NOMINEES of the 86th OSCARS: My Reviews

January 16, 2013

The Nominees of the 86th Academy Awards are:

Best Picture

American Hustle
Captain Phillips (My Review)
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity (My Review)
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street (My Review)

Best Director

David O. Russell, American Hustle
Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Actress

Amy Adams, American Hustle
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

Best Actor

Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

Best Supporting Actor

Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Best Supporting Actress

Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska

Best Adapted Screenplay

Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight
Billy Ray, Captain Phillips
Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, Philomena
John Ridley, 12 Years a Slave
Terence Winter, The Wolf of Wall Street

Best Original Screenplay

Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell, American Hustle
Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine
Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack, Dallas Buyers Club
Spike Jonze, Her
Bob Nelson, Nebraska

Best Original Song

“Alone Yet Not Alone,” Alone Yet Not Alone; music by Bruce Broughton, lyrics by Dennis Spiegel
“Happy,” Despicable Me 2; music and lyrics by Pharrell Williams
“Let It Go,” Frozen; music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
“The Moon Song,” Her; music by Karen O., lyrics by Karen O. and Spike Jonze
“Ordinary Love,” Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom; music by U2; lyrics by Paul Hewson

Best Animated Feature

The Croods (My Review)
Despicable Me 2 (My Review)
Ernest & Celestine
Frozen (My Review)
The Wind Rises

Best Documentary — Feature

The Act of Killing (My Review)
Cutie and the Boxer
Dirty Wars
The Square
20 Feet from Stardom

Best Foreign Language Film

The Broken Circle Breakdown, Belgium
The Great Beauty, Italy
The Hunt, Denmark
The Missing Picture, Cambodia
Omar, Palestine

Best Original Score

John Williams, The Book Thief
Steven Price, Gravity
William Butler and Owen Pallett, Her
Alexandre Desplat, Philomena
Thomas Newman, Saving Mr. Banks

Best Cinematography

Philippe Le Sourd, The Grandmaster
Emmanuel Lubezki, Gravity
Bruno Delbonnel, Inside Llewyn Davis
Phedon Papamichael, Nebraska
Roger A. Deakins, Prisoners (My Review)

Best Production Design

American Hustle
Gravity
The Great Gatsby (My Review)
Her
12 Years a Slave

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Dallas Buyers Club
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
The Lone Ranger (My Review)

Best Costume Design

Michael Wilkinson, American Hustle
William Chang Suk Ping, The Grandmaster
Catherine Martin, The Great Gatsby
Michael O’Connor, The Invisible Woman
Patricia Norris, 12 Years a Slave

Best Film Editing

American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
12 Years a Slave

Best Visual Effects

Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (My Review)
Iron Man 3 (My Review)
The Lone Ranger
Star Trek Into Darkness (My Review)

Best Sound Mixing

Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Inside Llewyn Davis
Lone Survivor (My Review)

Best Sound Editing

All Is Lost
Captain Phillips
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Lone Survivor

Best Documentary — Short

CaveDigger
Facing Fear
Karama Has No Walls
The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life
Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall

Best Live Action Short

Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me)
Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything)
Helium
Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)
The Voorman Problem

Best Animated Short

Feral
Get a Horse!
Mr. Hublot
Possessions
Room on the Broom

Review of THE WOLF OF WALL STREET: Excessive Excesses

January 16, 2014

"The Wolf of Wall Street" is about the rise and fall of one Jordan Belfort, a fast-talking con man selling penny stocks to unsuspecting clients to earn that whopping 50% commission. He built up a financial empire with simply too much hot money than he know what to do with them. Jordan and his cohorts, led by the loud and obnoxious Donnie Azoff, lead a life of unbridled debauchery until the long arms of the law finally catch up with them.

While this film seemed like it was celebrating the crime Belfort was perpetrating, director Martin Scorsese told it in a very frenetic and entertaining way. The structure of the film was odd though, as the first two hours plus was about the scandalously wild lifestyle Belfort and friends had in the lap of luxury. It was fun, yes, to the point of annoyance. Only the last 40 minutes or so was about his inevitable fall and retribution, making it feel like an afterthought. 

Leonardo DiCaprio summons again his inimitable charm and charisma we saw before in "Catch Me If You Can" to higher stakes criminal activity as Belfort. Leonardo's Belfort was like his last role Jay Gatsby, but on amped up overdrive, pulling all the stops, giving everything he had with a burning passion that oozes through the screen. He has this hilarious sequence when he had a catatonic fit after taking a strong drug, never knew Leo was capable of such energetic physical comedy.  After his Golden Globe win for Best Actor in a Comedy with this role, he stands a good chance of finally scoring his first Oscar.

Jonah Hill plays Belfort's reckless partner Donnie with rabid perversity. It was like his last film, the insane "This Is The End," goes to New York high society. He has excellently outrageous comic chemistry with DiCaprio. The classy, beautiful and sexy Margot Robbie plays Naomi, the hot socialite who swept Belfort off his feet. I first noted her in a small role in last year's "About Time", and with this daring role, she is bound for the big time.

In smaller but still notable roles were Matthew McConaughey as Belfort's first Wall Street mentor, Rob Reiner as Belfort's prudent father, Jean Dujardin as Belfort's European contact and Kyle Chandler as the FBI agent who wanted to bring Belfort down at all costs.

After the first one and half hours of the over-the-top obscene lifestyle Jordan and pals live, you will feel that all of this depiction of inane debauchery is kind of getting too repetitive and long for comfort. There will be scenes of sexual orgies of all kinds to the point of misogyny. There will be multiple scenes of almost everybody taking drugs and we see all the shocking effects. Your ears will feel numbed with all the foul language in seemingly every one of their sentences. The F word was integral to their vocabulary.

However, thanks to the pedigree of the people behind this film, namely Scorsese and DiCaprio, the brilliant cinematography and opulent production design, we are reminded that this is still an A-list project, not just some raunchy blue movie drowning in kilos of cocaine, naked prostitutes and incessant profanity. I just thought it could have lost some of the excessive scenes of excess in the first two hours and still had gotten the story across. 7/10.

The TOP 10 US Box Office Hits of 2013: My Reviews

January 12, 2013

Below is the list of the Top 10 Top Grossing Films in the US Box Office for the year 2013. While "Iron Man 3" had the year’s biggest opening weekend and was tops the whole summer, "Catching Fire" caught up as it ruled the holiday season up to now as the new year rolls in. An asterisk after the title means it is still currently showing in US theaters up to now.

1. Catching Fire* ($409.4 million)

In celebration of the 75th year of the Hunger Games, previous Victors (one male and one female) from each District to fight in another games to the death called the Quarter Quell. Being the only female Victor of District 12, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) was an automatic contestant, and the odds were stacked against her favor. How will the results of this special edition of the Hunger Games affect the revolution already catching fire outside the Capitol walls? 

This film tackles serious political topics very well, simplified for its young target audience, but not in a way that insults more mature viewers. This is a perfectly-made bridging film by director Francis Lawrence.  It stands very well on its own merits, as much as it guarantees that the next two films in the franchise will be blockbusters. 9/10. (My Full Review)

2. Iron Man 3 ($409.0 M)

The plot centers around Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and his conflict with a mad scientist named Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), who has developed a powerful virus called Extremis who can give fiery powers to those who can withstand its painful incubation. At the same time, the President of the United States was abducted by a mad international terrorist who calls himself "Mandarin" (Ben Kingsley). 

I thought this film was 70% Stark, only 30% Iron Man. I felt this film was too long and could be edited to tighten the suspense and streamline the storytelling more. The ending sequence was nicely ambiguous. The extra scene after the very long closing credits was funny with a surprising cameo appearance, but it was not so exciting to suggest what the next Marvel film was all about. (Or does it?) Overall, "Iron Man 3" was just alright, but not really worth all the hype given it. Temper your expectations. 6/10. (My Full Review)

3. Despicable Me 2* ($368.0 M)

This story of this sequel is about the reformed Gru (still voiced by Steve Carell) being recruited by the Anti-Villain League to be their secret agent.  His mission is to discover and apprehend an evil criminal who had developed a toxin which can turn any living being into destructive purple hairy monsters upon injection. 

But make no mistake, definitely, this is one very funny and entertaining film for the whole family.  Fans of those naughty little yellow Minions will rejoice as they have practically half of the movie running time dedicated to them, and there are so many more of them here.  Fans of good 3D effects will really find this film so cool.  I just missed some of the heart that made the first installment more than special. 7/10. (My Full Review)

4. Frozen* ($301.5 M)

This is a wholly original tale about two royal sisters. One, Elsa, had a wonderful but dangerous power to create ice and wintry weather. The other one, Anna, is normal. Several years later, at Elsa's coronation day as Queen, her powers were inadvertently revealed to the public and she had to flee. Anna goes out to search for her sister. Can Anna find her sister, mend their relationship, discover true love in time, and save their kingdom from the eternal winter that envelops it?

With incredibly-rendered visuals and sweeping music, the story line of sisterly love and devotion is also a novel approach that makes this production stand out from the other Disney classics. 8/10. (My Full Review)

5. Man of Steel ($291.1 M)

The whole movie is essentially a remake of "Superman II", which was arguably the best of the Christopher Reeve series. In that film, as with this one, Superman faces General Zod and his minions, who was able to escape his fate in the Phantom Zone and found his way to Earth to create havoc here. 

Overall, this is a very satisfying reboot of the Superman series by Zach Snyder. I liked that they took this one seriously, not devoid of humor but without the slapstick that made previous versions corny. The technical aspects of the film were excellent, especially the rich cinematography, the fast-paced editing, as well as the visual and sound effects of the battle scenes. This film has a charm distinct enough form the Reeve version and will be a successful franchise of its own.  8/10. (My Full Review)

6. Monsters University ($268.5 M)

In this installment, we are brought back in time, when our favorite monster heroes: Mike (the hyper green walking ball with one Cyclops eye, voiced by Billy Crystal) and Sully (the cool blue shaggy giant with the spotted arms, voiced by John Goodman) were just freshmen students at Monsters U, where they were enrolled in the "Scaring" program. 

The movie is very entertaining for the whole family, but maybe more for the kids and the kids at heart. However, the story line is too familiar and derivative to be really distinct, much unlike the innovative first film, which had a very original and mature story. You will definitely have a good time while watching the monsters and their shenanigans, but you may not even really remember it too well anymore after a while. 6/10. (My Full Review)

7. Gravity* ($255.8 M)

"Gravity" tells of the unenviable situation experienced by medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and her astronaut mission commander Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) when an accidental disaster caused by a shower of satellite debris destroys their space station, leaving them floating in deep space.

Director Alfonso Cuaron has created a masterpiece that knows when to move for excitement and when to stop for meditation. We enjoy the breathtaking ride through the dangerous outer frontiers. We also get to look inwards to the essence of our own minuscule humanity in stark contrast to the vastness of the universe. We will feel agoraphobia and claustrophobia at the same time while Stone and Kowalski struggle to keep themselves alive. 10/10. (My Full Review)

8. Fast & Furious 6 ($238.7 M)

The car chase scenes (this franchise's main claim to fame) were amazingly planned, executed, shot and edited. There was that chase scene on the freeway with a tank, ending with a superhuman midair rescue you simply have got to see to believe (or not believe). As if that is not enough, the entire last sequence was about cars trying to get a Russian cargo plane from taking off, all the while fighting off the enemies mostly mano a mano.

Overall this is one very entertaining and exhilarating film, which I understood and appreciated well even if I have not seen any of the previous films. Well, I am sure fans who have seen all the movies will love it even more since they have known and loved all these characters already from the previous five films. The top-notch explosive action sequences left nothing to be desired, really breath-taking. These heart-stopping car stunts are all admittedly impossible and maybe downright ridiculous, but that was why they were all so awesome to watch! 7/10. (My Full Review)

9. Oz: The Great and Powerful ($234.9 M)

The synopsis of this film says that it follows the adventures of  a circus illusionist and con man, Oscar Diggs (James Franco), when he was blown by tornado into the magical land of witches and other fantastic beings.  Oscar would battle and defeat a great evil enemy before he becomes the all-powerful wizard and king of Oz in Emerald City.

I have not seen this film as of yet.  Review to follow.

10. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug* ($234.2 M)

"The Desolation of Smaug" picks up from the first film.  While Gandalf (Ian Mc Kellen) went looking for the Necromancer in Dor Guldur, our titular hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and the 13 Dwarfs led by Thorin (Richard Armitage) continue on their quest to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim the lost Dwarf kingdom of Erebor. Along the way, they encounter deadly Orcs, Giant Spiders and Elves who give them a harrowing time. With the help of Bard (Luke Evans), a human from Laketown, they reach their destination and encounter Smaug, the fire-breathing dragon that had taken over the Dwarfs' old realm.

Cinematography was topnotch as production design was spectacular, though the CGI can be overwhelming.  The ending comes just when you are whetted up for a big fight scene.  We will really have to catch that final film in the trilogy to see that monumental battle come to life. 8/10. (My Full Review)

Review of LONE SURVIVOR: Patriotism and Pashtunwali

January 11, 2013

The operation of Navy Seals in Taliban country in the mountains of Afghanistan goes awry. Their supposedly covert intelligence mission becomes an all-out gunfight.  The title already tells us quite obviously what the outcome will be. There is only one lone survivor. 

However, before it reaches that inevitable conclusion, we will be brought right in the heat of the blazing action where bullets were flying and bombs were exploding. You will definitely flinch as director Peter Berg does not shirk from showing in stark graphic close-ups how bullets and shrapnel hit their targets, spilling not only blood and guts, but ultimately also causing cruel deaths. 

We will also bear witness to a 2000-year old code of honor among Afghan villagers called Pashtunwali where undertake the responsibility of protecting an individual at all costs. This is something new I have never known before.  It is indeed heartening to learn about this noble tradition that reasserts our hope in humanity in the face of seemingly mindless violence of warfare.

Honor and valor comes in different forms from different people. We see a lot of it here in "Lone Survivor." The Seals (played by Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Ben Foster, Emile Hirsch) show it as they stand their ground against all odds in the name of duty for their country. The Afghan villagers (played by Ali Suliman and Rohan Chand) show it much better in their efforts to help a person in dire need, even if he was a stranger whom they were conditioned to believe to be their enemy.

Maybe the only drawback about this film is that we do not really make any personal connection if any individual Seal, even the titular lone survivor. We will not really know anything much about the person behind the soldier. We just see all of them here as generic courageous soldiers who are ready to die for country, symbolizing ALL American military men. You cannot fault the filmmakers for their desire to revel in their nationalistic pride.

You will really get into the horrific experience of being in the battle zone in this film. It will not only show tactical dilemmas but moral decision-making as well.  This film will make you admire and appreciate these brave men who do their unenviable duties out of sheer patriotism, not only Americans but soldiers of every nation. This is a brutally frank war movie, definitely not for the faint at heart. 8/10.

Review of 47 RONIN: Westernized Bushido

January 10, 2013

Loyalty and honor in Japanese culture had been very elegantly presented in many movies about the Shogunate or feudal period of their history. I had always admired the nobility of their Bushido way of Samurai life, from watching films like "Ran", to more modern interpretations of the swordsman culture, like "Ruruoni Kenshin." I think "47 Ronin" will be joining that list.

Lord Asano (Min Tanaka) is the master of the prosperous house of Ako. A rival master, Lord Kira (Tadanobu Asano), caused Asano to commit an act of assault by inflicting him with a spell care of his personal Witch (Rinko Kikuchi). The Shogun Tsunayoshi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) meted Asano the sentence of seppuku, rendering his band of Samurai led by the loyal Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada) as Ronin.

Ronin are Samurai who have lost their master. The title "47 Ronin" refer to this group of ex-Samurai who reunite to avenge the dishonor and death of their master. Among these Ronin is an half-breed of remarkable fighting skills named Kai (Keanu Reeves). Despite being considered an outcast because of his skin, Kai's own mystical past will play an instrumental role in their plan for revenge.

This film's story is very well-told by director Carl Rinsch from a screenplay by Chris Morgan and Hossein Amini. The cinematography was absolutely impressive with its sweeping vistas as well as intimate close-ups. The production design spared no expense it seems for very elegant set pieces, from rock gardens to ceremonial grounds. The choreography of the rituals and fight scenes were very well-done as well.

The costumes by Penny Rose deserve award consideration with their elaborate designs and rich detail. Striking colors of red, gold and navy delineate the clothes worn by the three different armies in the film. Smart modern touches touch up the gowns worn by the two main female characters in the cast. 

Keanu Reeves does well in his role as Kai as far as the acting was concerned, although I would have expected a younger actor to play the role. The main brunt of the acting though was on the shoulders of Hiroyuki Sanada, who played the lead Samurai Oishi. His screen presence was very strong and his impassioned performance was imbued with dignity. 

Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi chews up her every scene as the Witch, as she gets to interact with a lot of the film's computer-generated special effects. Ko Shibasaki graces the screen with her ethereal beauty and refinement as Miko, Asano's regal daughter, who had a forbidden love complicated by an unwanted betrothal decreed by the Shogun.

Overall, I thought this was a very satisfying total movie experience, where you get transported to an exotic time in history when loyalty and honor, virtues so rare in this day and age, still ruled. The writing, technical and acting aspects all contribute to a visually vivid and emotionally moving film, albeit a Westernized (everyone speaks English here) fantasy with relatively lighter-weight treatment than the Kurosawa classics. Nevertheless, it does just fine for me. 7/10

Review of THE LEGEND OF HERCULES: Pure Popcorn

January 8, 2014

One night, Queen Alcmene was ravished by the god Zeus.  From this union, she would give birth to a boy whom his (step-)father King Amphityrion named Alcides. Later in life, the boy would develop remarkable physique and abilities, taking on the name Hercules. Other than these nominal details though, it seems the rest of this "origins" movie was not derived from the ancient myths at all. 

Case in point, mythology told us how angry the goddess Hera was with Hercules because he was a product of Zeus' infidelity, even driving Hercules mad to kill his own children. However in this film, we get a mild resigned Hera.  In an Annunciation-like scenario, Hera appears to Alcmene and tells her that Zeus will visit the queen to plant his divine seed in her. It was even Hera who told Alcmene to call the boy Hercules.

The lady love of Hercules in this film, the Princess Hebe from Crete and her entire story line, along with the love triangle with Hercules' inept half-brother Iphicles, is an original conception by the four scriptwriters, of which director Renny Harlin (who never seemed to have recovered after the unfortunate 1995 debacle "Cutthroat Island") was one of them. 

Watching "The Legend of Hercules" is like watching a compendium of all the sword-and-sandal films I have ever seen on film. The most dominant elements were from "300". This film in fact looked like a sequel of "300" because of the very similar style of computer graphics used for the sweeping scenery, the big crowds, the complex fight sequences with the stops, slow-motion and splattering liquids. Even the costumes looked like they were straight out of "300" dressing rooms.

We also pick up similarities with the movie "Troy" especially with regards to choreography of the battle scenes. The jumping attack move made classic by Brad Pitt's Achilles was multiplied so many times over in frequency and variation. 

About halfway into the film, we will remember "Ben Hur" as Hercules becomes a slave and was made to row an ocean-going sailing vessel in rough waters. Then the film morphs into "Spartacus" or "Gladiator" as Hercules becomes an arena fighter for people's entertainment and gambling.

Later on, we will be reminded of "Samson and Delilah" when Hercules was being whipped while chained to two pillars. At that moment there will be a scene of mocking and divine communication reminiscent of the crucifixion scene from any film about Jesus like "The Passion of the Christ".

It was rather disappointing that we do not get to see familiar Hercules stories such as the "12 Labors", except from a short scene where he slayed an ugly CG animal they called the Nemean Lion. But this was not in the context as the myths tell us.

Anyhow, having a B-list cast with only Kellan Lutz of "Twilight" fame as the most familiar name starring as the titular muscle-bound hero, I guess we really should not expect too much from "The Legend of Hercules," especially in the acting department.  Keep your mindset shallow, and you may even enjoy this pure popcorn flick.  5/10.

Review of PAGPAG: Well-Made Horror Lite for Teens

January 6, 2013

"Pagpag" is the lone horror movie offering in the 2013 Metro Manila Filmfest. 

"Pagpag" is the Filipino custom of dropping by another place first before going home after visiting a wake. This was done so that you will not bring the spirit of the dead back to your home. The subtitle "Siyam na Buhay" refers to the belief that one needs to exchange nine souls to be able to bring one dead person back to life.

Leni (Kathryn Bernardo) manages the Heavenly Touch Funeral Parlor which she had inherited from her parents. She was hired by Lucy (Shaina Magdayao) to arrange the wake of her recently-departed husband Roman (Paulo Avelino). 

Cedric (Daniel Padilla) is a spoiled rich kid.  One day while out on a drive with his friends, he he lost control of his car and almost runs Leni down. While waiting for the tow truck to come, they all wait inside the room where Roman's wake was set up.

Of course, these careless young people act inappropriately at the wake and do not make "pagpag" before they went home. So, as is customary in many horror films, people begin to die one by one. As the death count escalates to seven, Cedric and Leni have to stop the curse before they become the Souls #8 and 9 needed to bring Roman back to life.

Admittedly the way this film was told, it reminded me very much of "Feng Shui" and "The Healing" (my review here or here) as it employs superstitions to trigger the horror. At the wake, each one violates some superstition about behavior in a wake (sweeping, no crying over the coffin, no wiping the coffin, no taking out food from the wake, no looking at mirrors, etc...). Then they would die in a most violent bizarre manner related to the funeral faux pas they committed.

Since the leads of this film are the most popular teen stars in local show business, the target audience will be teenagers, hence the terror factor is not too high. In fact this film was even quite funny at times. However, it does not mean that it does not deliver the blood, the creeps and the jumps. It surely did!

Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo both did well in their lead roles.  They had charming chemistry together, They knew how to play for their "My Princess and I" and "Got to Believe" fan base with their "kilig" scenes. Their characters were more reactive than proactive though.

Matet de Leon (as Lucy's knowledgeable Ate Eva) and Janus del Prado (as Leni's bumbling drunkard Tiyo Dencio) stand out in their supporting roles. Clarence Delgado was very cute as Leni's adopted brother Macmac. Paulo Avelino plays yet another brooding and tormented character as distraught family man and ghost, Roman.

There were some noted lapses in continuity (Are Leni's roses on the car hood or on the street? Why the inconsistent number of stick figures on the sheet of paper?) or annoying advertising for Kakao Talk, but these can be ignored. 

Overall, I thought this was a very well-made horror flick, with above-average (by Philippine standards) ideas and special effects when it came to the gruesome death scenes and ghostly apparitions. Director Frasco Santos Mortiz does well to balance the horror and the comedy elements into one entertaining film, not only for its intended demographic.  7/10.

Review of KIMMY DORA: ANG KIYEMENG PREQUEL: Time to Retire

January 5, 2013

I was a fan of the first Kimmy Dora film in 2009. It was refreshing and entertaining. It felt like the level of Pinoy slapstick had been upgraded. My review of that film was posted HERE.  I was not able to see the second installment last year, which had been given a horror slant.

This third film was supposed to have been a prequel. Kimmy and Dora had just graduated from college. They start to work in their father's mega- corporation. Top executives Brigitte (Angel Aquino), Curtis (Joel Torre) and the HR Head Rodin (Sam Milby) implement a program for them to start working from the bottom as guards or car park cashiers.

However, there is a malevolent hooded figure named Bogart who wreaks havoc in the Go Dong Hae franchises from their fast food to their airline, threatening to totally destroy the company if they do not give him 1 Billion Euro. How can the sisters save their empire from totally collapsing around them?

This film has all the ingredients that made the first film successful.  There were all those absurd situations the sisters get themselves into.  There were still those multiple cameos by several big name stars, which were quite amusing. There was of course the consistently on-point, unabashedly slapstick portrayal of the talented Ms. Eugene Domingo of the twins. 

But then again, unlike the innovative novelty that made the first film remarkable, there was really nothing much that is new to see in this one.  Even the humor factor seemed oddly limited already. 

This film felt furthest from being a prequel it is intended to be. Instead of events looking like they happened in the past, this film ironically looks like it is set way ahead of this time.

The sets, props and costumes of this film looked outlandishly more futuristic than the first film. The first film did not strike me to be set that far in the future at all, to make this film to be set today with tablets and Candy Crush. There will even be fantastic gadgetry of science-fiction quality here, from a wave-screen conference room table to remote brain-control technology, that would seem anachronistic in the intended timeline of this trilogy.  (The production design crew should be commended for their efforts.)

Eugene Domingo looks older here. Her Kimmy did not look like a fresh Cambridge graduate, nor did her Dora look more childish. The make-up and visual effects departments were not able to create Benjamin Button-like miraculous illusions for her. 

Or maybe it is simply because the characters were already getting too tired and repetitive for their respective shticks? Make no mistake, Ms. Domingo was still very funny, but this joke may have already reached its expiration date. Perhaps it is now time to retire Kimmy and Dora while we still love them. 5/10.

My Yearend Roundup: The TOP 20 BEST MOVIES of 2013 That I Have Seen

December 31, 2013

According to my record, I had written 151 movie reviews this year.  That is a big increase from the 84 I wrote last year.  I have been more aware of schedules of local indie film festivals which really made a big impact in 2013.  Several local films made it into my top list this year.

This year marks a milestone for my blogging because my movie reviews are now being picked up and posted on ABS-CBNNews.com! As of this writing, a total of 58 of my reviews have made it on the pages of the most popular local news website.  Among my most read reviews published on ABS-CBNNews.com were those of "The Conjuring" (LINK) and "10,000 Hours" (LINK).

For this list, I had not included the 23 articles written about films which had been released in 2012 or earlier, but I had only seen in 2013. These were mostly the Oscar winning films released in December 2012, but only hit local theaters in 2013. 

Potential Oscar-winning films of this year which will only be shown in January 2014 locally are also not included here, like "American Hustle," "12 Years a Slave," "Her," "Nebraska," etc...

Honorable Mentions (11-20)

20. Now You See Me (Full review)

19. Mga Anino ng Kahapon (Full review, ABS-CBN)

18. Tuhog (Full review, ABS-CBN)

17. Sana Dati (Full review, ABS-CBN)

16. Before Midnight (Full review)

15. Man of Steel (Full review)

14, The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (Full review)

13. Frozen (Full review, ABS-CBN)

12. The Conjuring (Full review, ABS-CBN)

11. Ekstra (Full review, ABS-CBN)

Here are the 10 Best Films of 2013 that I have seen and written about:

10.  Ilo Ilo (Full review, ABS-CBN)

To help with the household chores and to take care of son Jiale, a middle-class Singaporean couple decide to hire a maid from the Philippines, Teresa (Angeli Bayani). It was a huge challenge for Terry to get integrated into the family system and into Jiale's troubled life, but she eventually does. But as the Lims (Yeo Yan Yan and Tian Wen Chen) experience escalating monetary woes, they need to make an important decision about Terry.

The actors were all subdued in their acting, which makes the performances so realistic.  You can feel that the intentions of the film and its director Anthony Chen were only modest, but the sincerity is very palpable, and that is what makes the film connect so well with its audiences. 9/10.

9.  Oblivion (my full review)

The setting is the future after aliens have destroyed the Earth. Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) is a technician who fixes drones or "Wall- E"-like flying robot police gofers of that time.  A female crew member of a pod that crash-landed named Julia (Olga Kurylenko), and a band of human rebels (led by Morgan Freeman and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) gives Jack an insight on his real nature

Writer-director Joseph Kosinski really had a good story and he tells it very well indeed. He knows how to maximize the talents of his crew to create this audacious yet reflective sci-fi masterpiece. 9/10.

8.  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Full review, ABS-CBN)

In celebration of the 75th year of the Hunger Games, previous Victors (one male and one female) from each District to fight in another games to the death called the Quarter Quell. Being the only female Victor of District 12, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) was an automatic contestant, and the odds were stacked against her favor. How will the results of this special edition of the Hunger Games affect the revolution already catching fire outside the Capitol walls? 

This film tackles serious political topics very well, simplified for its young target audience, but not in a way that insults more mature viewers. This is a perfectly-made bridging film by director Francis Lawrence.  It stands very well on its own merits, as much as it guarantees that the next two films in the franchise will be blockbusters. 9/10.

7.  10,000 Hours (Full review, ABS-CBN)

As his warrant of arrest was being served, Sen. Gabriel Alcaraz (Robin Padilla) was able to elude authorities led by Gen. Dante Cristobal (Michael de Mesa) with the help of an aggressive news reporter Maya Limchauco (Bela Padilla). He manages to make his way to Amsterdam to hide out, but back home, his wife Anna (Mylene Dizon) and children bear the consequential backlash of his controversial escape. The title "10,000 Hours" refers to the number of hours Alcaraz was on the lam.  

This was a very well-crafted Filipino film of a quality that is rarely seen.  The technical aspect was flawless, impressively by an almost all-female behind-the-scenes crew.  Bb. Joyce Bernal assuredly assembles and delivers to us a final product of such fine quality that elevates her craft high and above all the rom-coms she is more known for. 9/10.

6.  The Great Gatsby (Full review)

A man named Jay Gatsby (Leonardo di Caprio) moves heaven and earth, building his immense wealth from practically nothing, to be with Daisy (Carey Mulligan), the woman he adored.  Unfortunately, Daisy had married wealthy Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) because she believed rich girls cannot marry poor boys.

This film is a vast improvement over the 1974 film. The use of flashbacks in this current version to show us more about the history of Gatsby as a boy and young man was really helpful to understand where he was coming from. You will really notice director Baz Luhrmann's touch in the lavish and opulent parties that Gatsby held in his West Egg mansion and in the musical soundtrack department. 9/10.

5.  Rush (Full review, ABS-CBN)

During the 1976 F1 season, the very serious Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) was leading all the way on total points until a devastating event threatened not only his crown, but his life. Can Niki summon enough will to fight the mortal odds and recover in order to race to the finish, or will the charismatic James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) just be handed the cup of his dreams on a silver platter?

Even if I did not know Lauda and Hunt, I was drawn into their story complete with all the ingredients of epic action, drama, and romance. Director Ron Howard does not lose control of his material as everything fell in its right place in the gripping final cut of the film. 9/10.

4.  On The Job (Full review)

Mario (Joel Torre) and Daniel (Gerald Anderson) are convicts who are being sneaked out of prison and hired as hitmen by a powerful highly-connected syndicate. After they bungle a job to execute a policeman, the secure web of protection around them begin to unravel as an idealistic NBI lawyer Francis Coronel Jr. (Piolo Pascual) and a maverick but sincere policeman PO1 Joaquin Acosta (Joey Marquez) threaten to throw this assassination ring wide open up to its highest levels.


The technical aspects of the film are outstanding, particularly the cinematography and the film editing.  The atmosphere created by director Erik Matti was very tense and exciting. The suspense was heart-pounding as the pace is frenetic, and you would not know what will happen with succeeding scenes.  This film is NOT predictable. 9/10.

3.  Badil (Full review, ABS-CBN)

In a small island barangay in Samar on the day before local elections, Mang Ponso (Dick Israel) is working hard to ensure his candidate, the incumbent Mayor Del Mundo, wins by making sure their sworn supporters vote as they promise.  Because of Ponso's physical disabilities brought about by a recent stroke, his eldest son Lando (Jhong Hilario) has to fill in his father's duties, exposing him to the seedy underbelly of local grassroots politics, where MONEY does all the talking.

The script of Rody Vera was so well-written, so gritty, down-to-earth, natural, and educational as well. Director Chito Rono proves that even with a limited budget of P1.5M from the Film Development Council of the Philippines, one can create a film with beautiful cinematography, exciting editing, artistic depth and national significance. Now that is a true Master. 9/10.

2.  Star Trek Into Darkness (Full review)

The key scenes between Kirk and Spock were essayed so well by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. I enjoyed the interaction and the cooperation among the crew, each with their own talents. Simon Pegg (as Scotty) and Karl Urban (as Dr. Bones) particularly stand out. The antagonist is a super- soldier first known as Harrison. Upcoming actor Benjamin Cumberbatch portrays this super-villain with amazing screen presence and convincing menace. 

Director JJ Abrams has come up with a movie that will satisfy both old and new fans of this revered franchise. It covers all aspects of the Star Trek that makes it the long-lasting popular favorite that it is: the teamwork, the adventure, the action, the drama, and yes, the humor, all are still definitely there. 10/10.

1.  Gravity (Full review, ABS-CBN)

"Gravity" tells of the unenviable situation experienced by medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and her astronaut mission commander Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) when an accidental disaster caused by a shower of satellite debris destroys their space station, leaving them floating in deep space.


Director Alfonso Cuaron has created a masterpiece that knows when to move for excitement and when to stop for meditation. We enjoy the breathtaking ride through the dangerous outer frontiers. We also get to look inwards to the essence of our own minuscule humanity in stark contrast to the vastness of the universe. We will feel agoraphobia and claustrophobia at the same time while Stone and Kowalski struggle to keep themselves alive. 10/10.


********************

 * My Top 10 of 2012 is posted HERE.

** My Top 10 of 2011 is posted HERE.

Review of 10,000 HOURS: Extraordinary Technical Excellence

December 28, 2013

I only had a fleeting glimpse of a TV ad of "10,000 Hours" and those few seconds were enough to convince that I had to watch this film.  The quality of the cinematography was unlike any Filipino film I had seen before.  The whole film more than fulfills its promise.

Philippine Senator Gabriel Molino Alcaraz (Robin Padilla) is about to spill the beans on a pork barrel scam that reaches all the way to the presidency of Genoviva Martinez Obrero (Bibeth Orteza).  Instead, he gets implicated in the murder of an NBI director who was his friend.  

As his warrant of arrest was being served, Alcaraz was able to elude authorities led by Gen. Dante Cristobal (Michael de Mesa) with the help of an aggressive news reporter Maya Limchauco (Bela Padilla). He manages to make his way to Amsterdam to hide out and to search for a long-lost witness Salvador Jago (Pen Medina) who could clear his name.  

Back in the country though, his wife Anna (Mylene Dizon) and children bear the consequential backlash of his controversial escape.  

The title "10,000 Hours" refers to the number of hours Alcaraz was on the lam.  The plot was obviously inspired by recent real-life political events.  However, the film ends with a statement that the events depicted in the film are entirely fictional.

Robin Padilla was entirely in his element as the lawmaker on the run from the law.  His acting here was very subdued as the entire treatment of the film required.  We see a different Robin here. As he shucks his trademark denims for smart winter wear, and he sports a fresh demeanor free from his old acting tics. His execution of the action scenes were skilled and realistic.  Robin dominates this film with his unfading screen presence and charisma.

The other members of the cast do very well in their supporting roles.  Standing out were Mylene Dizon as the brave wife who later reaches her breaking point, Cholo Barreto as the eldest son Benjo who had to bear the brunt of the family shame, Carla Humphries as the Amsterdam contact Isabelle, Michael de Mesa as the old friend turned pursuer, and Pen Medina as the former police asset turned vital witness.

Bela Padilla plays the lady reporter Maya, who had her own ulterior motives for helping the senator. Despite her beauty, I felt she was not able to project enough maturity to be believable as her character. Maybe an actress a little older than Bela could have tackled this critical role better.  Her interaction with her goofy cameraman Jerome (Ketchup Eusebio) also could have been better.

I felt "10,000 Hours" was a very well-crafted Filipino film of a quality that is rarely seen.  The technical aspect was flawless, impressively by an almost all-female behind-the-scenes crew. The screenplay written by Ryllah Epifania Berico and Keiko Aquino was practically perfect as it neatly told a story that spanned nearly three decades interconnecting multiple generations of characters.

The  imported-looking photography of the film by Marissa Floreindo was resplendent, both in the local and the Amsterdam locations.  The film editing by Marya Ignacio was exciting and tense.  The music by Teresa Barrozo added much to the suspenseful atmosphere of the film. Director Bb. Joyce Bernal assuredly assembles and delivers to us a final product of such fine quality that elevates her craft high and above all the rom-coms she is more known for.

It fully deserves the A-rating given by the Film Evaluation Board.  I wish more people would watch movies like this, so that more of them could be made.  9/10.

Review of BOY GOLDEN: Campy and Violent, But Earnest

December 26, 2013

When I first saw the poster of "Boy Golden" with lead actor Jeorge ER Ejercito sporting that ridiculously fake-looking mustache and beard, it actually discouraged me from watching this. But when I saw that this was directed by Chito S. Rono (whose last work "Badil" was excellent), I decided to give it a chance.  This is the first film I watched for this year's Metro Manila Film Festival.

"Boy Golden" is the story of a real-life gangster from the 1960s named Arturo Porcuna. Porcuna, alias Anino, was the head of the notorious Bahala Na Gang. After his release from jail, now using the monicker Boy Golden, he is hot on the trail of the rival gang leader Tony Razon (John Estrada) who was responsible for killing his family and the rape/murder of his sister Baby. With his wealthy benefactor Atty. Dante Sagalongos (Eddie Garcia) and a feisty sexy dancer in distress Marla De Guzman (KC Concepcion) behind him, Boy Golden plots and executes his revenge on Razon, but not without his own losses.

As with his previous MMFF entries as Asiong Salonga and as Emilio Aguinaldo, the problem with the films of Gov. Jeorge Ejercito is himself. He does not really project well as an action star because of his benign visage and un-athletic physique. He also has a rather unrealistic style of acting which tends to go over- the-top. Director Rono was somehow able to down the camp in his acting. Ejercito is lucky that the over-all quality of this film and how technically meticulous it was somehow makes up for his deficiencies as lead star.

Again as before, the veteran supporting cast does more memorable work than the lead.

Eddie Garcia has that easy-going style that made him a popular character actor all these years. He had to endure a particularly harrowing torture scene, surely very difficult for someone of his advanced age. John Estrada we know can play a good villain as from his TV work, and he projects that same sinister charisma here. He has limited screen time though.

Gloria Sevilla (as the gun-toting Aling Puring), Baron Geisler (as the "Twilight"-like Datu Putla), Leo Martinez (as stereotypical Chinaman Mr. Ho), Roi Vinzons (as reckless Alias Tekla) and Dick Israel (as doomed but dignified Boy Bungal) all have their moments of note, as well as hammy melodrama, as members of Razon's gang. .

Special mention has to go to Ms. KC Concepcion for bravely tackling her very daring role as Marla D. It was very daring not only superficially (she had to wear tight, cleavage-baring costumes the whole time), but also physically (she had many intense fight sequences) and emotionally (she actually had to convince us she falls in love with Boy Golden). She is really a striking gorgeous presence here, and commands attention in all the scenes she was in. She may be a contender for Best Actress for this festival.

I have to commend the production designer who really took pains to recreate the 1960s in the houses, the streets, the cars, the costumes and make-up. These sets and little details all brought us back in time. The blood effects did not look very real though. The cinematography was clean, with inventive camera angles. The action sequences were well-executed, even with parkour sequences on rooftops, but these tended to be too long.

The story-telling felt over-stretched though to achieve an "epic" feel, when it could have been more compact. There were parts towards the end that felt bloated and preachy. Less could have been more. I did appreciate the awkward attempts at kitschy humor (like the dancing to Elvis songs among others) to break the film's violent core. That said though, I felt the classification of R-13 was too generous. Given the film's depiction of criminal gang activity with all the attendant blood, gore and violence. I thought an R-16 was more appropriate. 

"Boy Golden" is generally well-made gangster movie, but it is not without its flaws. It may be campy and violent, but it was certainly an earnest effort by its cast and crew. 6/10.