Boso (2005)

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Seems to be an unofficial remake of the Japanese "roman porno" "Watcher in the Attic" (1976).

Just wanted to clear up the confusion on the movie title. If you search Bos on IMDb you get no results as the title is actually Boso as shown in film credits and mentioned in various dialogs. The confusion is with the DVD label on Netflix where I got my copy. Netflix lists it as Bos on website and on the sleeve. However if you look closer at the DVD label the letters BOS are placed just left of the center hole, which wold make it the O in BOSO the actual title of the film...The movie itself was OK but I agree with another post about the quality of females used- there are much sexier women in the Philippines to choose from than the ones they found. Seems the producer was concerned only if the girls had bigger boobs rather than pretty face or sexy body :)

An obvious homage to Peque Gallaga's "Scorpio Nights," Boso tries very hard to inject an existentialist standpoint to a noticeable sexploitation flick by Digital viva (Vic Del Rosario's feeble attempt to lure young indies into the mainstream). But Jon Red very much succeeds in providing adequate visual pleasure, thanks to the Viva Hot Babes and his overextended sex scenes. Reminiscent of previous works "Still Lives" and "Astigmatism," Red is a master of the digital medium, experimenting with unusual angles, freeflowing movements and fancy editing. Incidentally, he is the most active Filipino digital filmmaker at the moment, more than his revered brother Raymond. However, like most indies in the Philippines, Boso is guilty of narrative lapses, like, who would laugh his heart out at a Pinoy funeral? Given our high respect for the dead, this scene is unthinkable in Filipino culture. Boso's conclusion is also no exception, as the audience is left thinking why the protagonist is not arrested despite the revelation at the end. Jeffrey Quizon (as protagonist Jake) is similar in more ways than one to his father and iconic funnyman Dolphy, and as such fails to provide an earnest philosophical underpinning to this movie. But more than anything, Boso works best as softcore porn to the male voyeur gaze. If you get hold of the DVD, don't forget to watch the extras!

The logline for "Boso" sounds far, far more interesting than the final product. Trouble is, this film actually had some potential.The film revolves around an apartment building caretaker, Jake (Jeffrey Quizon) whose hobby is to crawl through the ceiling and spy on his tenants. Of course, there are complications when he one day his eye catches an attractive new tenant (Katya Santos).Writer-director Jon Red says he was inspired by "Rear Window" (1954) and "Sliver" (1993). Unfortunately, "Boso" makes "Sliver" seem like Hitchcock's masterpiece.The plot does provide Red with an opportunity to twist it in certain ways, create an ethical dilemma for Jake. But Red has no interest in that. He simply opts for the most boring route.This film, which is terribly shot with countless close-ups, unnecessary pans (as if the cinematographer is trying to locate his subject) and unimaginative framing, truly seems like an excuse to get away with soft-core porn in the guise of mainstream film-making. This film has none of the wit, irony and, even suspense, of "Rear Window."The only reason "Boso" gets one star is because we can't put in anything less. You know this film's in trouble when the counter on your DVD player seems far more interesting than anything on the screen.