English Only, Please
Directed by: Dan Villegas
Starring: Jennylyn Mercado, Derek Ramsay, Kean Cipriano, Cai
Cortez
What is it about?
Julian Parker (Derek Ramsay) comes to Manila from New York
with one goal: to perfectly dicate a Filipino translation of his angry letter
to his ex-girlfriend with the help of Tere Madlansacay (Jennylyn Mercado), a
perky Filipino-English tutor, he hired online. -Wikipedia
Why did it stand out?
English Only, Please doesn't have a never-before-seen plot,
but the approach is refreshing especially when it's compared with the sequels
that overpopulate the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). Although the film
adheres to the established formula of mainstream romantic comedies, it did so
in a feel-good and entertaining way. Cleverly written by Dan Villegas and
Antoinette Jadaone (the latter is also responsible for the next film in this
list), the narrative takes its sweet time building its characters and their
love story. The romance feels organic and their struggles feel real. It dwells
on the things that we say as much as the things we don't or can't say. Jennylyn
is terrific as lead, intelligently balancing the comedic fluff with authentic
emotions. It isn't a surprise box office hit for nothing.
That Thing Called Tadhana
Directed by: Antoinette Jadaone
Starring: Angelica Panganiban, JM de Guzman
What is it about?
The film asks the question: where do broken hearts go? It
tells the story of a woman struggling to meet airline baggage requirements and
meets a man who comes to her aid. Both in despair out of love, they form a
charming friendship that will take them to Sagada in their attempts to mend
each other’s hearts. -Cinema One Originals
Why did it stand out?
After striking gold with the indie mockumentary Six Degrees
of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay, Antoinette Jadaone makes 2014 her banner
year by directing successful studio offerings Relaks, It's Just Pag-ibig and
Beauty In A Bottle. That Thing Called Tadhana brings Antoinette back to her
indie roots. Mace (Angelica Panganiban) and Anthony (JM de Guzman) meets by
happenstance, or as romantics put it, by fate. In the tradition of Richard
Linklater's Before trilogy, the film eschews the traditional narrative with
lengthy but insightful conversations between the two. They share stories of
heartbreak and in the process develop an affection for each other. In the hands
of a less skilled director, this could easily turn into a bore but Antoinette
infuses the right amount of pop culture references (e.g. the John Lloyd jokes
are runaway winners) to balance the dramatic gravitas. If you missed its
limited run in Cinema One Originals, That Thing Called Tadhana will be back in
theaters this February 4. Don't miss it!
Mariquina
Directed by: Milo Sogueco
Starring: Mylene Dizon, Ricky Davao, Barbie Forteza, Bing
Pimentel, Che Ramos, Dennis Padilla, Mel Kimura
What is it about?
Unlike the former Philippine First Lady, Imelda (Mylene
Dizon) is indifferent to shoes. To her, they are fraught with the bittersweet
nostalgia of childhood, one that was marred by a difficult relationship with
her shoe-maker father, Romeo (Ricky Davao). Growing up, all of hers were
handmade by him. Now a mature woman, she takes a pivotal call from the morgue,
spurring her search for the perfect pair of shoes for her dead father. The
deeper she searches for the perfect shoes, the more she finds herself.
-Cinemalaya
Why did it stand out?
I consider Mariquina the best Filipino film of 2014. It
stands proud in the pantheon of the greatest Filipino family dramas ever
written. The elegant screenplay written by Jerrold Tarog, coupled by the
nuanced direction of Milo Sogueco, delivers this story of familial loss and
regret with the appropriate sensitivity. Despite the subtle approach, it
doesn't shy away from the hard-hitting dramatics when the situation calls for
it. As with Jerrold's last film Sana Dati, Mariquina makes clever use of
flashbacks to unravel the slow and painful disintegration of the relationship
between husband and wife, father and daughter, and husband and second wife -
all the while grounding this personal story in the rich history of Marikina
shoemakers. The material is elevated further by the outstanding ensemble cast.
Mylene is simply one of the most reliable actresses working in the industry
today. Despite the walls that she put up to shield her emotions, we can see her
eventually crumbling down as she makes her final amends with her father (albeit
too late). Ricky, Barbie, Che, and Bing also deserve to be mentioned.
Barber's Tales
Directed by: Jun Lana
Starring: Eugene Domingo, Iza Calzado, Gladys Reyes, Eddie
Garcia, Nicco Manalo, Noni Buencamino, Shamaine Buencamino
What is it about?
Barber's Tales tells the story of newly widowed Marilou
(Eugene Domingo) who inherits the town's only barbershop from her husband - a
business that has been passed down by generations of men in her husband's
family. With no other means of support, she musters the courage to run the
barbershop. But as to be expected, she fails to attract any customers. But a
touching act of kindness she extended to Rosa (Sue Prado), a prostitute who
works in the town brothel, leads to an unexpected opportunity. -IMDB
Why did it stand out?
Next to Lav Diaz's back-to-back feature, Barber's Tales is
the most internationally acclaimed Filipino film of 2014. After its premiere in
Tokyo (which gave Eugene a Best Actress win), it reaped accolades in
international film festivals with its story of empowerment set in the martial
law era. The film examines the patriarchal structure of a rural town where
women are relegated to secondary roles in the family as well as in society in
general. This is until Marilou tries to break the mold by assuming a role that
is only given to men - initially, as the town's barber. This conflict is an
allegory of the Filipino people's struggle to find their voice and to break
free from the oppression during Ferdinand Marcos' reign as president.
Norte: Ang Hangganan ng Kasaysayan
Directed by: Lav Diaz
Starring: Sid Lucero, Angeli Bayani, Archie Alemania, Mailes
Kanapi, Hazel Orencio, Soliman Cruz, Mae Paner
What is it about?
An embittered law student commits a brutal double murder; a
family man takes the fall and is forced into a harsh prison sentence; a mother
and her two children wander the countryside looking for some kind of
redemption. -Cinema Guild
Why did it stand out?
Norte is technically a 2013 film. It premiered in Cannes
Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section and then went on to receive numerous
citations. One of which is being voted as one of the best films of 2013 by
Sight & Sound, a distinguished UK magazine for cinephiles. In 2014, the
general public finally took notice of this Lav Diaz masterpiece. What started
out as single-screening runs (which were all sold out) turned into a one-week
theatrical run, thus making Norte eligible to be submitted to the Best Foreign
Language Film category of the Academy Awards. Norte's submission would probably
be the closest we've ever been to a nomination since 2006's Ang Pagdadalaga Ni
Maximo Oliveros. Norte is considered as Lav's most accessible film to date, but
still proves to be a challenge to a lot of moviegoers (myself included). With a
running time of more than four hours, a deliberate pacing, and a decidedly dour
story, this arthouse favorite is tough to sit through. As soon as the narrative
gets to a comfortable place, you'll be surprised as it takes another sharp turn
to somewhere more sinister and dark. And that's exactly what makes Norte an
engrossing film - it immerses the viewers in the lives of its three
protagonists, takes them on a ride, and leaves them to the deepest end.
Sundalong Kanin
Directed by: Janice O'Hara
Starring: Nathaniel Brit, Isaac Cain Tangonan, Elijah
Canlas, Akira Morishita, Ian de Leon, Marc Abaya, Gardo Verzosa, Enzo Pineda,
Paolo O’Hara, Che Ramos, Art Acuna
What is it about?
Set during the Japanese Occupation, four friends (Nitoy,
Benny, Carding, and Badong) aspire nothing more than to become soldiers
fighting the Japanese... until they are confronted by the realities of war that
threaten to destroy their families and their friendship. -Cinemalaya
Why did it stand out?
Sundalong Kanin can rival Norte's position as the
"feel-bad movie of the year". While I use that term as a compliment,
there is no denying how gut-wrenching this film turns out to be. It starts
innocently with pre-pubescent boys playing as soldiers armed with their toy
guns and slingshots. But as the threat of the clash between guerrilla forces
and Japanese solders draw closer, these kids realize that this war is not a
game - the casualties are real people and the battle is not on an even playing
field. Developed from an unfinished script by Mario O'Hara, Sundalong Kanin
bears the late director's trademark. It is ambitious, complex, and devastating.
There are no easy answers and there are no real villains. Everyone is just
trying to survive the war - whatever it may cost.
Lorna
Directed by: Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
Starring: Shamaine Buencamino, Ma. Isabel Lopez, Racquel
Villavicencio, Lav Diaz, Felix Roco
What is it about?
Lorna is a 60-year-old woman who decides to take a second
chance at finding “the one.” But along the way, she discovers that love doesn’t
get easier with age. -Cinema One Originals
Why did it stand out?
Unlike the previous films on this list, Lorna stands on the
lighter side of the spectrum. This unconventional love story finds our titular
character moving on from her failed relationship and coming to terms with a
possibility of romance at an old age. Like Sigrid's previous effort, the
outstanding Ang Huling Cha-Cha Ni Anita, this slice-of-life dramedy utilizes
humor to expose some harsh realities - this time, about getting old and being
alone. The viewers take on the perspective of Lorna, which is replete with
fantasy sequences reminiscent of the late '90s TV show Ally McBeal. Despite
this inventive storytelling technique, some of the directorial choices are
clumsy and amateurish. But at the end of the day, Lorna will not be remembered
for its technical filmmaking but for its heart - and its heart is definitely in
the right place.
Dagitab
Directed by: Giancarlo Abrahan
Starring: Eula Valdez, Noni Buencamino, Martin del Rosario,
Sandino Martin, Max Eigenmann
What is it about?
While the marriage of two professors is on the verge of
falling apart, the woman is dragged into a scandal involving a young student.
On the other hand, the man falls in love with his research - a deity
(supernatural being) that appears to him as the ghost of an old flame.
-Cinemalaya
Why did it stand out?
There's something about Dagitab that's difficult to shake
off. I admit I wasn't floored when I first saw it in Cinemalaya last year. But
as weeks pass and the more I think of it, the more I fall in love with the film
and its individual moments. Dagitab is about these specific moments. As a
whole, the film has an evanescent quality like the pivotal moments experienced
by the characters themselves - the affair between the student and the teacher,
the longing of the man to his lost love, and the unexplainable spark between
two students. Like the flawed human beings that we are, these characters act on
their whims as they try to capture a feeling that is fleeting and a moment that
is just imagined. In a film filled with indelible moments, it's no surprise
that the singular best scene of 2014 comes from Dagitab: the characters of Eula
and Martin, the teacher and student, lies on the beach as waves crash against
their bodies. With the director's technical prowess, the scene pictures the two
as star-crossed lovers in the vast ocean of the universe. As you may have
noticed, I can't help but wax poetry about this mesmerizing and unforgettable
film. The moments linger and so does the feeling.
Ronda
Directed by: Nick Olanka
Starring: Ai-Ai de las Alas, Carlos Morales, Cesar Montano,
Angeli Bayani
What is it about?
A policewoman roams the city of Manila to fulfill her duties
as a police patrol and to look for her lost son. -Cinemalaya
Why did it stand out?
Ronda is a love-it-or-hate-it film, which explains the mixed
reviews it has received. There isn't a lot of plot to push the film forward,
it's just a policewoman inside a police car doing her rounds in the urban
jungle that is Manila. What it lacks in plot, it makes up for in atmosphere.
The ominous atmosphere leaves the viewers with an uncomfortable feeling that
something bad is about to happen. Ai-Ai anchors Ronda with a strong center. Her
character Paloma is in almost every scene. She exhibits the complex emotions of
a mother worried for her missing son and a person striving to protect her
secrets. What irks most people is how the film ended when we find out what
happened to Paloma's son. In its final moments, the film abruptly cuts to black
as Paloma makes her discovery and finally bares her concealed emotions. But for
me, that's exactly what makes Ronda brilliant. It teases us in its entire
running time, even up to the very end.
#Y
Directed by: Gino Santos
Starring: Elmo Magalona, Coleen Garcia, Sophie Albert, Kit
Thompson, Slater Young, Chynna Ortaleza
What is it about?
#Y chronicles the adventures of the members of a generation
made universal by the realms of social media, the internet, sex, drugs and
alcohol, and the occasional YOLO. -Cinemalaya
Why did it stand out?
Gino's last Cinemalaya film The Animals may be derivative of
British teen drama Skins, but his latest effort is wholly original especially
when taken into the Philippine landscape. He may just as well become the poster
boy of upper middle-class Gen Y. Sure, we get a lot of juvenile dramas on TV
and on the big screen but they usually don't go deep enough. The usual
mainstream fare trades the ugly realities with cotton-candy love stories. #Y
skips the pleasantries and pretensions. It begins with an attempted suicide, as
it ponders on relevant issues like alienation and peer pressure. With the
"always on, always connected" disposition of today's youth, it's such
a shame that these kids are still struggling with detachment and alienation. #Y
perfectly captures the teenage psyche with a visual panache and style to boot -
the first-person, almost-narcissistic voiceovers; the streaks of neon lights
and the "ecstasy" of living life to the fullest; and the shallowness
of it all.
Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2
Directed by: Erik Matti
Starring: Dingdong Dantes, Isabelle Daza, Joey Marquez,
Lotlot de Leon, KC Montero, Ramon Bautista, Bogart the Explorer, Jun Sabayton,
Elizabeth Oropesa
What is it about?
A family of bloodthirsty monsters descends on the city to
take revenge on the man that caused the death of so many of their own. - IMDB
Why did it stand out?
Kubot has all the qualities of a typical MMFF entry - it's a
family-friendly sequel with big-name
celebrities. Despite its seemingly run-off-the-mill box-office
trappings, this horror-comedy offers a bit of a diversion. Kubot doesn't take
itself too seriously, which is its biggest strength. The tongue-in-cheek humor
and B-movie approach are spot-on for this kind of material. This is coupled
with the great comedic talents in front of the camera. Joey delivers some of
the best jokes; while Ramon, Jun, Bogart, and Lotlot are great additions to the
cast. Erik delivers his directorial vision with enough bravura and energy. The
film could stand to have less CGI in favor of prosthetics and practical
effects, but the choreography of the slow motion action sequences are just
riveting. The end credits scene gives us a sneak peek of what to expect in Part
3. I just hope that Erik will go deeper into the aswang mythology. With great
comedy, rich storyline, and action-packed sequences, The Aswang Chronicles is
shaping up to be a formidable franchise in mainstream Filipino cinema.
Once again, here’s the full list in ascending order of
preference:
11) English Only, Please, dir. Dan Villegas
10) Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2, dir. Erik Matti
9) Lorna, dir. Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
8) That Thing Called Tadhana, dir. Antoinette Jadaone
7) Norte: Ang Hangganan ng Kasaysayan, dir. Lav Diaz
6) #Y, dir. Gino Santos
5) Dagitab, dir. Giancarlo Abrahan
4) Ronda, dir. Nick Olanka
3) Sundalong Kanin, dir. Janice O'Hara
2) Barber's Tales, dir. Jun Lana
1) Mariquina, dir. Milo Sugueco
Special Mention:
Nakabibinging Kadiliman, dir. Paolo O'Hara (short)
Best Performance by an Actor:
Ricky Davao, Mariquina
Honorable Mention:
Nicco Manalo, The Janitor
Archie Alemania, Norte
Nathaniel Britt, Sundalong Kanin
Sid Lucero, Norte
Nonie Buencamino, Dagitab
Best Performance by an Actress:
Sheenly Gener, Nakabibinging Kadiliman
Honorable Mention:
Ai-Ai De Las Alas, Ronda
Mylene Dizon, Mariquina
Mailes Kanapi, Norte
Chynna Ortaleza, #Y
Bing Pimentel, Mariquina
Breakout:
Divine Aucina
