Author Topic: Filipino films (Read 500012 times)

oggsmoggs · « **Reply #2370 on:** Apr 16, 2010 at 10:19 PM »

Babe, I Love You (Mae Czarina Cruz, 2010)

rse · « **Reply #2371 on:** Apr 17, 2010 at 02:16 PM »

Independencia (Raya Martin)
More accessible than his A Short Film About the Indio Nacional, filmed in the same "silent film-like" style - black and white photography, artificial sets, etc. Great use of old Pinoy music. That said it still has a school project feel to it. Not for all tastes.

R2 · « **Reply #2372 on:** Apr 17, 2010 at 09:59 PM »

MIGUELITO,BATANG REBELDE
Lino Brocka, 1985
Saw this movie again after so many years, and it was quite a rewarding experience. Maybe not in the same league as Brocka's undisputed masterpieces (Maynila Sa Mga Kuko Ng Liwanag,Insiang,to name a few) but this one is still worth watching, and bears the director's trademarks: excellent perfomances from a superb ensemble cast (notably Nida Blanca,Eddie Garcia,and Aga Muhlach),the familiar theme of quest for justice, gripping and/or tense scenes of emotional conflicts (Nida Blanca's reunion with Aga Muhlach, Liza Lorena's anguished confession,the climactic shoot-out in the end), certain quasi-documentary scenes (a sequence showing Holy Week flagellants). Released during the dying years of the Marcos dictatorship, today it is still socially-relevant, especially as it's an election year. Butch Dalisay's use of matatas na Tagalog in his script was quite a pleasant treat: somehow appropriate and gave the film a sense of timelessness.

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #2373 on:** Apr 18, 2010 at 12:51 PM »

Brocka's middle class dramas don't stand out as much but this one is a good effort. Nida's excellent, so is Eddie but the breakout performance for me was Rey PJ Abellana, as the ambivalent aide to Eddie's political figure (you can't help but think there's a bit of Brocka's father complex mixed into the film). Dalisay's script is also quite intelligent.

rse · « **Reply #2374 on:** Apr 18, 2010 at 01:38 PM »

Kinatay

Love it or hate it, this is one of those movies that you won't forget once you see it. It's not a torture porn like the Saw movies, or Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ but its 'matter-of-fact' tone makes for an uncomfortable viewing. Not for the faint-hearted.

keating · « **Reply #2375 on:** Apr 18, 2010 at 09:34 PM »

Revisited Brocka's HOT PROPERTY yesterday and Celso Ad Castillo's VIRGIN PEOPLE. More thoughts....later.

rse · « **Reply #2376 on:** Apr 20, 2010 at 11:47 PM »

Manila (2009)
The best thing that I can say about this movie is that it made me appreciate the original classic movies that these films are based from (Manila By Night/Jaguar). Both of the films are quite dull and Piolo is miscast for both of his parts. The b&w photography doesn't fit any of the the movies at all (imagine: the fiery hell on earth Smokey Mountain sequence in Jaguar devoid of color). In the first movie, they colored Piolo's hair and it looked weird (and is distracting) in b&w. The extended credits in between the movies is slightly amusing but bordering on indulgence. Overall the movies are OK but uninspired.

R2 · « **Reply #2377 on:** Apr 22, 2010 at 02:36 AM »

KIMMY DORA: KAMBAL SA KIYEME
Joyce Bernal, 2009
I've finally seen this film when it had its cable television premiere and I have to say that the word-of-mouth praises are somehow well-deserved. Filipino comedy films,in general,are not exactly known for their sophistication but this one at least strived to have just that. Not your usual slapstick nonsense, it boasts of a narrative with an interesting plot and which didn't require a mediocre smorgasbord cast and instead showcased a tour-de-force performance from Eugene Domingo,who played not just one but two lead characters (the title is quite a give-away),ably supported by actors who were cast against type,resulting in performances that transcends their celebrity personas (Dingdong Dantes as a case in point).
The film,however,was not a laugh-every-minute affair. The comic scenes are limited to some sight gags,the rare but quite effective punchlines,and a show-stopping set piece or two (one involves Domingo having to play both twins to conceal a very crucial plot detail). But make no mistakes, the movie is quite an enjoyable watch.
It's quite exciting to think what better things this movie's creators can come up with next time. There's still hope for the local film industry, after all.

Klaus Weasley · « **Reply #2378 on:** Apr 23, 2010 at 01:26 AM »

How does the new Working Girls compare with the Ishmael Bernal original? (Which is available on DVD now, I'm considering buying it.)

oggsmoggs · « **Reply #2379 on:** Apr 23, 2010 at 09:56 AM »

Paano Ko Sasabihin? (How Do I Tell You?, Richard Legaspi, 2009)

rse · « **Reply #2380 on:** Apr 23, 2010 at 11:48 PM »

Quote from: Klaus Weasley on Apr 23, 2010 at 01:26 AM

How does the new Working Girls compare with the Ishmael Bernal original? (Which is available on DVD now, I'm considering buying it.)

I have the VCD of the original Working Girls. They've just released a subtitled DVD version. I'm also thinking about upgrading to it, but I just want to know if the transfer is better than the VCD.

http://www.kabayancentral.com/video/viva/cpvvwgirls1.html

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #2381 on:** Apr 25, 2010 at 02:20 PM »

Mario O'Hara's Three Years without God on DVD; Palito; new Dr. Who

Shutter Island (Martin Scorsese)

Clash of the Titans (Louis Leterrier)

Altar vs. Avatar

oggsmoggs · « **Reply #2382 on:** Apr 27, 2010 at 08:59 PM »

Working Girls (Jose Javier Reyes, 2010)

keating · « **Reply #2383 on:** Apr 28, 2010 at 11:15 PM »

This really happened...

Gil Portes was quite insulted and talked to Regal Matriarch Mother Lily during the 90's after he learned that his film was test screened by Mother to her bunch of maids and driver.

Portes: Do you do that to Ishmael Bernal?

Mother Lily: Why, are you as good as Ishmael Bernal?

keating · « **Reply #2384 on:** Apr 29, 2010 at 12:16 AM »

This is certainly the reason why Jessica Zafra rules! Bar none....the best review I've ever read for an indie film: (D Survivors) pitted with Scorsese's Shutter Island.

http://www.jessicarulestheuniverse.com/

rse · « **Reply #2385 on:** May 01, 2010 at 03:00 PM »

Heads up...Brillante Mendoza's Manoro is now out on DVD:
http://www.kabayancentral.com/video/viva/cpvvmanoro.html

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #2386 on:** May 02, 2010 at 11:19 AM »

Cool!

rse · « **Reply #2387 on:** May 03, 2010 at 08:14 PM »

Batang Westside (Lav Diaz)

Surprisingly I wasn't bothered by the film's length. I think that it's perfectly paced, it just has a lot of stories to say (at times a bit too many). This is Lav Diaz's "Manila" movie. It's a dissection of the Filipino today, our baggages, and our guilt.

Minor gripes: The film's low budget hurt it. For example, I didn't really feel the passage of time. It felt like the story just happened in one winters time (I'm suspecting that it was filmed in a very short period of time.) Joel Torre as a cop was not very convincing (the milieu not the acting). The precinct looked like a nondescript office, his car, etc..

(Also his revelation in the end, makes me think if the police force is not doing a background check for aspiring cops?) I wish that they've just made him a father who's investigating the death of his son or a private investigator, etc.

rse · « **Reply #2388 on:** May 03, 2010 at 10:38 PM »

Mangatyanan (Jerrold Tarog)
I'm starting to be fan of Jerrold Tarog. I've seen his Confessional, which I find to be interesting (and contains one of the best executed scenes I've seen in a while). My main problem with that movie is that it feels more like a travelogue than a fully realised movie.

Mangatyanan, is a better realized film. For one, it's just so beautifully photographed. It's also well acted and well told. The story also is quite interesting. When I bought the DVD I thought that it's an indie horror film. According to the DVD, they shot the film in 10 days! What an accomplishment!

keating · « **Reply #2389 on:** May 04, 2010 at 11:04 AM »

ANG PANGGAGAHASA KAY FE (Alvin Yapan, 2009)

I missed this one on last year's Cinemalaya and saw it only last night. The raves are just perfectly right. Yapan's medium which centered on the abuse of domestic women was given a different take on celluloid thru surrealism and part mystery. Yapan has crafted two different worlds that a woman can dig into whenever they feel neglected, abused and used. Irma Adlawan is competent as usual much better than her take in Jeffrey Jeturian's TUHOG. Nonie Buencamino's impressive performance is no doubt but it's Tj Trinidad who almost stole the thunder from Irma Adlawan. I wish filmmakers at present will explore more folklore that has been part of our cultural heritage whether you believe them or not.

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #2390 on:** May 05, 2010 at 08:55 AM »

" The film's low budget hurt it"

Not sure you're going to like his longer stuff--Ebolusyon, Heremias, etc.

oggsmoggs · « **Reply #2391 on:** May 09, 2010 at 11:47 PM »

Hihintayin Kita sa Langit (I Will Wait for You in Heaven, Carlos Siguion-Reyna, 1991)

oggsmoggs · « **Reply #2392 on:** May 12, 2010 at 10:09 PM »

Juan Tamad Goes to Congress (Manuel Conde, 1960)

X44 · « **Reply #2393 on:** May 12, 2010 at 10:28 PM »

A Speculative Review of Raymond Red's unmade film Ang Himpapawid

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #2394 on:** May 13, 2010 at 11:31 AM »

As Mario O'Hara put it, he has the best eye of any filmmaker he knows, better than even Gerry De Leon. I don't know about that--but he is a visual master.

keating · « **Reply #2395 on:** May 13, 2010 at 09:35 PM »

Was The Kid the heir apparent to Gerry de Leon, Noel?!

Klaus Weasley · « **Reply #2396 on:** May 13, 2010 at 11:50 PM »

Quote from: oggsmoggs on May 12, 2010 at 10:09 PM

Juan Tamad Goes to Congress (Manuel Conde, 1960)

Holy crap. Where is this available?

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #2397 on:** May 14, 2010 at 06:18 AM »

Quote from: Klaus Weasley on May 13, 2010 at 11:50 PM

Holy crap. Where is this available?

I wish.

Noel_Vera · « **Reply #2398 on:** May 14, 2010 at 06:22 AM »

I don't know. I don't think so. De Leon draws from Ford, Kurosawa, late Eisenstein, Welles. Ad. Castillo seems to draw from Polanski, Terence Malick, Arthur Penn, among others.

oggsmoggs · « **Reply #2399 on:** May 14, 2010 at 07:04 AM »

Quote from: Noel_Vera on May 14, 2010 at 06:18 AM

I wish.

Hehe...