In the previous year, we saw a sudden wave of independently produced films have taken over not only the cinemas across the country, but also the hearts of many. There has been a couple of successful independent film festival sin the country that have produced some of the year's best films - from Unitel's CineFilipino to this year's Cinemalaya, up to Cinema One Originals' very own film festival. but the biggest and probably, most talked-about change in our movie scene last year was the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival. In this past year's MMFF, the committee has chosen to favor quality over the box-office appeal of the film. This is why none of the usual festival's usual entries from Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto's comedies to the annual shake, Rattle and roll anthology from Regal Films were included. Instead, seven out of the eight film of entries were all independently produced, and only one was released by a major film company. This caused a bit of hesitation from moviegoers at first, but later on, after the positive word-of-mouth from people who have watched the films, people start to flock theaters to see the movies for themselves.
Indeed, change has come not only in our government, but also in our cinema. And these changes are all producing positive results: we are getting more and more quality films for the Filipino audience. And I personally think that we should keep on pushing these changes more. We should stop dividing mainstream and indie films and instead, we should look at these movies as one. That is why in my own countdown of my Top Ten Best Filipino Films of 2016, you will notice that it's a mix of commercially released local films to independently produced ones. I wanted to show to everyone that there shouldn't be any line dividing the mainstream from indie films because they are both proudly produced by our very own Filipino filmmakers.
So if you're ready, here comes my Top Ten Filipino Films of 2016.
10. Hele Sa Hiwagang Hapis (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery)
Directed by Lav Diaz, Starring Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Hazel Orencio, Alessandra de Rossi, Angel Aquino, Cherie Gil, Bernardo Bernardo.
Yes. I am very proud to say that I survived a Lav Diaz film. And it's not like just any of his previous works but his longest film to date. This is the first time that I've watched a film from Lav Diaz and it turns out to be one of my most unforgettable movie experiences. I never thought I could survive being holed up inside the cinema for a almost half a day while watching this film. Local mythology and folklore meets Philippine Literature in this unique blend of fantasy and history as Lav Diaz weaves the story of Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo with the search of Gregoria De Jesus for the body of her husband, Andres Bonifacio after the latter was executed. Along the way, they encounter mischievous mythical creatures prolonging their journey (and the film's running time). Despite it's long running time, this 8-hour opus never had any dull or boring moments. It's stark black-and-white cinematography is a beauty itself. It's long, lingering shots pulls the audiences into the scene, adding an immersive experience to it. No wonder it won the Alfred Bauer Prize at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival.
Although Lav Diaz released another epic masterpiece last year, the Charo Santos starrer Ang Babaeng Humayo (The Woman Who Left) which competed at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival where it won the Golden Lion award, this movie is still my pick. I don't know. I guess this film is just way too memorable for me. Plus, it's John Lloyd Cruz and Piolo Pascual. C'mon.
9. Apocalypse Child
Directed by Mario Cornejo, Written by Monster Jimenez, Starring Sid Lucero, Gwen Zamora, Annicka Dolonius, Ana Abad-Santos, Archie Alemania and RK Bagatsing
Although the film actually had it's premierre last 2015, the film just had it's commercial release last October 2016. The film follows Ford, a man in the surfing town of Baler, who is believed to be the son of famed Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola. The director shot his film, Apocalypse Now, in the their town during the 1970's and was believed to have impregnated a young local. In the course of the film, Ford meets his estranged bestfriend, who keeps a grudge against him due an incident during their younger years together. Ford is forced to face this grudge from the past, alongside the secret of his identity.
The film is more of a character study. It focuses on Ford and how he affects the rest of the people around him. It takes time in building each of these characters, without losing the focus on Ford. These are characters are so beautifully written and brought to life by each actor that they feel so real and natural to me. Then, the film brings all these character together in a mind-blowing twist and turns of events during the third act, making everything go wild and crazy. It also features Annicka Dolonius and Sid Lucero in probably their best performance to date. Plus, it boasts some gorgeous surfing moments that will invite you to actually visit the Baler and take a dip in their waters. It's probably the best Pinoy summer movie, not released during the summer season.
8. Always be my Maybe
Directed by Dan Villegas, Starring Gerald Anderson and Arci Muñoz
One might find the story of this romantic comedy from Star Cinema a bit familiar and cliched. Jake, a carefree bachelor who have finally decided to settle down, proposes to his girlfriend. Unfortunately, she has already decided to dump him after years of dealing with him being with other girls. On the other hand, Tintin, a make-up artist, becomes viral on social media after she posts a make-up video tutorial wherein she ended up ranting about her ex-boyfriend whom she found out is already engaged to another woman. They came across one another and they end up spending one entire night drinking and talking about their personal lives until dawn. Before they part, they exchanged numbers and agreed to meet in Manila. I know the story sounds so common and recycled. Yet what makes this film different from the rest of the romcom genre is the way the story is told and portrayed.
I've been a fan of director Dan Villegas after I've seen his 2014 hit English Only Please. He has been one of my most favorite directors when it comes to the romance genre. I love all his films because they don't feel so corny and cheesy. He is able to bring these characters to life and make them look like they're really in love. And this movie is no exception. It's like the whole film is playing on every guy's fantasies, and Arci Munoz' character embodies that. That' probably why many calls it a romance movie made for boys.
7. Pamilya Ordinaryo
Directed by Eduardo Roy, Jr, Starring Hasmine Kilip and Ronwaldo Martin
Some may call Eduardo Roy, Jr's tour de force just another of those poverty-porns, an independent film that focuses too much on the gritty side of life among the less-privileged citizens of this country and exploits the theme it to a pulp. Call it whatever you want, but it is undeniably one of the most harrowing and unforgettable movie experience from last year's Cinemalaya film Festival. It follows the lives of a pubescent couple, Jane and Aries, who lives in the streets of the city, stealing wallets and cellphones for a living. But one day, they came across a young innocent baby that they've decided to adopt for themselves. They treated the child as their own and decided to raise it as their real son. But fate turns back to them and they find themselves in a frantic search for their child.
The film may feel a bit too long, despite a short running time of one hour and forty seven minutes due to it's long and elaborate sequences. But despite that, the film will surprise you in many ways you haven't imagined. The couple's search for their stolen baby will take you to a nightmarish trip across the city, as they tries to do everything and go through all lengths so that they can to get their kid back. The above-average obstacles they had to pass to retrieve their kidnapped baby may be too much, but it's what makes the whole film one crazy and exhilarating ride.
6. How To Be Yours
Directed by Dan Villegas, Starring Bea Alonzo and Gerald Anderson
The second film from director Dan Villegas in my list, and probably my most favorite from all his work to date. This film is a realistic portrayal of a couple, Anj and Nino as they struggle to balance their life as a couple. The film starts with the day they first met, and continues as they fall in love with each other and starts a life together. Then, a change in career and shifting of priorities starts to put a strain to their relationship.
Just like what I have previously stated, Dan Villegas has this amazing gift of bringing his characters to life. In this film, he's able to bring out the surprising chemistry between the two leads, Bea Alonzo and Gerald Anderson, and squeeze them out to the film's advantages. It features a plot so real and familiar to each and everyone. It makes us feel as if we are watching the lives of someone we know or even our own lives coming to life on screen. The dialogues are so raw and natural. The characters are so lifelike. The story, so grounded in reality. Every moment is heartfelt, and at times, heartbreaking. This film is definitely one of the best Filipino romance films I've seen to date and one that I highly recommend to everyone.
5. Sunday Beauty Queen
Directed by Baby Ruth Villarama, Starring Hazel Perdido, Cherrie Mae Bretana, Mylyn Jacobo, Leo Selomenio, Rudelyn Acosta
I'm not really a big fan of documentaries. The only closest thing to this genre that I have seen and enjoyed watching was the mockumentary Six Degrees of Separation from Lilia Cuntapay by Antoinette Jadaone. I thought the genre was just way too serious for me. I usually find it hard to focus my attention for a long span of time when watching these types of films. I'm just not built for them. But the recent MMFF changed that with the first documentary to enter the festival,Sunday Beauty Queen.
Baby Ruth Villarama's documentary follows the lives of different overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong, as they go through their everyday routine, and their preparation for the annual beauty pageant for OFWs held in that country. It tells the true stories of these migrant workers, the loneliness they carry in their hearts, the longing to go back home to be with their families, the hardships they go through everyday and the joy and satisfaction that their annual event gives them. The film is surprisingly good. It's full of heart and will make you laugh, cry and smile at every point. I can't remember how many times I shed a tear or two all throughout the film. No wonder why it won the Best Picture award from the recent Metro Manila Film Festival. You can check out my full review of Sunday Beauty Queen here.
4. Mercury is Mine
Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, Starring Pokwang and Bret Jackson
The first entry from the crazy but clever mind of Jason Paul Laxamana in this list. In this dark comedy about an aging woman who lives alone and runs an eatery at the foot of Mt. Arayat. Her business is barely even making any profit, so she has already decided to close it down. But one, rainy night - the same night she has decided to close down her eatery - a lonely young American boy asks for her help. Adamant at first, she changes her mind and offers the teenage blonde some food a place to stay for the night. In exchange, she takes him as her assistant and she reopens her eatery which, surprisingly start to attract customers (all of which are curious about her new foreign assistant). Things started to go crazy when she becomes obsessed of this blonde boy and decides to be his very own mother.
Jason Paul Laxamana writes and helms this crazy dark comedy which tackles the Filipino's fascination with foreigners and our obsession with the Western culture. The film takes over themes of murder, sex, and loneliness in a loud and funny way. Pokwang excels as the obsessed Carmen and Bret Jackson will sweep you away with his performance as the innocent blonde Mercury. This is probably my most favorite Cinemalaya entry of all time.
3. Ma' Rosa
Directed by Brillante Mendoza, Starring Jaclyn Jose, Julio Diaz, Baron Geisler, Jomari Angeles, Neil Ryan Sese, Mercedes Cabral, Andi Eigenmann, Mark Anthony Fernandez, Felix Roco and Mon Confiado
A powerful drama about the harsh realities of life, this critically acclaimed film the one and only Brillante Mendoza plays themes of poverty, drugs, police brutality, corruption and injustice to maximum effect. In the film, Rosa, a mother of four, runs a sari-sari store in a squatter's area in Manila. Their income coming from the earnings of the small convenience store business isn't enough to meet the family's daily needs, so she decided to secretly sell illegal drugs particularly "ice" or crystal meth. One day police officers raid their store and arrest Rosa and her husband for "pushing" or selling drugs and ask them for "bail money" or a bribe for their release. Rosa's children, left on their own to deal with the struggles of daily life, tries to find a way to free their detained parents.
The film's documentary style cinematography adds grittiness and raw look and feel to the whole movie. The realistic acting of it's amazing cast mixed with the director's bravura direction makes this film a superb masterpiece. Jaclyn Jose stands out with her outstanding performance, earning her the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for 2016.
2. Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2
Directed by Marlon Rivera, Written by Chris Martinez, Starring Eugene Domingo, Kean Cipriano, Cai Cortez, Khalil Ramos with Joel Torre and Jericho Rosales
The sequel to the 2011 box-office hit from Cinemalaya, this sequel follows Rainier (Kean Cipriano), a director, as he and Jocelyn (played by Cai Cortez), his production manager together with their newbie production assistant, Lennon (Khalil Ramos) as they try to convince Eugene Domingo (who plays an exaggerated version of herself) to star in their new project, a romance drama film. This film entitled "The Itinerary", written by Rainier himself, is about his personal struggle in his marriage. He has a vision already of how the film would look like, yet as Eugene Domingo comes on board with the project, she requests a lot of drastic changes to the final product, causing a rift between her and the director.
While the first movie was a satire on Filipino indie filmmakers as they exploit the so-called poverty porn genre, this sequel is a satirical take on the mainstream film industry in the country and the cliches and stereotypes of the Pinoy romance genre. This clever meta-comedy film serves as Eugene Domingo's comeback vehicle after staying away from the movie scene for at least two years. Here, she gives out a one of a kind performance as an over-acting control freak actress. Check out my full review here.
1. 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten
Directed by Petersen Vargas, written by Jason Paul Laxamana, Starring Khalil Ramos, Ethan Salvador and Jameson Blake
This dark coming-of-age tale is another brilliant product of Jason Paul Laxamana's demented mind (the second in this list), this time with Petersen Vargas helming the film in his outstanding full length feature debut.
2 Cool 2 Be 4Gotten follows Felix Salonga (in an unforgettable performance by Khalil Ramos) a friendless, overachieving top notcher in a typical public high school in the province of Pampanga during the late 1990s. The whole film is told from his point of view, and is usually narrated through passages from his daily journal (which was supposed to be a project for their English class). He looks over his classmates as inferior to him because he is intellectually inclined. He usually spends his time alone. Felix' life is then turned upside down after the Film-Am brothers Magnus (Ethan Salvador) and Maxim Snyder (in an award-winning performance by Jameson Blake) transfers to his his school. He became acquainted with the two brothers and soon develops a strong, unusual friendship with them, which ultimately leads him to be entangled in a dark path involving a plan for murder, his sexual awakening and his first heartbreak.
As I watched the film during it's initial theatrical run, I felt somewhat connected to the film's characters. At one point of the film, I suddenly realized that I've been seeing myself in Felix' shoes. It was like I was watching selected moments from my life being projected into the screen. Yes, I admit that there were a lot of moments in my life that was exactly the same with what's happening in the story. I guess that is one of the main reasons I got drawn into watching it over and over again. Gorgeously photographed and brilliantly acted, this film is definitely the most unforgettable Filipino film for me from 2016.
Did your choice get into the list? Share us your thoughts int he comments section below. Don't forget to share this post!
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