(kapanlagi.com)Director-screenwriter Joko Anwar is traveling the globe attending screenings of his 2012 thriller Modus Anomali, including stops in October at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain, and the Films From the South (Films fra Sør) in Oslo, where two of his other movies, Kala (Dead Time) and Pintu Terlarang (Forbidden Door), will also be shown.

His short film Crystal Skull will also premiere on YouTube in October.

Despite his busy schedule, Joko continues his lifelong hobby of watching movies.

“Every day I watch a movie at midnight. Then I automatically sleep the moment the movie ends, on the sofa,” the 36-year-old said.

Although he loves all genres, his favorite is science fiction, for a stranger-than-fiction reason.

“I was once abducted by an alien when I was five years old. It seemed so real. Time stopped all of sudden. My right toe was bleeding and the scar remains till today.”

Here are his picks of good viewing matter for the weekend (movie summaries from imdb.com, yahoomovies and filmindonesia.or.id).

Top choice

Ted (2012)
106 minutes
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis
Director: Seth MacFarlane

The movie tells of a grown man named John Bennett (Wahlberg), who must deal with his teddy bear named Ted who comes to life as a result of his childhood wish. Ted refuses to leave Bennett. “It is hilarious and politically incorrect, perfect for the weekend,” Joko said.

Date movie

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
97 minutes
Starring: Adam Sandler, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Emily Watson
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

Barry Egan (Sandler), owner of a toilet plunger distribution business, has difficulty finding love because he is surrounded by seven overbearing sisters. He gets into hot water with a phone sex operator, before finally getting his shot at true romance. “It is simply the most romantic film ever made by a human,” Joko said.

Just for laughs

Quickie Express (2007)
124 minutes
Starring: Tora Sudiro, Amink, Lukman Sardi, Sandra Dewi, Tino Saroengallo

Director: Dimas Djayadiningrat

Unable to find a permanent job, one day Jojo (Tora) ends up working at a tire repair shop where he meets up with Mudakir (Tino) who offers him a job as gigolo. The job brings Jojo easy money and his life gets better until he falls for a woman, who is the daughter of a customer, who also happens to be a mafia boss. Joko just happened to write the screenplay.

Kids’ movie

Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)
104 minutes
Starring: Richard Gere, Joan Allen
Director: Lasse Hallström

University professor Parker Wilson (Gere) discovers a puppy on his way home from work and names him Hachi. Despite initial objections from his wife Cate (Allen), Hachi touches the hearts of the entire Wilson family and grows to be Parker’s loyal companion.

Their relationship shows the true spirit of loyalty, while inspiring the hearts of an entire town.

Horror

Don’t Look Now (1973)
110 minutes
Starring: Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland
Director: Nicolas Roeg

John and Laura Baxter are in Venice when they meet a pair of elderly sisters, one of whom claims to be psychic. She insists that she sees the spirit of the Baxters’ daughter, who recently drowned.

Laura is intrigued, but John balks at the idea. John starts to experience his own psychic flashes, seeing their daughter walk the streets in her red cloak.

— Frederica Ermita Indriani