Review of SING SING: Prison Playhouse

February 27, 2025

The Sing Sing Correctional Facility was a maximum-security prison for men in the state of New York. Since 1996, there was an ongoing non-profit organization there called "Rehabilitation Through the Arts" (RTA), which aimed to provide inmates an outlet for their artistic talents.  Inmate John "Divine G" Whitfield (Colman Domingo) was one of the founding members of the theater group and was their star playwright and actor. 

One day, a disruptive inmate calling himself "Divine Eye" (Clarence Maclin) became a member of RTA in time for their next stage performance, to be written and directed by Brent Buell (Paul Raci). Divine G and Divine Eye did not get off on the right foot at first because of disagreements about the nature of their new production. However, after a series of  tough confrontations, they eventually became the best of friends. 

This film is based on a true story documented in a 2005 article about the RTA published in Esquire Magazine entitled "The Sing Sing Folies" written by John H. Richardson, and director Brent Buell's script entitled "Breaking the Mummy's Code," his original comedy play written specifically for RTA about an Egyptian boy who encountered cowboys, Robin Hood and Hamlet, whose creative process and original staging in 2005 was recreated for the film. 

This film earned three Oscar nominations. First was for its Best Adapted Screenplay, which was actually quite good  to be able to integrate the story of RTA's advocacy, and link it to the production of  their first comedic project. The real Divine G Whitfield one of those co-writers nominated. Second was for Best Original Song, entitled "Like A Bird" by Abraham Alexander & Adrian Quesada, a catchy inspirational tune we hear over the closing credits. 

Its most high profile nomination was for Colman Domingo for Best Actor, playing the role of Divine G Whitfield, a man who was arguing for his innocence but was not able to get a good break. He was one of the original members of RTA which he used as an outlet for his artistic talents. Domingo has been acting since the 1990s, but he finally hit mainstream renown when he was nominated for a Best Actor last year for "Rustin" (2023). 

At the BAFTA,  Domingo's co-star Clarence Maclin was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. This was remarkable because Maclin was actually an inmate of Sing Sing, sentenced 17 years for robbery.  In fact, practically the whole cast was composed of RTA alumni (and therefore all former inmates in Sing Sing). It was not apparent at all that Maclin and all these guys were not professional actors in their first film -- very impressive! 8/10

Ranking This Year's OSCAR BEST PICTURE NOMINEES (2025) & MY OSCAR BETS

March 2, 2025

With the Oscar Awards coming on March 11, 2024, Monday morning (Manila time) live streaming on the Disney+ app, it is time for me now to make my fearless Oscar predictions.   

(My Oscar predictions of previous years were posted on these links: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013).

Here is how I would rank this year's 10 nominees for Oscar Best Picture based on my own personal opinions when I first saw them (not based on probability that I think they will win):

1. DUNE PART 2 (MY FULL REVIEW)

The technical merits of this sequel maintains the high standards of cinematography (Greig Fraser), film editing (Joe Walker) and musical score (Hans Zimmer) set in the first film. The scenes featuring the sandworms were excellently executed, from the exhilarating first time Paul rode the giant grandfather worm Shai Hulud, or that scene where the Maker Keeper (Alison Halstead) demonstrates how to extract the Water of Life from a teenage worm. 9/10

2. A COMPLETE UNKNOWN (MY FULL REVIEW)

Coming from "Dune 2" and "Wonka," Chalamet displayed more range as an actor here as Bob Dylan. Aside from nailing the dramatic moments, it was doubly amazing how he got Bob's spoken voice, distinctive speak-sing style, even his guitar playing. His versions of classics "The Times They Are a-Changing" and "Like a Rolling Stone" (where the title phrase came from) were impeccable. He actually has a good chance of winning the Best Actor Oscar. 9/10

3. WICKED (MY FULL REVIEW)

Director Jon M. Chu grasped the ambitious scale of this production by the horns and succeeding, despite some issues with pace. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande knocked their roles out of the park, in both singing and acting-wise. Nods in production design, costume design, hair and makeup, visual effects and sound are in the bag -- as exemplified in complex numbers like "Dancing Through Life," "Popular" and, of course, "Defying Gravity." 9/10

4. CONCLAVE (MY FULL REVIEW)

Director Edward Berger ("All Quiet on the Western Front") had a sure handle on telling this complex story based on Robert Harris' 2016 novel, as secrets sprout out on after the other, affecting the votes at every thrilling turn, although that final twist was a bit too bizarre. Berger and cinematographer Stephane Fontaine also took time capturing silent beautiful images of random cardinals, nuns and locations from various angles, enhancing artistic cachet. 8/10.

5. THE SUBSTANCE (MY FULL REVIEW)

Demi Moore gave a brave fearless portrayal of fading star Elisabeth, in a role so wild and out of  her comfort zone. Elisabeth was a physically-tough and emotionally-taxing character which can earn Moore an Oscar nomination for Best Actress (and even win, like Elisabeth did). Fargeat really went all out crazy for this, in the process also paying tribute to horror classics, like "Freaks," "The Shining," and "Carrie." 8/10

6. I'M STILL HERE (MY FULL REVIEW)

Fernanda Torres's performance as Eunice Paiva is deservedly the centerpiece of this film. Her Eunice was a pillar of restraint and dignity in the face of the disappearance of her husband.  Torres made us feel Eunice's stress and anxieties as she made tough financial decisions, without resorting to cliched melodrama. For a 2014 scene, Eunice was played by Torres's real-life mother Fernanda Montenegro (who also received an Oscar nomination for her work in "Central Station"). 8/10

7.  ANORA (MY FULL REVIEW)

Anora is a difficult role for Mikey Morrison in the physical sense (both comedy and skin exposure), especially in Act 1 and 2. However, that quiet ending was her stellar highlight despite being downbeat and static in the confines of a car. The Zacharovs were basically one-dimensional caricatures, but, the goons, especially those played by Karaguilan and Borisov, did make a very strong and memorable impressions the way their characters turned out.  7/10

8. THE BRUTALIST(MY FULL REVIEW)

The title word "Brutalist" refers to the architectural style that Toth espoused. This style was no-frills and non-nostalgic, with simple straight lines, angular shapes, minimalist constructions, unpainted or monochrome colors. This likely also referred to the brutality Toth had experienced during World War 2 and in America, worse at the hands of people whom he thought were his friends and benefactors. The Vista Vision cinematography, musical score, and production design of this film also reflected this imposing and heavy spirit. 7/10

9. NICKEL BOYS (MY FULL REVIEW)

The story of racial inequality during the 1960s is certainly not a new one. However, the way director and co-writer Ross distinguished his films from other films about the civil rights movement was the unique way he told this story cinematically with alternate shifting first-person points of view -- at first from Elwood, then later Turner, then third person, and so forth. It was remarkable how we only see Elwood's face about 35 minutes into the film! 7/10

10. EMILIA PEREZ (MY FULL REVIEW)

While the decision of a male crime boss to transform into a trans-female philanthropist makes an interesting story, it seemed too simplistic in its portrayal of the complex process. Audiard's decision to make this story a musical was very bizarre. The breathy singing was not very good, the songs and tunes were not particularly memorable. Anyhow, Zoe Saldana was solid as lawyer Rita, who also sang the most critical song "El Mal" about political corruption. 6/10

FEARLESS FORECAST:

Which of the nominees do I think WILL win (NOT who I WANT to win):

Best Picture: Anora

Other Nominees: The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave*, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, Wicked

Best Director: Sean Baker (Anora)

Other Nominees: Brady Corbet (The Brutalist), James Mangold (A Complete Unknown), Jacques Audiard (Emilia Pérez), Coralie Fargeat (The Substance)

Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown)

Other Nominees: Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice)

Best Actress: Demi Moore (The Substance)

Other Nominees: Cynthia Erivo (Wicked), Karla Sofía Gascón (Emilia Pérez), Fernanda Torres (I’m Still Here), Mikey Madison (Anora) 

Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)

Other Nominees: Yura Borisov, Anora,  Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown, Guy Pearce, The Brutalist, Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice

Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez

Other Nominees: Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist), Isabella Rossellini (Conclave)

Writing (Original Screenplay): A Real Pain

Other Nominees: Anora, The Brutalist, September 5,The Substance

Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Conclave 

Other Nominees: A Complete Unknown, Emilia Pérez, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing

Animated Feature Film: The Wild Robot

Other Nominees: Flow, Inside Out 2, Memoir of a Snail, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Production Design: Wicked

Other Nominees: The Brutalist, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Nosferatu

Costume Design: Wicked

Other Nominees: A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Gladiator II, Nosferatu 

Cinematography: The Brutalist

Other Nominees: Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, Maria, Nosferatu

Film Editing: Conclave

Other Nominees: Anora, The Brutalist, Emilia Pérez, Wicked

Makeup and Hairstyling: The Substance

Other Nominees: A Different Man, Emilia Pérez, Nosferatu, Wicked

Sound: Dune: Part Two

Other Nominees: A Complete Unknown, Emilia Pérez, Wicked, The Wild Robot

Visual Effects: Dune: Part Two

Other Nominees: Alien: Romulus, Better Man, , Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Wicked

Music (Original Song): “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez

Other Nominees: “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight, “Mi Camino” from Emilia Pérez, “Never Too Late” from Elton John: Never Too Late, “Like A Bird” from Sing Sing*

Music (Original Score): The Brutalist

Other Nominees: Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Wicked, The Wild Robot

Documentary Feature Film: No Other Land

Other Nominees: Black Box Diaries, Porcelain War, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, Sugarcane

International Feature Film: I’m Still Here (Brazil)

Other Nominees: The Girl With the Needle (Denmark), Emilia Pérez (France), The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany), Flow (Latvia)

Animated Short Film: Magic Candies

Other Nominees: Beautiful Men, In the Shadow of the Cypress, Wander to Wonder, Yuck!

Documentary Short Film: The Only Girl in the Orchestra

Other Nominees: Death by Numbers, I Am Ready, Warden, Incident, Instruments of a Beating Heart

Live Action Short Film: A Lien

Other Nominees: Anuja, I’m Not a Robot, The Last Ranger,The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent

Review of I'M STILL HERE (Ainda Estou Aqui): Distressing Disappearance

Ever since he lost his seat in congress in 1964, engineer Rubens Paiva (Selton Mello) lived a happy peaceful life with his wife Eunice (Fernanda Torres) in Rio de Janiero. They had four daughters, namely Vera (Valentina Herzage), Eliana (Luiza Kosovski), Nalu (Barbara Luz), Babiu (Cora Mora) and one son Marcelo (Guilherme Silveira). By 1970, Brazil was under a dictatorial rule that brought about political unrest all over the country. 

One day in January 1971, Paiva was picked up by unidentified military men supposedly for questioning. Even as these strange men stayed behind to keep the family under virtual house arrest, Eunice bravely tried to keep a strong front for her children, optimistic that her husband was still coming back. A few days later, Eunice herself was taken with a bag put over her head, and brought to an unknown location for more questioning. 

This political family drama was a true story based on the 2015 memoir written by Marcelo Rubens Pavia about the ordeal of his mother and their whole family following the forced disappearance of his father in 1971, as adapted by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega. The film was directed by Walter Salles, acclaimed Brazilian director of "Central Station" (1999), "Behind the Sun" (2001), and "The Motorcycle Diaries" (2004). 

Much media attention has been brought to this film because of its nominations for three Oscar Awards. Two were not really surprises -- Best International Film and Best Actress for Fernanda Torres. But the biggest shock came in the Best Picture, when this film also made the final shortlist!  Fernanda Torres has already won the Golden Globe for Best Actress Drama, and is currently the biggest threat against Demi Moore's date with Oscar history.

Fernanda Torres's performance as Eunice Paiva is deservedly the centerpiece of this film. Her Eunice was a pillar of restraint and dignity in the face of the disappearance of her husband and the dire circumstances her family found themselves in.  Torres made us feel Eunice's stress and anxieties as she made tough financial decisions, without resorting to cliched melodrama. For a 2014 scene, Eunice was played by Torres's real-life mother Fernanda Montenegro (who also received an Oscar nomination for her work in "Central Station"). 

For people all over the world who had lived through a dictatorial government, the topic of spouses and families left behind by disappeared political prisoners is a very familiar one. While watching this film, I thought about Cory Aquino when Ninoy was incarcerated for seven years in the 1970s. She likely had similar experiences as Eunice Pavia during those uncertain days. I know there had been local documentaries about desaparecidos in this country, but surely some stories are waiting to be told in a quality narrative film like this one.   8/10

YouTube: Review of THE LAST 12 DAYS Parts 1 & 2: Dealing Destiny's Deck

February 28, 2025 

In September of 2019, Robert S. Tan of Blade Auto Center decided to release the second film he produced, entitled "12 Days to Destiny," free for streaming on YouTube. This film told the sweet story of how the love affair of Blade customer Camille Mendoza (Mary Joy Apostol) and Blade salesman Daniel del Rosario (Akihiro Blanco) began. Light, funny and cute, this turned out to be a big success, with stats now reaching 7M views. 

To strike while the iron was hot, Tan decided to release the second installment of the Camille-Daniel love story, entitled "The Next 12 Days," within 9 months of the first film. This was a gutsy move to release a film during the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic in May 2020, but it paid off as well.  This was released in two parts, and tackled more serious issues that come between Camllle and Daniel that threatened to break them up. 

Since the first film, Tan already envisioned this Destiny films to be a trilogy. The third film, entitled "The Last 12 Days," was first released last December 12, 2024 on VivaOne app pay per view. Just this February 2025, this new film was also released on YouTube like the first two films.  Like the last film, this was also released in two parts, and tackled heavy topics like getting along with the future in-laws and dealing with dire health problems. 

Camille's strict diva mother Carmina (Dovee Park), and Daniel's pragmatic farm-based mother Josie (Mabel Reyes) confront each other. Camille's friend Giselle (Veronica Gualberto) and Josie's suman-selling neighbor Belinda (Imy Sebastian) are introduced. Loyal sidekick characters, fellow Blade salesman Mark (Xander Pineda) and balut vendor Donato (Nel Estuya) were given more significant storylines to play in this finale. 

Several of the Blade bosses, including Robert S. Tan himself, show up onscreen, and even had lines to deliver. There were also cameo appearances by Michelle Vito as Nelia, her character in Blade's first film "Dito Lang Ako" (2018), James Deakin as Camille's Australia-based father Miguel, and Cong. Bong Nebrija as a customer with wife trouble. Quirky Andres Balano a.k.a. Malayang Alagad played a traditional folk healer named Mang Empot. 

The biggest factor for this series' success remains to be Mary Joy Apostol and Akihiro Blanco, who's chemistry held strong even after a five years hiatus. Their winsome screen presence make us root for them against anything that threatened their love. They delivered on their romantic scenes with so much humor and heart, even when a major tear-jerking issue still popped up in the last 30 minutes! This finale is the best installment of the whole trilogy. 7/10

Review of NOSFERATU (2024): Eggers' Epiphany

March 1, 2025

Realtor Herr Knock (Simon McBurney) assigned his young agent Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) to go meet with Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard) who wished to buy the old, dilapidated Gruunewald Manor in their town of Wisburg, Germany. However, since the count was too weak to travel, Thomas had to bring the documents for signing to his ancient expansive estate "isolated in the Carpathian Alps, in a small country east of Bohemia."

Thomas's new bride Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) had been suffering from very bad nightmares about a terrible creature in recent years. These bad dreams were only calmed when she married Thomas, so she was reluctant to let him go. However, as this job needed to be done, Thomas decided to endorse Ellen to his friend Friedrich (Aaron Taylor Johnson) and Anna (Emma Corrin) Harding before he headed off on his journey. 

The original "Nosferatu" was a classic 1922 silent movie by German filmmaker F.W. Murnau. Because it was not sanctioned by Bram Stoker's estate, this film was an unofficial adaptation of Stoker's novel "Dracula," with all the characters names changed. The image of actor Max Schreck in the title role of Nosferatu, with his oversized head, bug eyes, tall thin frame and long sharp fingers, remains iconic to cinephiles to this day.

Of course, the silent film was limited by the cinematic technology of its day. This new film told basically the same story, but with writer-director Robert Eggers ("The Witch," "The Lighthouse") at the helm, the technical aspects of this update -- cinematography (with a color palette that teetered between barely colored to greyscale), rich ornate production design and costume design, hair and makeup (yes, Orlok with a mustache) -- were utterly impeccable. 

In contrast with the Murnau original, Eggers added a past encounter of Ellen with the demon years before she wed Thomas. Eggers also made the atmosphere of his version very darkly sensual, with overtly uncomfortable sexual scenes. Instead of Dr. Bulwer (and his carnivorous plants) in the original, Egger introduced Prof. Albin Eberhart Von Franz (Willem Dafoe right in his element), making him an expert in the occult, instead of pure sciences. 

The role of Ellen Hutter was very much expanded and given more to do and decide in Egger's version. With this rich character, Lily-Rose Depp makes a star-making turn, truly emerging from the shadow of her famous surname. This was as much a very physical performance (with all the body distortions and catatonic seizures), as much as it was a deeply emotional one. She should have been one of the nominees for Best Actress at this Oscars. 9/10