This film delivers an engaging enough narrative who's ending gives it a reason to exists. The main negative of this film is that the main plot is often not emotionally engaging, and though it is enough to keep the story movie is not very powerful it is only at the end where anything is really said. I will also play that I felt sometimes as if the negative migrant experience was taken to the extreme with every negative that could occur, occurring. It was a bit over the top. But overall this was a good movie, its just the beginning and middle of the film could have done more then me, maybe built up and worked with more films then it did. If you think the plot sounds interesting you will likely enjoy though your overall takeaway of the film will very much rely on your opinion of the ending.

Dark and darker. It shows the reality of the Philippines and not just blue sea and islands. The slums, the suffering and the corruption.

excellent Filipino thriller. family move to Manila to earn extra money and the husband gets a job in security but gets inadvertently involved in a heist.

Pas le plus original des films

Glad I randomly came across this movie on Netflix. Wow.

This is a film that each and every Filipino should watch - not because it's patriotic, but because it's a wake-up call to those unaware of the corruption that surrounds Metro Manila.

Superbly directed, great attention to detail, and an accurate account of the hardships and corruption that go on in Manila.

So many "Oh shit" moments

A story about a man in desperate financial situation.

Fantastic movie...the portrayal of the hardships in Manila is in the face and staggering. The story is fabulous and very well directed and edited .

"Gritty social drama meets heist story" Ever since the commercial success of City of God back in 2002, the ensuing decade has seen a veritable torrent of slum dramas play out on the screen from just about every country that has noticeable population of indigents. Metro Manila, at first glance, seems just another part of this tradition, and its story is even older than Dickens: naïve peasant leaves the countryside for the big city, where him and his are inevitably corrupted by the lapsed morals of its desperate denizens. All that we see is through the vision of Oscar Ramirez (Jake Macapagal) and his doe-eyed wife Mai (Althea Vega), two Filipino rice farmers forced by a sudden drop in prices to eke a living in the netherworld outskirts of Metro Manila (as the locals call it). Director Sean Ellis view of city life in un-redeeming: the metropolis, far from their salvation, proves to be their prison: within a few short days they are bilked of all their savings, evicted, and Mai falls into prostitution faster than a drunk falls into a whiskey barrel, all before the eyes of Oscar, who, hopeless sucker that he is, is powerless to stop it. Oscar's only way out is to sign up with a seedy armored security company, where he quickly comes under the wing of Ong (John Arcilla), an ex-cop turned hired gun whose rough bonhomie exterior conceals dark designs. Ong's character is deeply reminiscent of Denzel Washington's Det. Alonzo Harris in Training Day: as warm, charming, and gregarious on the outside as he is cold, ruthless, and manipulative on the inside. It is easy to become depressed watching Metro Manila, yet hard not to be taken in. Macapagal and Vega play their characters well and with verve. The movie itself could easily have turned into another heist flick, with running gun battles and plot twists pitting a heavily armed everyman against the usual cardboard cut-outs of swaggering tattooed thugs, yet Metro Manila is not that kind of movie. It's not that kind of movie because Oscar simply isn't a killer. He's a working stiff, as afraid of his new job as he is afraid for his family's future. "Desperate situations call for desperate actions..." he admits revealingly to Ong one night overlooking the city "and desperate actions get you killed." Oscar, for his simple rustic values steeped in Catholic mores, is actually a grim realist at heart, painfully aware of his own helplessness even as he puts on a brave face for his wife and kids. What working father hasn't felt that fear? It is a role that Macapagal plays with a truthfulness that elevates the film above another voyeuristic screed on Third World poverty and into the realm of art, and is definitely worth a click on Netflix.

Almost like an american dream, but given to the philipino people. The main character is as humble as you can get, trying to help his family survive. Absolutely a great movie, with a tragic outcome.

Excellent movie. A gritty story about making it in the mean streets of Manila, Philippines

I was pleasantly surprised by Metro Manila. It was able to illustrate the level of corruption in this area of Phillipines and ,at the same time, provide an interesting story. Metro Manila delivered in both the cinematography and sound departments as well. I did have some nitpikey problems with the plot, however, it was a great watch over all.

Finally the most convincing Filipino indie film up to date. Since I saw some Filipino indies such as OTJ and Menor de Edad. This one really satisfied me in so many ways. The plot is great. Acting wise it is brilliant. I mean every depth of each characters are well synthesized as well as the scripts. You can feel the realism and the most in-depth features of Metro Manila that will really catch everyone's attention. I would say one of the best this year and very recommendable for all Suspense / Drama enthusiast. A great 4 out of 5.

Stark and gritty, but beautiful, depressing and moving.

It gives me the creeps for faithfully depicting the titular place. Although the acting could have been better, the film nevertheless delivers with tight emotional grip.

really great, interesting, thrilling.

Written and directed by Sean Ellis, (Cashback (2004) and The Broken (2008)), this crime drama set in the Philippines was funded entirely with British money. While that might seem like a bit of a folly, it actually works, and it helps that it's actually a very compelling story to watch. But it's a refreshing chance to see a side of the world and a country that you don't normally see on cinema screens. It tells the story of a rural farmer Oscar Ramirez (Jake Macapagal), who works in the rice fields to the north of the Philippines who takes his wife Mai (Althea Vega), and his two children Angel (Erin Panlilio) and Baby (Iasha Aceio) to a new life in the urban metropolis of Manila, in search of money and a better life. But, they find life in the big city a hard thing, and it looks set to overwhelm them. But Oscar gets lucky, and he gets a job with a armored truck company, and senior officer Douglas Ong (John Arcilla) teaches Oscar the tricks of the trade. But when Douglas plans something illegal, he cuts Oscar in, which will have serious consequences. While this sort of film has been done elsewhere, and in some cases, slightly better. This does show the grittiness and corruption of inner city life in Manila, and whether most of it is an accurate depiction of Manila or not remains to be seen, it does make for a good thriller, and it picks up splendidly in a gripping third act.

Such a powerful story, very moving, very sad. Totally riveted. Highly reccomend.