |first=Marcus |date=September 12, 2021 |title=On The Job review: Filipino series matches Hong Kong's crime thrillers |url=https://news.yahoo.com/on-the-job-review-filipino-series-match-hong-kong-crime-thrillers-053626515.html |work=Yahoo News |location= |access-date=September 13, 2021}}

• List of submissions to the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
• List of Philippine submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

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Category:2021 films

Category:2021 crime thriller films

Category:Philippine crime thriller films

Category:Reality Entertainment films

Category:2020s Tagalog-language films

Category:Films directed by Erik Matti

Category:Films about corruption

Category:2020s Philippine films