2005 Cinemalaya Film Festival
Cinemalaya breathes life into local movie industry
Cinemalaya screenings will be from July 12 to 17 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and from July 18 to 23 at the UP Film Institute
The Cinemalaya Film Festival wants to prove that a younger generation of filmmakers will breathe life to an industry once hailed for the likes of Lino Brocka. This writer saw four entries:
Room Boy by Alyosius Adlawan
A lonely motel attendant (Polo Ravales of Encantadia) can't get over his wife, who is confined to a mental institution. He gets another chance for happiness when he meets a carefree prostitute (Meryl Soriano). It won't be an easy choice for him though.
Room Boy is reminiscent of Butterflies are Free, a bittersweet, old Hollywood movie starring Goldie Hawn and Edward Albert. Ravales and Soriano are pleasant to watch during the film's amusing and tender moments, but it could've been more memorable if the would-be lovers were played by actors like Vhong Navarro and Tuesday Vargas.
Baryoke by Ron Bryant
A sleepy barrio gets excited over a videoke machine inherited by their amiable barangay captain (Ronnie Lazaro). The music brings momentary joy to anyone
singing along with it. It later becomes the cause of the barrio's countless troubles.
Baryoke is fun viewing and is partly commended for the performances of Lazaro, Elizabeth Oropesa (as his wife) and Pen Medina (as the kapitan's buddy). However, the movie is ruined when it becomes issue-conscious during the second hour. It's unfortunate that Bryant chose not to be simple and straightforward, which is a surefire formula for a good film.
Balay Daku by Jan Philippe Carpio
Julio and Stella relocate to Bacolod, where the former grew up. She not only had to adjust to the laidback lifestyle, but also to Julio's family as well.
JP Carpio's sophomore feature is 3 hours long and his pacing his deliberate. Nonetheless, patient viewers will be rewarded with shots layered with insights -
about living with a traditional family, a city that looks more like a huge subdivision and Negros Occidental, which has more to offer than sugar canes.
Big Time by Mario Cornejo
Danny and Jonas are best friends who dream of being successful. Wilson likes to take over his father's drug business, but his old man has grander plans for him. His girlfriend Melody only thinks of showbiz stardom. A failed kidnapping attempt brings these four characters together. They plan another one, which they all believe is a quick way to fulfill their dreams. But something goes wrong with their many plans.
The plot has been used and modified many times before, but the film has witty lines, a rowdy atmosphere and flashy shots for everyone to like it. Big Time isn't only a crowd pleaser, but may also be the festival's best entry.
(First published in Inquirer Libre on July 14, 2005)
Cinemalaya screenings will be from July 12 to 17 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and from July 18 to 23 at the UP Film Institute
The Cinemalaya Film Festival wants to prove that a younger generation of filmmakers will breathe life to an industry once hailed for the likes of Lino Brocka. This writer saw four entries:
Room Boy by Alyosius Adlawan
A lonely motel attendant (Polo Ravales of Encantadia) can't get over his wife, who is confined to a mental institution. He gets another chance for happiness when he meets a carefree prostitute (Meryl Soriano). It won't be an easy choice for him though.
Room Boy is reminiscent of Butterflies are Free, a bittersweet, old Hollywood movie starring Goldie Hawn and Edward Albert. Ravales and Soriano are pleasant to watch during the film's amusing and tender moments, but it could've been more memorable if the would-be lovers were played by actors like Vhong Navarro and Tuesday Vargas.
Baryoke by Ron Bryant
A sleepy barrio gets excited over a videoke machine inherited by their amiable barangay captain (Ronnie Lazaro). The music brings momentary joy to anyone
singing along with it. It later becomes the cause of the barrio's countless troubles.
Baryoke is fun viewing and is partly commended for the performances of Lazaro, Elizabeth Oropesa (as his wife) and Pen Medina (as the kapitan's buddy). However, the movie is ruined when it becomes issue-conscious during the second hour. It's unfortunate that Bryant chose not to be simple and straightforward, which is a surefire formula for a good film.
Balay Daku by Jan Philippe Carpio
Julio and Stella relocate to Bacolod, where the former grew up. She not only had to adjust to the laidback lifestyle, but also to Julio's family as well.
JP Carpio's sophomore feature is 3 hours long and his pacing his deliberate. Nonetheless, patient viewers will be rewarded with shots layered with insights -
about living with a traditional family, a city that looks more like a huge subdivision and Negros Occidental, which has more to offer than sugar canes.
Big Time by Mario Cornejo
Danny and Jonas are best friends who dream of being successful. Wilson likes to take over his father's drug business, but his old man has grander plans for him. His girlfriend Melody only thinks of showbiz stardom. A failed kidnapping attempt brings these four characters together. They plan another one, which they all believe is a quick way to fulfill their dreams. But something goes wrong with their many plans.
The plot has been used and modified many times before, but the film has witty lines, a rowdy atmosphere and flashy shots for everyone to like it. Big Time isn't only a crowd pleaser, but may also be the festival's best entry.
(First published in Inquirer Libre on July 14, 2005)
posted by Francis Rex Alger @ 4:40 PM
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