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 little disconnect they are not like us; their experiences vaguely resemble ours. Edward, on the […]
“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 two young boys, Ace (Royce Cabrera) and Miko (Kokoy De Santos), with big dreams of […]
“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 and the actual truth. John Denver Trending, by Arden Rod Condez, perfectly mirrors this ugly […]
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 the help of a young lover and eventually finds out that despite love, there are […]
“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 one could only assume that Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) time fighting alongside the Earth’s mightiest […]
“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 the webslinger we’ve all grown to love. “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse” is a complete surprise […]
“Johnny English Strikes Again” brings the same old laughs
More than a decade after ditching the cute teddy bear and donning the sleek suit as the secret agent Johnny English, Rowan Atkinson is back for the third outing of the spy-comedy franchise in “Johnny English Strikes Again” where he relives his role as the hapless and lucky-unlucky British intelligence agent. After a terrible cyber […]
“A Star Is Born” is close to perfection
Remakes can be tricky because you’re more likely going to be compared to their predecessors. It would require a lot of guts to sprinkle your own magic movie dust to avoid being referred to as the “remake of that classic movie.” Bradley Cooper proved he had that with his directorial debut, “A Star Is Born.” […]
“Venom” is not as bad as most people think
Let’s make one thing clear before I start talking about Ruben Fleischer’s “Venom”: it doesn’t suck. In fact, it’s one of the more entertaining Marvel films of late. That doesn’t mean, however, that it warrants a 4 or 5-star rating. This is where it gets really interesting. I am even unsure of what to feel […]
“Night School” is hilarious, thanks to Tiffany Hadish
There’s always a second chance for someone who’s willing to go through shit. That’s basically what Malcolm Lee’s “Night School” is about. The movie follows Teddy Walker (Kevin Hart), a highschool dropout who has huge dreams. He’s doing really well working as a barbecue grill salesman–he drives a Porsche, lives in a duplex, and dates […]