Faith is its own logic. That’s one reason why religion isn’t a recurring topic at open mics. No one will laugh at those jokes—unless in the audience there’s Donald Trump. Such sensitivities are important in such a sensitive country, but Sheron Dayoc slips in one joke that he knows will crack
Category: Reviews
Baka Siguro Yata
A ne’er-do-well fat slacker and a bombshell way out his league end up pregnant after a drunken hook-up and learn to love each other along the way. A long-separated couple, now in different relationships, rekindle old flames. A high school couple deals with the pressure of losing their virginity before graduation. If these loglines
The Assassin
I must admit; upon entering the movie theatre, I expected Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s The Assassin to be a high-energy Wuxia drama with exploding colors, intense fight scenes, and blasting traditional Chinese soundtrack. Instead, it begins in black and white, and there we see Yinniang (Shu Qi, still looking gorgeous sans make-up)
Kapatiran
Pepe Diokno is no stranger to breaking trends in cinema. His first film Engkwentro, a film about two boys on the run from a vigilante death squad was produced under a meager budget of 20,000 USD. His second film Above the Clouds, which was a little more personal, about a grandfather and grandson’s
Apocalypse Child
From its sun-kissed cinematography of Baler to its opening monologue on myths, Apocalypse Child takes no shame in driving to the audience its theme of escape, and it is in dwelling in this longing to get away — to stick by the uncertain rather than to confront realties — that character
A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is having its Philippine premiere at this year’s QCIFF. See screening schedules here. This review is taken from the author’s blog dated April 5th. Critics have invoked a shortlist of forebears to Ana Lily Amirpour’s ovni: A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014). The general consensus
The Last Pinoy Action King
When he died it was like losing a Jedi Master,” says a wide-eyed Sharon Cuneta, voice hoarse and on the verge of breaking, perhaps unaware of the great service she serves the documentary. In Sharon being Sharon, filmmakers Andrew Leavold and Daniel Palisa found their movie. It’s an unassuming quote—a product of wit and sincerity
Black Mass
Scott Cooper’s foray into directing and producing one of the biggest exposés of the century will surely have a few bumps along the road. First, it is a difficult task alone to direct an adaptation based on factual evidence. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be the exact composite
Beasts of No Nation
Sun, why are you shining in this world? I am wanting to catch you in my hands, to squeeze you until you cannot shine no more. That way, everything is always dark, and nobody’s ever having to see all the terrible things that are happening here. ~ These lines are
Etiquette for Mistresses
In an alternate world, one conceived by Chito S. Roño out of Julie Yap Daza’s bestseller, Kris Aquino rules a kind of an exclusive clique. I realize this doesn’t sound surprising at all—this is just Kris being Kris—but the world in which her prude restaurateur Georgina exists is less ideal
Resureksyon
Any hint of country idyll is lost at the very opening of Borgy Torre’s Resureksyon. In its first ten or so minutes, the film introduces the monster born from within its rural milieu: an impoverished woman (Isabelle Daza), emboldened by the promise of a better life working abroad, decides to
The Martian
For a movie that’s basically about being stranded, all alone, in a desolate planet where everything can kill you, The Martian, ironically leaves its audience very alive and inspired largely due to its beautiful and exciting setting, greatly charismatic lead performance, and its overall hopeful story about humanity. Written by Drew Goddard (The Cabin in
The Green Inferno
Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel) seems to relish at the idea of keeping viewers’ wanderlust at bay. Whether it’s the deep south, eastern Europe, or the Amazon jungle; the be all and end all of his movies are pretty much the same – stay where you are because the world is full
TIFF REVIEW: ‘Demolition’, ‘Son of Saul’
Toronto is on full blast on the Day 1 of Toronto International Film Festival 2015 with world premieres, guest appearances, promotions, advertising as tourists and film aficionados flock from the different parts of the globe. Two very good films happened to be screened: one brought humor to the audience and the
Ex with Benefits
A man in his early 20s arrives at the emergency room for a chief complaint of abdominal pain. As the surgical clerk posted at the triage station, you ask further details and palpate the abdomen. Noting diffuse abdominal pain with non-localized tenderness, among other unremarkable findings, the resident-on-duty advises to
No Escape
The latest from John Erick Dowdle, the master behind the Quarantine franchise and last year’s hit As Above, So Below is back with the latest political action thriller, No Escape. This movie stars Owen Wilson and Lake Bell (who are venturing into new ground as they are well-known doing comedies
Heneral Luna
Amidst pacing problems, Heneral Luna manages to tell a compelling story – allegorical and timely to present day – supported by a fantastic script, an impassioned score, and inspired cinematography. At first glance, one might mistake Heneral Luna as your run-of-the-mill historical biopic that showcases a hero of yore whose bravery and passion unite
The Vatican Tapes
We snag exorcism films time and again—like toiletries from hotels. Post-The Exorcist, the sub-genre maintains only a shy list of films that actually carry weight: Scott Derrickson ponders on the subject in his 2005 quasi-doc The Exorcism of Emily Rose; and Adam Robitel furthers the conversation on exorcism with an elderly woman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s showing signs of
Trainwreck
Judd Apatow’s latest flick delivers laughs, tears and often engaging anti-romantic banter. Needless to say, an eye-turning performance from comedienne (and co-creator) Amy Schumer. Trainwreck is almost arguably any millennial’s description of a phase in their lives. In the movie we see Schumer play Amy, a “work hard, play hard”
Silong
To be among the fortunate few to see Silong in August 14th as Cinemalaya’s closing film – tense days followed as I continue to abridge the experience. There is this distinctive atmosphere of muddle, consternation, and abysmal expectation of how the film looks like or how this review will echo. Silong is shrouded
Taklub
[highlight color=#939393 ]This review tackles a few scenes from the film in detail. Tread lightly if you haven’t seen the film. Mild spoilers ahead![/highlight] There’s a different speculation towards Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s new film that can only be summed up in one word, one that film buffs and his fans
Apasol
Peace. Tranquility. Contentment. Heartbreak. A muddle of all these fashions the unparalleled feeling that engulfs someone, observing the relentless receding tide, the fiery blends of red, oranges and yellow, and the underlying heartbeat of farewells and promises. This is how Ryanne Murcia’s Apasol breathes the salty air of leave-takings, love and uncertainties.
Kyel
There are no clocks in hell according to Frank Ferguson Jr.’s unnamed druggie, who we only know through his (possibly drug-induced) fits of rage and breakdowns. The dark room where this scrawny persona holes in doesn’t have clocks, either; but if need be the space looks just the part. We find
The Gift
Don’t let its seemingly formulaic premise deceive you, The Gift plays with convention to deliver a smart, suspenseful, and expertly-crafted psychological thriller. The Gift starts out like pretty much any well-off-couple-moves-into-a-new-house-and-get-a-stalker story. Simon and Robyn (played by Jason Bateman and Rebecca Hall respectively) move to Los Angeles because of a fancy new job
Inside Out
Inside Out opens in Philippine cinemas this August 19 nationwide.
