#mmff 2012

[eugene-domingo]

SISTERAKAS (2012) | dir. wenn v deramas

[eugene-domingo]

SISTERAKAS (2012) | dir. wenn v. deramas

[pelikula]

Kiddie Pool Shallow by Don Jaucian

Sosy Problems (2012) D: Andoy Ranay S: Solenn Heusaff, Heart Evangelista, Bianca King, Rhian Ramos, Ruffa Gutierrez, Tim Yap, Cherie Gil, Agot Isidro, Bea Binene, Mylene Dizon, Aljur Abrenica

There are a lot of things that come into play when you consider Sosy Problems’s intentions. It knows that it’s silly, it exaggerates things so that everything in its world of make-believe can fall into place, and it’s smart enough to know that it’s running on a ridiculous storyline. To put some sort of a humanist slant, the story is centered on an attempt to save a polo club, which has been a hangout for generations of rich people, including the four leads, from being turned into a “yaya mall” (“Don’t get us wrong, we love our yayas but there are already so many malls they can hang out already,” someone says) by its newly rich owner (an over the top Dizon), a former cashier of the polo club who married a wealthy Chinese businessman. The rest of the movie deals with the half-assed stories of each of the four girls trying to outgrow their privileged upbringing.

It’s a slant that’s supposed to make this more bearable, like all the charity work that we hear all the rich people say they do to "give back to the community." But here, it’s made out to be an afterthought. The girls do good but it doesn’t seem earned at all. The end is just there to resolve the tangle of plots involving the four main characters, Margaux (Heusaff), Claudia (Evangelista), Danielle (King), and Lizzie (Ramos).

The glaring flaw of Sosy Problems is that it sounds and looks unfinished. Apparently, the film still had a few days of shooting but was wrapped up prematurely or else it wouldn't have made the deadline of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The film’s producers decided that the film that they had was already good enough. This explains why the audio is bad (for instance, only one or two characters are audible where four speaking characters are on screen), the editing is clumsy, and there are a lot of plot developments that just come out of nowhere. It’s unfortunate because the film has a lot of potential, given that the upper class (or in this case, the "super duper upper class") has been put in the cinematic spotlight in the wake of films like Ang Nawawala (What Isn’t There), The Animals, and Give Up Tomorrow. Sosy Problems ends up like a loose cannon, weighed down by its paltry treatment of the subject and all the mini-stories set up for each of the main characters, who are all embroiled in different types of first-world problems.

Various plotlines occur within the film’s limited time frame and each transition happens awkwardly, as if the story just makes itself up as it goes along. It can be distracting, especially when there is really nothing to hold on to. But the film’s saving grace, in its incomplete state, is the performances of the lead actresses, particularly Ramos and Heusaff, who seem in on this silliness. Gil, Isidro, and Dizon play caricatures and throw in the necessary campy lines that the trailer promised. But all this pa-witty and pa-ironic lines seem more like necessary kolorete to pump up the film, so as not to be overtaken by the gloss and the glamour showered on the girls’ styling (courtesy of Daryl and Andre Chang).

Sosy Problems turns out like one of the Class AAA bags that its characters abhor. It’s good-looking and promising, but it's actually a low-grade replica of a wittier film (in print maybe). People may recognize the film’s crux as pettiness, but it actually draws out socio-political implications that go beyond the sheen of handbags, sprawling country clubs, and bling. This is where Sosy Problems could have gone deeper, subtler even, but its material isn’t up for that kind of responsibility.

[aieapanaligan-blog]

The Gregorio del Pilar Fever.

After watching El Presidente last Sunday, I am still unable to recover from fever... The Gregorio del Pilar Fever.

Felix Roco (Mater Dolorosa, 2012) plays the role of the youngest general of the Republic of the Philippines. Many bloggers say that if the Tirad Pass scene was presented more dramatic, Lex might have the chance to grab the Best Supporting Actor Award for MMFF.

As a usual moviegoer (na mas malakas ang pagka-pro indie) there was a slight disconnect on how detailed El Presidente shown the part of Bonifacio in Aguinaldo's life compared to Del Pilar's. E kaya nga naging hero si Goyong kasi di ba, nagpaiwan sya sa Tirad Pass hindi para sa dedikasyon nya kay Aguinaldo, kundi para sa bayan.

I was never aware of this until I started researching about Goyong.

"The General (i.e. Emilio Aguinaldo) has given me a platoon of available men and has ordered me to defend this pass. I am aware that a difficult task has been given to me. Nevertheless, I fell that this is the most glorious moment of my life. I am doing everything for my beloved country. There is no greater sacrifice." 

-The Last Entry from Gregorio del Pilar's Diary

Bottom line, I researched an old movie entitled, "Tirad Pass : The Last Stand of Del Pilar" recommended by my mom after I started asking her about del Pilar (my mom, btw knows a lot about del Pilar haha!). Romnick Sarmienta plays the role of the general here and yes, if you have plans of doing a remake of this in an indie setting... DONT MISS YOUR CHANCE OF PICKING FELIX ROCO AGAIN.

Tirad Pass - Part 1

Tirad Pass - Part 2

Tirad Pass - Part 3

[jadehimself]

Here's what I think about MMFF 2012 2nd Best Picture "El Presidente" :) #nowplaying

[missrationalization]

Congratulations to "Sisterakas" for winning the 3rd best picture!

[haydeenseek]

MMFF 2012 Awards Night (List of Winners)

Best Float: "El Presidente" Youth Choice Award: "El Presidente" Best Child Star: Miguel Vergara, "One More Try" Best Sound: Albert Michael Idioma, "El Presidente" Best Musical Score: Jessie Lasaten, "El Presidente" Best Theme Song: apl.de.ap and Jamir Garcia of Slapshock, "El Presidente" Best Make-up: Warren Munar, "El Presidente" by Warren Munar and Co. Best Visual Effects: "Shake, Rattle & Roll 14: The Invasion" Best Production Design: Brillante Mendoza, "Thy Womb" Best Editing: Vito Kahili, "One More Try" Best Cinematography: Odyssey Flores, "Thy Womb" Best Supporting Actor: Cesar Montano, "El Presidente" Best Supporting Actress: Wilma Doesnt, "Sisterakas" Best Original Story: Henry Burgos, "Thy Womb" Best Screenplay: Anna Ramos, "One More Try" Best Director: Brillante Mendoza, "Thy Womb" 3rd Best Picture: "Sisterakas" 2nd Best Picture: "El Presidente" Best Picture: "One More Try" Best Actor: Dingdong Dantes, "One More Try" Best Actress: Nora Aunor, "Thy Womb"

New Wave Films Category New Wave Best Actor: Alan Paule, "Gayak" New Wave Best Actress: Liza Diño, "In Nomine Matris" New Wave Best Director: Tyrone Acierto, "The Grave Bandits" New Wave Best Film: Tyrone Acierto's "The Grave Bandits." New Wave Special Jury: Armando "Bing" Lao's "Ad Ignorantiam" Student Short Films Category Best Short Film: "Pukpok" (DLSU) Most Gender Sensitive Film Award: "Manibela" (FEU) Special Jury Prize: "Tagad" (USC) Special Awards Gender Sensitivity Special Award (New Wave): "In Nomine Matris" Gender Sensitivity Special Award (Mainstream): "Thy Womb" Gender Sensitivity Special Award (Shorts): "Manibela" FPJ Memorial Award: "One More Try" Gatpuno Villegas Award: "Thy Womb" Other Awards Stars of the Night: Nora Aunor, former President Joseph Estrada SMDC Male Celebrity of the Night: Zanjoe Marudo SMDC Female Celebrity of the Night: Bianca King