Don Jon

LEAD CAST: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Tony Danza, Brie Larson, Rob Brown, Gleane Headly DIRECTOR: Joseph Gordon-Levitt PRODUCERS:  Ram Bergman, Nicolas Chartier  SCREENPLAY: Joseph Gordon-Levitt  MUSIC: Nathan Johnson  CINEMATOGRAPHY:  Thomas Kloss  EDITOR: Lauren Zuckerman  GENRE: Romantic comedy  DISTRIBUTOR: Relativity Media  LOCATION: USA  RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes

Technical assessment: 3.5

Moral assessment:  2.5

MTRCB rating: R 16

CINEMA rating: V 18

Jon (Levitt) is an Italian American bar tender who considers himself a modern Don Juan.  Capping his otherwise ordinary days are one night stands with any willing partner who passes his and his buddies’ (Rob Brown, Jeremy Luc) scrutiny.  On a scale of 1 to 10 they rate women they eye in a bar; Jon goes for no less than an “8” to “10” of course.  Smooth operator Jon usually gets what he wants until he meets the love of his life Barbara Sugarman (Scarlet Johansson), a “10” by his standards.  But this chick is hard to please it seems, and so the smitten Jon is courts her, taking her to romantic movies and bringing her home to meet mom and dad.  Because the attraction is mutual, they eventually make it, but when she discovers he uses porn, he asks him to stop or else.

The character of Don Jon is really nothing new—you have encountered his kind in the movies featuring masturbating Jewish boys, although this time the guy is a Catholic.  The acting is the strongest technical asset of Don Jon.  For example, it presents both Gordon-Levitt and Johansson as versatile performers, convincingly filling roles they had never done before.  Larson, Danza and Headly playing as Jon’s family members put in great support.  Moore is effective as a low-key but crucial character in the movie.  At first glance Don Jon might look like it is intended to be a typical romantic comedy—technically backed by like snappy cinematography and tight editing—but if the viewer steps back and takes a deeper look into the movie, the script reveals something else. 

Gordon-Levitt wearing three hats (writer, director, actor) speaks of the intensity with which he desires to deliver Don Jon’s message—that the habits people choose can become addictions that distort their perceptions of reality and stand in the way of truly fulfilling human relationships.  Jon’s addiction of self-pleasuring to porn prevents him from enjoying actual sex with women.  Barbara’s predilection for romantic movies causes her to make unrealistic demands of the man she claims to love.  Even the sacrament of reconciliation in the Catholic religion is presented as nothing more than a habit for both confessee and confessor, thus it fails to effect transformation in a person.

While Don Jon successfully avoids becoming a sermon, the ending is too simplistic to augur a genuine change for Jon.  He claims he is truly in love now, as the woman seems to nudge him in the right direction, but triumph celebrated too soon could also mean he and his partner have merely found a new and convenient habit that will prove incapable of unseating addictions in due time.  A superficial viewing of Don Jon will not reveal its call to challenge our ways of entertaining or improving ourselves.  It has to be examined minutely, or it will go down the viewer’s consciousness as another enabling romcom in support of the status quo.

Alamat ni China Doll

Lead cast: Angelica Panganiban, Cesar Montano, Philip Salvador; Direction: Adolf Alix, Jr.; Screenplay: Lav Diaz; Producer: Ronald Arguellas, Evelyn Vargas; Music: Lav Diaz; Cinematography: Albert Banzon; Genre: Drama; Distributor: Cinema One

Technical Assessment: 2

Moral Assessment: 2

MTRCB Rating:  R18

CINEMA rating: R18

Si China Doll / Myrna Yu / Helen (Angelica Pangilinan) ay dating kasapi ng isang grupong dahilan ng di mabilang na karahasan at pagpatay sa lipunan. Bigla na lamang siyang nawala nang mahuli at ilagay sa witness protection program ng isang NBI agent (PhilipSalvador). Tahimik na sana ang  buhay niya hanggang muling mailathala ang kanyang totoong kwento. Isang laos pero matinik na manunulat, si Perry Nanali (Montano) ang gagamitin niyang kasangkapan para muling makabalik sa pagsusulat ang lihim ni China Doll. Maggugulo ang buhay ng tatlo dahil sa mga lihim na maaring mabunyag ang katotohanang ayaw mailabas.

Ginamit ni Alix ang istilo ng non-linear storytelling sa pelikula. Ibig sabihin ay patalon-talon ang pangyayari mula kasalukuyan at iba’t ibang panahon sa nakaraan. Hindi naman mahirap sundan – hindi dahil magaling ang pagkakagawa – kundi dahil  iniba-iba naman ng produksyon ang pagkakagawa sa bawat panahon. Mahusay naman ang pagkakaganap ng mga pangunahing tauhan pero hindi gaanong nakalusong ang pagkakaganap sa konsepto ng tauhan. Kulang ang pagkamisteryosa ni Pangilinan bilang si China Doll na hinuhubaran ng katotohanan at hindi naman gaanong mabagsik si Salvador bilang NBI na maraming itinatagong lihim. Sa totoo lang, sa ordinaryong manunuod, hindi mararamdaman ang sinasabing sapin-sapin na katotohanan. Ang bisa ng paggamit ng pagkukwentong non-linear ay nasa kakayahan na masilip ang kapirasong katotohanan at unti-unting mabuo ang kwentong salungat sa unang inakala. Sa magulong paroo’t parito ng China Doll, iisang pisngi pa rin ng katotohanan ang nabubuo at wala namang misteryong natatambad dahil simula pa lamang ay alam mo na ang takbo nito. Masyadong nagpaka-indie ang pelikula dahil marahas ang mga ilaw at hindi man lamang sinikap pantayin ang kulay at pagkakayari ng bawat eksena. Hindi siguro ito ang pinakamabisang paraan para ipakita na marahas ang katotohan. Ang makakagusto lamang nito ay ang kapwa manunulat o indie director na nais makita ang lalim ng pelikula kapag hindi ito nasasakyan ng masa.

Hubad na katotohanan… iyan ang nais itambad ng pelikula sa pagsusumikap na unti-unti nitong hubarin ang saplot ng kasinungalingan at pagtatahi ng mga alamat. Sabi natin, ang katotohanan ay nakakapagpalaya, pero sa pelikula… ang pag-akap sa katotohanan ay nakakamatay. Gusto ba nitong ipahiwatig na ang katotohanan ng mas malakas at mas matapang lamang ang dapat mangibabaw? Papaano kung ang katotohanan ay makasisira ng mga buhay? Dapat ba itong ibunyag pa kahit wala namang kabutihang idudulot? Hindi sinagot ng kwento ang mga tanong na ito. Bagkus, inihain lamang at pinababayaang tuldukan ito ng nalilitong manunuod. Pero dahil wala sa mga nagtangkang magbago o maging tapat ang nabuhay, madaling masabi na karahasan ang naka-umang sa taong sasagasa sa mga naglilihim. Masyadong marahas at magulo ang pelikula para sa simpleng manunuod. Mas mabuting piling-pili lamang ang tumangkilik nito.

Captain Phillips

LEAD CAST:  Tom Hanks, Barkhard Abdi  DIRECTOR: Paul Greengrass  SCREENWRITER:  Billy Ray  PRODUCER:  Michael De Luca, Dana Brunetti, Scott Rudin, Kevin Spacey

EDITOR:  Christopher Rouse  MUSICAL DIRECTOR:  Henry Jackman  GENRE: Drama  CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Barry Ackroyd  DISTRIBUTOR:  Columbia Pictures  LOCATION:  United States RUNNING TIME:  134 minutes

Technical assessment:  4

Moral assessment:  2.5
MTRCB rating:  PG
CINEMA rating: V 14 (For ages 14 and up)

Captain Richard Phillips is skipper of a US-flagged container vessel Maersk Alabama, sailing via pirate-infested Somalia Sea with a crew of 20 unarmed men.  A band of Somali fishermen pirates-to-be led by Muse (Barkhad Abdi) hijacks the ship in the horn of Africa and holds Capt. Phillips hostage.  After a harrowing chase when Phillips’ and his men think the pirates have given up, Muse’s determined bunch succeeds in boarding the ship using a crude ladder.  Phillips, whose primary concern is to deliver the goods intact to their destination, tries to negotiate with the pirates but his good intentions are no match to the money-hungry Somalis.  The movie is based on a true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.

      Another Oscar-worthy performance by Tom Hanks in another Everyman role—an ordinary character played extraordinarily well.  Matching Hanks line by powerful line is Barkhad Abdi in his first movie role—impressive for a newbie, and definitely qualified for a Best Supporting Actor award.  There are very few actors but they come across so real the viewer cannot but feel for them.  Captain Phillips is a good story in a tautly edited film; the screenplay is suspenseful, and the cinematography makes sure the tension is seen and felt by the viewer, from the opening scene (Phillips and wife Andrea, played by Catherine Keener) to the devastating last frame.   

      Due perhaps to the fact that it could happen to anyone, the story of Captain Phillips has that unique “pull” on the viewer’s empathy.  For one thing, there is no need of CGI, an indispensable sci-fi device, but the story is most demanding of gut level acting.  The film presents various moral dilemmas but holds judgment.  It’s in a way a rescue story but praises no hero; rather it underscores power disparity, particularly military power: the pirates are but amateurs working for a warlord; their captors are US navy SEALS directed by politicians.   It clearly shows piracy as a crime, but also pricks the viewer’s sense of justice by subtly asking if it is not a crime, too, to neglect the poor and ignorant in our midst. 

Thor: the dark world

Running Time: 112 minutes; Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins; Direction: Alan Taylor; Story: based on Stan Lee’s character; Screenplay: Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely; Cinematography: Kramer Morgenthau;  Editing: Dan Lenetal, Wyatt Smith;  Music: Brian Tyler; Producers: Kevin Feige; Genre: Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi,;  Location: Asgard, London; Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Assessment: 3.5

Moral Assessment: 3.5

Rating: V14

Thor: The Dark World opens with the Bor, grandfather of Thor, vanquishing Malekith (Eccleston) and the Dark Elves after they attempted to return the universe into a state of darkness using a force called the Aether. Bor’s army defeats the Dark Elves and hides the Aether on earth.  Malekith sacrifices his people so he and a few chosen can escape and hibernate until the force is found again. The present times takes place 2 years after the events in the movies The Avenger and the first installment of Thor. Jane Foster (Portman), still trying to find a way to get in touch with Thor (Hemsworth), discovers and is possessed by the Aether and is temporarily transported from one realm to another. Thor brings Foster to Asgard when he realizes that she is infected with an unearthly substance. Malekith awakens and attacks Asgard to retrieve the Aether. Unable to defeat the forces of the Dark Elves and realizing Asgard is left defenceless should it be attacked again, Thor enlists the help of Loki (Hiddleston) to take Foster out of Asgard and trick the Dark Elves into removing the Aether from her body. Working against time, Thor must make tough choices to trust his adoptive brother, remove the Aether from Jane before it consumes her and save the universe from destruction.

Thor: The Dark World develops rationally but jams in too much gibber of technical and fictional information that makes it a little hard to keep up with sometimes. Performance-wise, the movie is average because Hemsworth’s Thor is a lot tamer and less interesting now while Hiddleston has managed to give a different attack and more amusing on his Loki while Portman’s portrayal is bland and helpless as is her character’s personality. Only Hopkins and Skarsgard have consistently strong enough personalities to shine through their characters. Undeniably, the movie delivers the action and fantasy with several spoonsful of explosions, destruction and high speed combat scenes - some unnecessary although quite fascinating. 

Society places a lot of pressure on people believing that honor and power ultimately define his person. Thor realizes that his mission, and therefore his real self, is to choose to be the defender of the Nine Realms instead of its ruler. When he understood and accepted that all his gifts and powers are for the service of others did he finally (and hopefully) find meaning in his existence. In this power-hungry fast-paced world, Thor invites us to find same epiphany and embrace this the same way as he did. Service and sacrifice define a man’s character and worth more than his power and authority. No wonder, Loki – who is so obsessed with being crowned King of Azgard – is constantly angry, restless and feeling empty.

Metro Manila

LEAD CAST: Jake Macapagal, Althea Vega, John Arcilla, Erin Panlilio, Moises Magisa, Ana Bad-Santos, MailesCanapi  DIRECTOR: Sean Ellis SCREENWRITER:  Sean Ellis, Frank E. Flowers  PRODUCER: Mathilde Charpentier, Sean Ellis, Enrique Gonzales, Celine Lopez  EDITOR: Richard Mettler  MUSICAL DIRECTOR:  Robin Foster  GENRE: Mystery & Suspense, Drama  CINEMATOGRAPHER: Sean Ellis

DISTRIBUTOR: Captive Cinema  LOCATION: United Kingdom, Philippines RUNNING TIME: 115minutes

Technical Assessment:   4

Moral Assessment: 3

CINEMA Rating:  V 14 (Age 14 and above)

Sinisikap buhayin ni Oscar (Jake Macapagal) ang kanyang mag-ina mula sa pagsasaka sa bukid. Tipikal na buhay probinsya ang mayroon sila, salat sa pera pero di naman nawawalan ng simpleng pagkain sa mesa.  Dahil sa kakapusan sa pera ay mapipilitan si Oscar na makipagsapalaran sa Kalakhang Maynila; dadalhin  niya ang pamilya doon sa pag-asang naroon ang asenso nila.  Sa pagsuong nila sa buhay lungsod ay ibayong hirap ang kanilang mararanasan. Mapipilitan silang subukin ang iba't ibang uri ng mga hamon sa lungsod upang kumita ng pera. Makakakuha naman sana ng maayos na trabaho at kita si Oscar bilang driver ng armored car, subalit sa kasamaang-palad ay sangkot pala sa illegal na gawain ang mga inaakala ni Oscar na mga kaibigan.  Kaya sa halip na maahon sila sa kahirapan ay lalo palang masasadlak sila sa kadiliman.  Pati ang asawang si Mai ay papasukin ang hanapbuhay na pagsasayaw at pagpapakita ng katawan para makaraos sa araw araw. 

Gasgas na tema ng tagaprobinsya na nabigong makasumpong ng magandang buhay sa lungsod ang Metro Manila, subalit nilagyan ng tratong mas makatotohanan at  maingat na pagkakahabi ng kwento. Ginamitan ang pelikula ng mga makahulugang linya at pagpapakita ng dalawang mukha ng pamumuhay at kapaligiran sa pamamagitan ng magandang sinematograpiya.  Akma at epektibo ang mga ginamit na ilaw at inilapat na tunog at musika. Naging kasangkapan ang mga elementong ito ng palabas para maging wasto lamang ang mga pagganap, walang masyadong lumutang at wala di naman nagpahuli.  Tila binuhos ng direktor sa ibang teknikal na aspeto ng pelikula ang lahat ng malikhaing ideya sa halip na pigain sa motibasyon ang mga nagsiganap.  Gayun pa man, naging matagumpay ang direktor sa paghahatid ng isang maituturing na obra dahil sa makabuluhang kabuuan nito.

Ipinakita sa Metro Manila ang mga bulok na kalakaran at mapagsamantalang nilalang sa kalunsuran.  Hindi naman masama ang maghangad ng magandang buhay sa kahit saang lugar, subalit ang mga inosenteng mamamayan mula sa  probinsya  ay madalas na nagiging biktima at nasasadlak sa kawalan ng pag-asa katulad ng nangyari sa pamilya ni Oca.  Naging mga responsable naman at nagsikap upang makaraos sa di nakasanayang buhay lungsod ang mga pangunahing tauhan sa pelikula. Subalit di sila nakaligtas sa mapagsamantalang nilalang sa lungsod.  Nakakapanglumo ang mga eksena kung saan pinapakita kung paano nakakaladkad sa bulok na kalagayan ang pamilya. Nakakagalit ang pinakita na mundo ng prostitusyon kung saan kahit ang walang muwang na musmos ay pagnasaan laban sa pita ng laman.  Sa pamamagitan ng pelikula ay hinahamon ang manonood na maging matalino at mapanuri sa pinapasok na kabuhayan, siguraduhing wala itong lakip na anomalya na maaring magpahamak sa isang tao.  Sa kabuuan ay magkahalong awa, galit at pagnanais na kumilos ang mararamdaman ng manonood ng Metro Manila; mapupukaw ng pelikula ang kamalayan ng tao tungkol sa mga totoong nangyayari sa lipunan, partikular ang mga nasa likuran ng nakakaakit na kaunlaran sa lungsod.   

Alagwa

Cast: Jericho Rosales, Bugoy Carino; Director: Ian Lorenos;  Screenplay: Ian Lorenos; Distributor: Star Cinema; Running Time: 88 minutes; Genre: Drama; Location: Manila/ Hongkong

Technical Assessment: 3.5

Moral Assessment: 3

CINEMA Rating:  PG 13 for viewers 13 years old and below with parental guidance

Makikita si Robert (Jericho Rosales) na palibot-libot sa mga kalsada ng Hong Kong na tila may hinahanap. Kasabay nito, makikita ang mga eksena ng kanyang nakalipas kapiling ang anak na si Brian (Bugoy Carino). Namatay ang asawa ni Robert sa panganganak kaya mag-isa niyang itinataguyod si Brian sa pag-aahente. Kahit nahihirapan, kita ang pagmamahalan ng mag-ama bagama’t madalas silang nagkakabangga at nagkakasagutan. Minsang matapos ang matinding pagtatalo ng dalawa, mamamasyal sila sa mall. Ngunit mawawaglit si Brian sa paningin ni Robert nang ito ay iwan niya sa palikuran ng mall. Nang ito ay kanyang binalikan, wala na si Brian.  Sa kanyang paghahanap, malalaman niyang maari itong kinidnap ng mga sindikatong dumudukot ng mga bata at dinadala sa Hongkong upang gawing pulubi. Gagawin lahat ni Robert, makita at mailigtas lamang ang anak. Magtagumpay kaya siya sa kanyang paghahanap?

Mariing napahatid ng Alagwa ang damdamin at sanga-sangang emosyon sa relasyon ng mag-ama habang tinatalakay din nito ang napakahalagang suliraning panlipunan na human trafficking.  Matagumpay ang pelikula sa pagtataguyod ng relasyong Robert at Brian. Pinaigting itong lalo ng kahusayan ng dalawang aktor sa pagganap. Hindi matatawaran ang galing ni Rosales sa pelikulang ito. Akmang-akma ang papel na Robert sa kanya. Maayos din ang kuha ng kamera pati na rin ang komposisyon ng bawat eksena. Natural na dumadaloy ang emosyon sa pelikula at hindi pilit. Pawang sumisilip sa mga eksena ng tunay na buhay ang mga manonood habang pinapanood kung paaanong nagkakagalit at nagbabati ang mag-amang Robert at Brian. Kung kaya’t ganun na rin lang ang pag-aalalang naramdaman ng manonood nang mawala si Brian. Isang matinding bagay ang nakataya kung kaya’t mauunawaan ng manonood kung bakit biglang naging mistulang sanggano si Robert na handang kalabanin kahit sino mahanap at mailigtas lamang ang nawawalang anak.

Hanngang saan nga ba ang kayang gawin at isakripisyo ng isang magulang para sa anak? Kahanga-hanga ang paglalahad ng pelikula kung gaano kawagas ang pagmamahal ng isang ama sa anak. Hindi tumigil si Robert hanggang sa huli makita lamang ang nawawalang anak. Katulad din ng walang tigil niyang pagta-trabaho maitaguyod lang at mapag-aral ang anak sa gitna ng kahirapan ng buhay. Paminsan-minsa’y kakikitaan ng kalupitan si Robert kay Brian ngunit mauunawan pa rin na bugso lamang ito ng damdamin sa hangaring mapabuti ang anak. Sinalamin  din ng pelikula ang tunay na mukha ng kahirapan sa bansa, na kung minsan ay hindi pantay-pantay ang pagkakataon para sa lahat kung kaya’t marami ang umaasa na lamang sa suwerte tulad ng pagkapanalo sa lotto (na siyang naging dahilan kung bakit nawaglit kay Robert si Brian). Ang pinakamasaklap pa nito’y kung paanong ang kahirapan ay nagiging dahilan ng paggawa ng mga tao ng karumal-dumal na krimen tulad ng human trafficking kung saan mga inosenteng bata ang nagiging biktima. Isang matinding pagtapik din ang pelikula sa gobyerno at awtoridad na gawin ang kanilang tungkulin upang masugpo ang mga ganitong uri ng krimen na madalas ay nangyayari sa mga lansangan. Ngunit higit sa lahat, isang matinding pagpapaalala ang Alagwa sa lahat ng manonood na maging mas mapagmatyag at hangga’t maaari’y tulungan ang gobyerno at lipunan na magbago. Na ang bawat isa ay may pananagutan sa kapwa at anumang masama o mabuting nangyayari sa bawat isa, lahat tayo ay may pananagutan. Dahil sa tema at ilang eksena ng karahasan, pinagpapalagay ng CINEMA na ang pelikula ay maaaring panoorin ng mga batang edad 13 gulang bababa,  bagama’t dapat silang samahan at gabayan ng mga magulang.

Passion

Cast: Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace. Karoline Herfurth; Direction: Brian de Palma; Story : based on Love Crime by Natalie Carter; Screenplay: Brian de Palma, Natalie Carter; Cinematography: Jose Luis Alcaine;  Editing: Francois Gedigier;  Music: Pino Donaggio; Producers: Said Ben Said; Genre: Drama;  Location: Germany; Running Time: 94 minutes; Distributor: E1 Films

Technical Assessment: 2.5

Moral Assessment: 2

CINEMA Rating: R18

Christine (Rachel Mc Adams) has everything—a blossoming career, a devoted lover Dirk, and a loyal subordinate, Isabelle (Noomi Rapace)  who almost hero-worships her. All seems well until she takes full credit for an advertising campaign Isabelle developed. Christine is immediately offered the New York post as a promotion. Isabelle is immediately upset but is resigned to acceptance as Christine playfully tells her that it was just a professional move. Unknown to Isabelle, Christine is fully aware of her affair with Dirk whom she has manipulated to end the relationship and break her heart.  Isabelle retorts by uploading her original ad campaign on the Youtube and alerting the corporate office of  her genious so that the New York position is offered to her instead. Christine humiliates Isabelle and ruins her reputation. The  latter seemingly is driven to emotional destitution and develops an addiction to drugs. Only after Christine is found dead and she gets arrested for the murder, does she struggle to regain her life back and prove her innocence with the help of her secretary Dani (Herfurth). But her nervous breakdown is revealed to be a cover for another well-planned revenge which Dani unfortunately knew too much of.

De Palma has a reputation as an effective suspense and crime thriller visual director. His penchant for off centered angles, split screen editing, abstract composition and his 360 slow panning shot to emphasize drama always resounds in his best works. Unfortunately, his brilliant style did not shine in this film as his attempts to create an erotic thriller comes across as cheaply staged and vulgar. It does not help at all that the film is remake of Love Crime with several elements altered to try to make the story more sensual than necessary. The storytelling is overthought that the plot becomes confusing with De Palma constantly shifting from dream to reality. In the second act, when the conflict is revealed, the whole film falls apart and never recovers leaving the audience confused and lost.

The film demostrates a classic case of bullying in the corporate world where those can, do, and those who can’t, retaliate when no one is looking. Power struggle brings out the best and the worst in people, especially in the corporate world where fearlessness is defined by the capability to step on boundaries for the sake of a promotion. Integrity, teamwork and decency are brushed off as everyone looks after his own interest. Further, at the heart of self-centeredness and greed,  revenge and getting even thrive and consume the person’s humanity. He thinks that no one who has gotten the best of him deserves to live. Yet at the end of the day, success means absolutely nothing as those who have schemed maliciously find themselves alone with an endless void. Because the more one destroys lives of other people, the more broken and lost one becomes. The movie proved these concepts but the portrayal of the physical and emotional violence were unnecessarily graphic. Further, vengeance was served to those who tried to take advantage or oppress another but again in a very violent manner that Passion seems a very subtle translation of aggression—the dominant emotion of the film.

Gravity

LEAD CAST:  Sandra Bullock, George Clooney  DIRECTOR: Alfonso Cuaron  SCREENWRITER:  Alfonso Cuaron, Jonas Cuaron  PRODUCER:  Alfonso Cuaron, David Heyman  EDITOR:  Alfonso Cuaron, Mark Sanger  MUSICAL DIRECTOR:  Steven Price

GENRE:  Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction, Fantasy  CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Emmanuel Lubezki RUNNING TIME:   90 minutes  DISTRIBUTOR:  Warner Bros. Pictures  LOCATION:  United States, United Kingdom, outer space.

Technical assessment:  4

Moral assessment:  4

MTRCB rating:  PG 13

CINEMA rating:  V 14 (Viewers aged 14 and up)

Two astronauts Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), a bio-medical engineer, and Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) a veteran flight commander, are the only survivors during a mission to destroy an old Russian space station.  With their spaceship imperiled by a debris storm and the rest of the crew dying before their very eyes, the stranded pair must squeeze their guts dry to survive 600 miles from Earth in negative zero temperature as their oxygen supply runs out.  They must bring their ship back to Earth—but how in the face of such helplessness can they do so?

Rare is the film that can take the viewer out of his orbit and paradoxically into himself, and Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity is such a rarity.  Clooney handles with finesse a happy-go-lucky character that under duress would shine with unusual nobility; Bullock plays out with depth a character that’s is stone outside and putty inside.  The chemistry between Bullock and Clooney is flawless, their acting solid, leading the viewer to surmise that their career path must have prepared them for this one obra maestra that will be remembered for its power to hold the viewer spellbound for a full hour and a half.  Of course, Jonas Cuaron takes a chunk of the credit for it, for the engaging script.  Except for one negligible slip (see if you can spot it), the editing is seamless; so is the dovetailing of CGI and watertight cinematography—just the right elements to create the tension that is so masterfully heightened by the pitch-perfect musical score.

Gravity is the story of Dr. Stone—a woman that at first comes across as a toughie, almost like a covert tomboy, what with a boy’s name and a “hard” surname, but as the cosmos compels her would later on reveal her true tenderness.  The impossibly composed Kowalski is an indispensable device to effect this transformation.   To capture all the nuances enveloped in the basically two-character film, the viewer must first free himself of the weight of his own reasoning.  Never mind that Stone has an almost superhuman presence of mind, steering the ship and hitting the right buttons without hesitation.  Isn’t weightlessness supposed to adversely affect brain functions and alter judgment?  But there she is defying all odds and… well, accomplishing the impossible.  Damned lucky?  But that’s just it—Gravity subtly instills in the viewer’s mind a truth costumed in sci-fi: that there’s an eye in the sky that sees all and knows all and can do all.  In Stone’s case, “all” is finally standing naked before a mirror and confronting all that toxic baggage in her bowels that’s preventing her from taking the flight to human fulfillment—grieving over the loss of her child. Never mind that this all took place in a hallucinatory state—let’s not doubt the power of The Eye to do that.

A woman’s invincible maternal instinct is subtly underscored here, with thoughtfully placed and timed images alluding to maternity: Stone, dressed down to her underwear and curled into fetal position, swoons weightless inside the spacecraft; defeated by frustration in an attempt to communicate with the Chinese space station, she softly ululates, like a she-wolf who has lost her pup; she hears a baby crying—a baby, in space with the Chinese astronaut?—but the crying does revive her hope and will to survive; finally when her ship lands on earth, plunging into the ocean, she’s home, back to the water-filled womb of Mother Earth, eager to begin a new life, with her feet firmly planted on the ground.  You might think CINEMA is reading too much into a mere movie, but it’s all right—blame it on those shots of Earth viewed from outer space, they’re totally priceless and beautiful beyond words.  Detaching from Earth most definitely alters human judgment, but oh, what an infinitely good, loving, and beautiful Creator we meet out there! 

Prisoners

                                                                       

RUNNING TIME:  153 minutes

LEAD CAST:  Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Paul Danao

DIRECTOR: Denis Villeneuve

SCREENWRITER:  Aaron Guzikowski           

PRODUCER:  Broderick Johnson, Kira Davis, Andrew A. Kosove, Adam Guzikowski

EDITOR:  Joel Cox, Gary D. Roach

MUSICAL DIRECTOR:  Johann Johannsson
GENRE:  Drama, Crime & Thriller
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Roger A. Deakins
DISTRIBUTOR:  Warner Bros.
LOCATION:  US

TECHNICAL:  4

MORAL:  2.5

MTRCB RATING:  R13

CINEMA RATING:  R18

Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) is a deeply religious man who prides himself in being ready for any eventuality. They live in a small town and with his wife Grace (Maria Bello) and two children, they celebrate Thanksgiving with the Birches, Franklin and Nancy (Terrence Howard and Viola Davis), who have two children of the same age. The two girls, Anna Dover and Joy Birch, asked permission to go out for a walk but didn’t call their elder siblings to accompany them as instructed. While the rest of the families stayed inside, Anna and Joy disappeared. A frantic search ensued, and the only clue is a van parked on the side street on which the girls wanted to play earlier. Alex Jones (Paul Dano), the van’s driver, is apprehended by Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), but is found to be a mentally challenged drifter with an IQ of a 10-year old, and is soon released for lack of evidence. Alex was raised by his aunt Holly Jones (Melissa Leo). He rarely speaks. Impatient with how the police are handling the case and desperate to rescue his little girl Anna, Dover kidnaps Alex who told him earlier that, “They (the girls) only cried when I left them.” He uses torture to interrogate Alex to get out everything he can from him. Will he have enough time to learn his daughter’s whereabouts and save her?

Prisoners brings together an ensemble cast where almost every actor has been awarded or nominated for awards. Each of them gives an incredible performance, thanks to the masterful handling and direction of Denis Villeneuve. Jackman and Gyllenhaal portray their multi-faceted characters with relentless intensity and believability. From the first scene in the forest to the cramped room where Alex was tortured, Roger A. Deakins’ cinematography is poetic, broody, and masterful. Aaron Guzikowski turns a simple story of abduction into a complex thriller, suspense and drama where unexpected plot twists, the inner struggles of characters and surrounding circumstances are well intertwined, keeping the viewers at the edge of their seats for 153 minutes! It would have been better if it was 10-20 minutes less, though. Johann Johannsson’s music adds to the anxiety, conflict and overall darkness. Prisoners, Villeneuve’s first English language film is simply a technical masterpiece.

Prisoners draws you to relate intimately with the story – long after the credits roll. It invites you to look at the gray and complex areas of life and makes you question:

·       What is my worst fear?

·       What am I willing to do for the sake of people I love?

·       How far can parents protect their children from danger?

·       Is torture and murder ever justified, no matter what the circumstances? Can I take the law in my hand?

·       What imprisons me? What can push me to the edge? What do I run away from?

·       What choices do I make? How do they impact the life of others?

·       Does my faith inform my actions and behavior?

The film begins with Dover telling his young son, “Be ready. All that stands between you and being dead is you.” A few minutes later, he finds out for himself it was not so. No one can truly feel safe, in spite of a basement full of supplies for survival. And violence, for whatever compels a person to it, demeans the aggressor and victim. Prisoners not only invites us to look at the paranoia and violence in our world but also at the pain and barricades we make to shield ourselves from uncertainty. It also encourages us too, to make peace with our prisons and make choices not from fear but out of compassion.

Religious imagery appears significantly in the film – crosses, a Masonic ring, an alcoholic priest… A preacher is heard on the radio as Keller turns it on: “Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Plus the Our Father is prayed not once but twice. When was the last time you heard a Hollywood movie do these? Is this Villeneuve’s way of confronting America and the world to look beyond ourselves to a God who is Father? Because of the intense and frequent violence and emotional stress, some vulgar language, and the moral dilemmas in it, CINEMA encourages ethical and moral discussions about the movie among adults, and gives this film an R 18 rating.

Kung fu divas

Lead cast: Ai-ai delas Alas, Marian Rivera; Direction: Onat Diaz; Screenplay: Onat Diaz; Location: Isla Marikit; Genre: Fantasy-Comedy; Running Time: 102 minutes;  Distributor: Star Cinema
 

Technical Assessment :  3

Moral Assessment:  2.5

MTRCB rating:  PG13

CINEMA rating:  V14

Huling pagkakataon na ni Charlotte (Ai-ai delas Alas) na magkaroon ng titulo bilang beauty queen kaya pagbubuhusan niya ng panahon ang paghahanda para sa Hiyas ng Dalampasigan. Mabigat ang hamon para sa kanya na magkaroon ng korona dahil tanging siya na lamang ang hindi pa nananalo sa beauty contest sa kanyang pamilya. Abot kamay na sana niya ang korona sa Hiyas ng Dalampasigan nang biglang dadating at sasali si Samantha (Marian Rivera) at aagawin ang titulo. Ang bangayan ng dalawa ay mauuwi sa personalan hanggang matuklasan nila na sila pala ay kambal na anak ng isang hari sa Tsina na kinakailangang matutong magtulungan upang maipagtanggol ang kanilang kaharian laban sa nagbabadyang kasamaan.

Sa kabuuan, masisiyahan ka naman sa Kung Fu Divas dahil mahusay sina delas Alas at Rivera sa pagganap at sinikap iangat ang antas ng produksyon. Dahil sanay na rin naman ang manunuod sa istilo ng patawa ng pelikulang Pinoy ay patatawarin na nila ang kababawan ng komedyang nakahain. Kaya nga lamang, nakalimutan ng mga nasa likod ng produksyon na ang isang elemento ng tagumpay ng isang pelikulang maraming computer generated effects at chroma screen ay ang maihabi ito nang mahigpit sa eksena para magmukhang isang tunay na mundo ang ginagawalan ng mga tauhan. Sa Kung Fu Divas, tiniyak na matutukoy ang bawat special effects na ginawa at nagsusumigaw sa pagyayabang  ang pelikula na kaya na rin nitong makipagsabayan sa Hollywood. Pero malayong-malayo pa ang lalakbayin ng produksyon hangga’t hindi nito natututuhang maging pino at pulido.  Maganda sana ang konsepto pero mahina ang pag-unlad ng kwento. Naroroon pa rin ang tagpi-tagpi at pampahabang mga eksena. Sa totoo lang, kitang-kita na pinilit hubugin ang kwento para mabigyang-katwiran ang pagkuha sa dalawang bida sa halip na iayon ang artista sa nabuong istorya. Kulang din ang pagkakabuo sa mga katauhan kaya’t halos hindi nila nakuha ang simpatiya ng manunuod—hindi mo nga maalala ang mga pangalan nila sa pelikula. Nakakabagabag pakinggan ang madramang usapan ng dalawa habang nasa bingit ng kamatayan ; baka mas gustuhin mo pang mahulog na lamang sila at tuluyan nang maglaho sa kawalan kaysa tiisin mo ang walang katuturang drama. Bilang isang pelikulang kung fu, salat na salat ito sa aksyon at teknik sa mga eksenang aksyon. Pinilit pagtakpan ng mga malalapitang kuha ang mga fight scenes para hindi mahalatang kulang sa kakayahan, galing, magandang koreograpiya, at buhay sa pagganap ng kanilang mortal na kalaban.

Ano nga ba ang kahulugan ng kagandahan? Sa Kung Fu Divas, nag-uumapaw ang pasaring sa ideyang panlabas na anyo lamang ang batayan ng kagandahan ng babae at ang halaga niya ay nasa dami ng humahanga sa kanyang itsura. Sinikap bigyang diin ng pelikula ang mensahe na panloob na kagandahan at kabutihan ng ugali ang higit na mahalagang sukatan ng sukatan ng pagkatao ng isang babae. (Sana nga lamang ay nakuha ito ng mga manunuod na abalang-abalang tumatawa sa paulit-ulit nitong komedya). Marami rin isiningit na aral ukol sa pagkakaisa, pagmamalasakit at pagsasa-isangtabi ng sariling interes para sa kapakanan ng mas nakararami. Pero kasabay nito, may mga patawang hindi lamang paulit-ulit kundi medyo nakaka-ilang na ring panuorin, tulad ng paglaglag ng salawal ng mga kababaihan nang makakita ng makisig na lalake. Nakakalungkot din ang tuwirang pagbansag na “pangit” sa mga babae sa pelikula, lalo na iyong ginamit na artista para sa dating mukha ni Samantha bago siya nagpa-ayos ng mukha at katawan kay Vicky Belo.  Sa kabila ng magandang hangad nito at tila malinis na pagpapatawa, hindi angkop ang pelikula sa mga batang manunuod.