“Pandanggo sa Hukay” did right by getting Iza Calzado
Sometimes, all it takes is a good performance to salvage a not-so-good movie. In the case for Sheryl Andes’ Pandanggo sa Hukay, having Iza Calzado as the lead is the best thing going for it. I had high hopes for the…
“Belle Douleur” is a charming love letter
When director Joji Alonso said during the gala night of her Cinemalaya entry, Belle Douleur, that it was time to do something for herself, we felt the movie was going to feel like a carefully written love letter. While watching Belle Douleur,…
“Tabon” is not done baking
Xian Lim’s directorial debut, Tabon, was brimming with potential and could have been an addition to Cinemalaya’s roster of impressive thriller flicks. But it felt like it’s taken out of the oven way early. A lack of proper build up seemed…
Infectious charm lightens the dreary themes in “Edward”
Coming-of-age stories are always fun to watch especially if they mirror experiences we’ve all gone through. Thop Nazareno’s Edward is captivating simply because it’s a story we can all relate to because it’s set here. Unlike Boyhood or Lady Bird, there’s a sense of a…
“Fuccbois” brims with bold performances
There is something a little bit misleading about Fuccbois, if you take its title quite literally. Judging from the way things eventually turned out, one would have a slightly different perspective on the fuccbois in the spotlight. Eduardo Roy Jr.’s Fuccbois is about…
“John Denver Trending” is excruciating to watch
It doesn’t take much to anger people these days. In this socially connected world where everyone feels entitled to pry into the lives of other people, it’s so easy to lose sight of the difference between the perception of truth…
Cinemalaya 2019 short features
‘WAG MO ‘KONG KAUSAPIN (PLEASE STOP TALKING) by Josef DielleGacutan A father attempts to repair his relationship with his estranged son, but a mysterious figure stands to make things difficult for him. DISCONNECTION NOTICE by Glenn Lowell Averia Living away…
Here’s a quick look at the full-length entries for Cinemalaya 2019
ANI (THE HARVEST) Kim Zuniga and Sandro Del Rosario An orphaned boy and his malfunctioning robot go on a journey to save his sick grandfather. BELLE DOULEUR Joji V. Alonso A woman in her 40s gets a fresh start with…
“Spider-Man: Far From Home” Gives Us a Lost Superhero, And It’s Beautiful
As heartbreaking as Avengers: Endgame was, it had one sliver of hope: a more experienced Spider-Man who’s ready to take on the world. The death of his closest ally and mentor will obviously have a tremendous impact on the web slinger’s psyche and…
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is a visual feast
At one point in the movie, we’re told that “anyone can wear the mask.” And that transcends not just in the story of young Miles Morales but also in the manner in which Sony Pictures presented Phil Lord’s vision for…