we discussed the script during our workshop with Dr. Paul Dumol. we found it wanting after repeated viewings. Lorna Tolentino essayed the same role as the one in Eddie Garcia's Abakada, Ina: one-noted. It's a shame because she is a versatile actress. Albert Martinez' portrayal gets even better with more viewings. Jiro Manio is indeed a wunderkind. The young man is truly a thespian. Kindly see his previous works, especially La Vida Rosa (his role was eclipsed by the much-hyped derriere-flashing of Diether Ocampo as Rosanna Roces' non-commital lover and fellow grifter). He doesn't even come near John Cusack's underrated turn in Stephen Frear's The Grifters. It was so low-key, he was upstaged by his fellow femmes fatales co-stars Anjelica Huston, nommed for Best Actress and Annette Being, for Best Support.
we suspect that the film didn't rise to a Dickensian height because of Direk Maryo's direction. he seems to have left most of his thespians behind and trusted them too much to internalize their characters. there were too many one-dimensional supporting characters, especially the miser played by Lolita Rodriguez. the ensemble could have fleshed out more humane portrayals. well, Direk Maryo is no Mike Leigh nor a Joyce Bernal. methinks Crying Ladies is a bit better than this juggernaut tearjerker. its success kinda echoed that of My Big Fat Greek Wedding; in this case, strong word of mouth internationally made us take note of what we took for granted when it was first released domestically. shades of Mga Munting Tinig too. I wonder why? Poor marketing? Or we find these efforts pretentious, we avoid it like a plague. I only consider critically-hyped local films if people indeed troop to their recomms. I make sure there is a bit of both: critical and commercial success before I spend my hard-earned, government-sourced salary on a P61-ticket. times are hard, bear with a practical moviegoer. if it were really that good, it'd come out on DVD anyway...
