Movie Review: Raya Martin's "Smaller and Smaller Circles" (2017)

Hard-hitting social commentary and solid performances makes Raya Martin's period crime thriller a must-see.

Based on the best-selling novel by F.H. Batacan, this crime thriller follows two Jesuit priests,  Father Gus Saenz (Nonie Buencamino) and Father Jerome Lucero (Sid Lucero) as they help in the investigation of a serial killer in Payatas, who leaves the bodies of his victims- young boys in particular- in the dump. The film, directed by Raya Martin, also Carla Humphries, Ricky Davao, Bembol Roco and Christopher De Leon. I have mentioned before in a previous post that Smaller and Smaller Circles is one of my most anticipated Filipino movies of the year. It's been months, almost a year, since I've heard about this project and I've been looking forward to seeing it in the big screen. Fortunately, the long wait is finally over and it was worth it. Raya Martin's adaptation of F.H. Batacan's novel (considered as the Philippines' first crime thriller novel) is slickly made and highly entertaining.

Screenshots from the trailer

The film is set in 1997 and opens with a voice-over from the killer, expressing his thoughts to the audience. This sets up the over-all tone of the film. It is obviously not your typical murder mystery that focuses on who is the killer. Instead, it's focused on finding out why the killer is doing all of this. What caused him to do these inhumane acts. After this, we follow Father Gus Saenz (Nonie Buencamino) who is currently trying to pin down a fellow priest who have been reported to be molesting children under the latter's parish. Unfortunately, this bastard is friends with Cardinal Meneses (in a wicked performance by Ricky Davao) who helps the son-of-a-bitch escape prosecution by transferring him to another parish (to continue his reign of terror). National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Lastimosa (Bembol Roco) and  contacts Father Saenz and asks for his expertise in  forensics anthropologiy to help to solve a series of murders, much to the dismay of lower-level agent Ben Arcinas (Raffy Tejada). Children are being murdered, their their faces, hearts and genitals removed with surgical precision, removing everything that makes them human, and then dumped like garbage. Together with his colleague Father Jerome Lucero (Sid Lucero) a clinical psychologist, they start picking up and putting the pieces of the puzzle behind the murders, while the body count continues to rise.

Though set in the 1990's, the film never relies on nostalgia. One wouldn't even notice that it is a period piece until you see one character using a beeper and an old-style chat session (plus cellphones were a luxury that time so only one character is seen using it). Instead, it relies on building up the mood of the film. From it's dark, dreary locations such as the dumpsite where the bodies are found and the narrow maze of alleyways of the squatter's residences, the film's look echoes a depressing time in our country's history. The gorgeously shot cinematography by J.A. Tadena, adds up to the bleak, somber atmosphere of the film. The film is also unapologetic when it comes to it's display of gore. The sadistic killings of the perpetrator is not shown in full detail, but the results of these murders are shown in their full glory. The desecrated bodies of the young boys are shown in detail, from their missing genitalia to their faceless heads. Some may find it downright repulsive, but for a gorehound like me, it is truly satisfying. With all this, Raya Martin successfully crafted a neo-noir world ripped right out of the novel's pages.

The film's powerful cast is one of the reasons why this movie is very entertaining to watch. Ricky Davao plays Cardinal Meneses with so much wickedness. He is a perfect match to Bembol Roco's Lastimosa, a man of authority who's only goal is to find the truth in all this evil around him. Their heated argument is probably one of my favorite part from the film. The same goes for agent Ben Arcinas (played by Raffy Tejada). his portrayal is so effective that you'll definitely feel the hate to his character, to the point that you would start conjuring plans in your head to bring him down yourself. There were some noteworthy appearances from TJ Trinidad, Gladys Reyes and Tessie Tomas that were so memorable and fun to watch (especially Reyes' character). Carla Humphries was such a delight to watch as journalist Joanna Bonifacio, a strong-willed, spirited young woman who was schooled in Paris. It seems like she is having a renaissance in her career: first is her short yet memorable portrayal in the Cinema One Originals horror flick Nay, and now this. I'm really looking forward to her next projects. Of course, Nonie Buencamino who plays Father Gus Saenz and Sid Lucero playing Father Jerome Lucero both deserve a round of applause for their outstanding performances in this movie. Nonie Buencamino was especially good whenever he is arguing with Ricky Davao and Carla Humphries' characters. His interactions with these two perfectly shows his control over his character. He can be clever and intimidating, but also has a soft spot.

But what makes Smaller and Smaller Circles one of the most important Filipino films of the year is it's hard-hitting social commentary on the corruption and incompetence of our government, the sexual abuse and abuse of power among the clergy and the poverty and injustice of the indigent. The film tackles them layer by layer and even though it doesn't offer much solution to these issues, the film can make it's audience think about them even after the movie has ended.

Raya Martin's Smaller and Smaller Circles is a film that needs to be seen by everyone. It's the type of film that sticks with you. One that lingers inside your head, long after the credits roll. Something that leaves a lasting impact even after you leave the cinema.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰  of 5

Smaller and Smaller Circles (2017) directed by Raya Martin, starring Nonie Buencamino, Sid Lucero, Carla Humphries, Ricky Davao, Bembol Roco and Christopher De Leon

Cinemalaya 13 : "Respeto" (2017) movie review

Don't shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. And the same can be said for movies, particularly Treb Monteras II's Cinemalaya 13 entry Respeto (2017). At first glance, I thought the film was another poverty porn indie splashed with some rap battles here and there. But I was wrong. I was dead wrong. It turns out that Respeto is way different from the movie that I had in mind. It's story is much deeper. It's themes are much heavier. And it may be the runaway winner of this year's Cinemalaya film festival.

Treb Monteras II's Respeto follows Henrdix (played in a surprisingly effective performance by Abra) a wannabe rapper who's trying to make a name for himself through the underground rap battle known as "Berso". He aspires to make it big and hopes to get out of the life that he was born with- an abusive home (his sister and her drug pusher boyfriend) and a violent surrounding (as people from their squatters village always ends up being killed by unknown assailants supposedly due to drugs). Soon, he meets Fortunato Reyes, known with his nickname Dok, an old poet and Martial Law victim (played by veteran Dido de la Paz) who ends up helping him straighten up his life and puts him in the right direction. The film also stars rapper Loonie, Kate Alejandrino, Chai Fonacier and Silvester Bagadiong. Respeto mixes music, poetry, and political satire and molds them into a surprisingly good movie.

Screenshots from the teaser

Though the film follows the character of Hendrix as he tries to find his way into the underground fliptop scene, the film jumps back and forth to Dok's story which was a perfect contrast to the young rappers life. Hendrix is trying to escape his violent and harsh reality through rap verses that often reflect his life. On the other hand, Dok is trying to escape the horrors  that is still haunting him from his past. He wrote poems to express all the guilt and emotions that's eating him up inside. The film also bravely tackles relevant themes that recently touched us and still bombarding us everyday like the lingering effects of Martial Law from the Marcos regime and the extrajudicial killings of innocent men. All of these are interwoven together in one coherent and smooth story line. 

Njel de Mesa and Alberto Monteras II's script was very witty and funny at the same time. There are some really fun and entertaining rap battles between Hendrix and other rappers insulting one another, especially during the first half of the film. Most of these are full of laugh-out-loud jokes and vulgar humor which reflects the real life nature of fliptop battles. Dok even had his own moment where he gets to diss Henrix' action and attitude, rap-battle style. But what I really loved were those beautifully written verses that Hendrix created and spoken during his quieter moments. These verses were more heartfelt and sincere, and they added more depth to his character, letting the audience realize that he's not just some wannabe rapper.

What really made the film more impactful was it's straight-forward criticism of today's government. Yes, it bravely criticizes President Duterte's regime, particularly it's violent re-enforcement of the law. There are frequent killings of supposedly drug users and pushers in Hendrix' area, most likely committed by the police. Hendrix tries his best to stay away from these things, but eventually, he will also get entangled in this web of violence that will forever change his life. Police brutality is everywhere in this world of Hendrix. His female friend even got a taste of this right in front of them in probably the most disturbing scene of the film (that frisking scene). That shocking scene really took a big toll on me. It was unsettling as fuck. The long-lasting effect of the atrocities from Martial Law during the Marcos' regime to it's victims is also a recurring theme which became a major plot point for the character of Dok in the story. The film constantly comparing the brutality during Martial Law before, to what is happening to our society nowadays. It's as history is just repeating itself.

Loonie (Top), Abra & Kate Alejandrino (Below) in Respeto

The film also boast a very powerful cast. Loonie was really fun to watch as one of the antagonist bullying Hendrix. Kate Alejendrino was great as our young hero's love interest. I've seen her before in Samantha Lee's Baka Bukas (2016) and Prime Cruz' webseries The Complex (2017) and she is amazing as ever. Her scene with Abra where she just stared at him for a moment during the third act was really heartbreaking. Also, kudos to Chai Fonacier because she was really impressive with her role of Hendrix' loyal bestfriend. Dido de la Paz gave a wonderful performance as Fortunato"Dok" Reyes. His portrayal of a Martial Law victim was so convincing and real. I remember, during the scene where he recollects the violence he and his family went through during the Marcos regime, I can really feel his pain that he has been keeping inside his heart for years. He definitely deserves that Best Supporting Award from Cinemalaya. Then, there's Abra. Who would have thought that he was an actor. A good one, to be exact. I guess the role fitted him well because he acts, he talks, he walks and he breathes exactly like his character. I couldn't think of any other person playing the role of Hendrix than Abra. He really surprised me. Well, I guess it's because he is playing a character that is close to his real life persona. It's as if he's not acting at all. It's like he's just being himself, and it makes a very big difference.

Respeto will also leave you breathless with it's heart-stopping and jaw-dropping ending. One of the most unique and most heart-wrenching endings in a Filipino movie in recent memory.

Treb Monteras II's Respeto is undeniably the breakout film of this year's Cinemalaya Film Festival. It's a very powerful film that disguises itself as a simple movie about rap battle. It's a tragedy of a young man, his mentor and how the world around them led them to destruction. It's a satire to our government's actions and brutality. It's an elegy to the dying moral of our society. Indeed, Respeto is what we need right now.


Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
Respeto (2017)

Directed by Treb Monteras II, starring Abra, Dido de la Paz, Loonie, Kate Alejandrino, Chai Fonacier,and Silvester Bagadiong

Cinemalaya 13 : "Requited" (2017) movie review

Last August 8, 2017, I was able to catch Nerissa Picadizo's Requited (2017) during it's gala night at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main theater. A romantic drama/ road movie of sorts, Requited is one of the entries of Cinemalaya 2017, which is still ongoing until August 13. It is being currently screened at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Ayala Malls cinemas namely Greenbelt 1, Glorietta 4, UP Town Center, TriNoma, Fairview Terraces, and Marquee Mall in Pampanga. According to director Nerissa Picadizo, it took her two years to complete the film. Aside from the time she spent writing the story, she also spent a long time securing funds to finance the film which added to the long production. But after seeing the final product, I guess she could be proud of her own work because of how gorgeous the film is. Also, it boasts a powerful cast with Jake Cuenca and Anna Luna leading the film.

Screenshot from the teaser

In Requited, an ailing biker takes to the rail for one last adventure that pits him against nature and the woman he desires. The film opens with Matt (played by Jake Cuenca) as he starts his journey out of the city to Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales with just his bike all by himself. He's trying to run away from something. It's as if he's trying to escape. But then, he is constantly bombarded with the ringing of his phone as a girl keeps on calling him. Eventually, he got tired of hearing the constant ringing of his phone that he ended up smashing it and throwing it along the way. He bikes along the perils of the EDSA highway to a provincial road, where he comes across the girl calling him on his phone earlier, his best friend Sandy (played by Anna Luna) from whom he had become distant to for some period of time. Sandy tags along with him on his trip, which is later revealed to be a plan that the two of them made years ago. Soon, we discover about Matt suffering from Parkinsons Disease and why he started to  grow distant from his best friend. And as the title suggest, it has something to do with an unrequited love for her.

The movie actually starts out really good and shows some promise. The script, which was written by Nerissa Picadizo herself, doesn't want to focus on building up it's characters through too much exposition in the very beginning of the film. Instead, we get to see the two characters come to life through a slow yet effective manner. This is not your usual romantic drama where we immediately get the background of the lead characters during the first ten minutes of the film. Instead, Requited is a slow burn drama that takes it time slowly but surely. The production team behind the film also tags the Requited as a bike film, and it's true. Almost 80 percent of the film, the two characters are just biking. Sometimes, they're arguing. Sometimes, just having a normal chat. All of it while they're cruising through highways on their bikes. Though it may sound weird on paper, it actually works on screen as it is the main aspect of the film that keeps the story pushing forward.

The only thing that really turned me off was the film's shocking (and not exactly in a good way) ending which kind of ruined the great story and wasted the two characters that the audience had already fell in love with. This particular scene came out of nowhere and caught everyone off guard, with varying results. There were some audience members who laughed at this while I almost cursed out loud after seeing what happened. This ending felt rushed and was executed improperly. Maybe it would have worked if it was done in another way. I don't know. But this ending really took a big chunk out of the beautiful story that the movie was telling.

Luckily, the film was saved from this by it's two lead stars' committed performances. Anna Luna's portrayal of Sandy was fun and energetic. She gave the movie a light feeling despite it's sad tone. She elicited a few laughs from the audience. There was even one instance that the whole theater was roaring with laughter with one of her scenes featuring a hotdog on a stick. Her character's quirky attitude really suited her and everyone loved her. Jake Cuenca gives out quite a performance as the ailing Matt. I don't know any other actor who could fit perfectly with that role. It's not only emotionally draining but also physically demanding, yet he was able to pull it off with flying colors. During the film's first ten minutes, Matt bikes along EDSA through a provincial road continuously. Jake Cuenca was able to endure this non-stop biking, while acting at the same time in front of the camera. You can really feel the difficulty he's going through right now with his facial expressions and body movement which translated so well on screen. I was really amazed that he was able to take this challenge of playing Matt and honestly, he's a good contender for the Best Actor award with this performance.

Another saving grace of the film was it's gorgeous cinematography. The film features some pretty cool shots of the two characters cruising along the province on their way to Mt. Pinatubo. Most of these scenes are along the highway, with vast greens or barren lands stretching at both sides giving the shot more depth than usual. But the film gets more jaw-dropping visuals once the two arrive at the trail of Mt. Pinatubo. There's one beautifully shot scene featuring the two characters were biking through the rocky terrain to Pinatubo, where Sandy stops for a while and Matt comes back to check on her (I think this was the scene they used in the teaser). That scene was absolutely stunning as you get a glimpse of the wide land formations stretching in their background. This is the type of movie that you will enjoy more when you watch it in the big screen.

Even though the film's ending was a out of place and felt rushed, the film is still undeniably a good movie during it's first two acts. See it for Jake Cuenca and Anna Luna's brilliant performances. Watch it for it's glorious visual feast. Requited offers enough good stuff to make it worth the time.




Rating: ✰✰✰✰ of 5
Requited (2017)
Directed by Nerissa Picadizo, starring Jake Cuenca and Anna Luna

Cinemalaya 13 : "Nabubulok" (2017) movie review

Last August 14, 2016, the ten finalists for Cinemalaya 2017 were announced at the Cinemalaya 2016 Awards night held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. One of the entries that caught my attention right away was Nabubulok by Sonny Calvento. In the story, Luna is missing. Jason Harper, her American husband, is alleged of killing her. As Jason intends to leave the country, circumstances conspire to avert his plan. After reading the synopsis, I immediately got curious about the film and has since been looking forward for it.

Now, this is actually my first time watching a Cinemalaya entry during the festival run itself. Last year, I was able to watch Jason Paul Laxamana's "Mercury is Mine" when the film got extended screenings after the festival due to popular demands. Then, I was able to catch Eduardo Roy Jr.'s "Pamilya Ordinaryo" earlier this year during a screening in UP Cine Adarna. So technically, this is the first time I was able to experience the Cinemalaya festival. And I couldn't be more happy because Nabubulok will be the first ever Cinemalaya movie I will be reviwing during the festival itself.

Sonny Calvento's Nabubulok (2017) centers in a sleepy town in an island in Panay, where a Filipina went missing. But the neighbors didn't need to look far for a suspect. They believed that her American husband killed her. But there was no body. No evidence. No proof. Only speculations. It happened in 2002. It happened in real life. The movie opens with the disappearance of Luna (Sue Prado). When their family's laundress and Luna's cousin Ingrid starts asking the husband, Jason Harper (Billy Ray Gallion) and their son, Paul (Jameson Blake), both are mum and aloof. As if they are hiding something inside their house, which they always kept closed from the curious eyes of outsiders with it's big metal gate. Everyone starts to smell something terrible coming from inside their lot. Soon, she starts becoming suspicious of Jason's actions and becomes convinced that he is responsible for the disappearance of her cousin, fearing that Jason has killed his wife Luna. Soon, the story spreads like wildfire among the neighborhood and the search for Luna begins.

A crime drama based on a true story, Sonny Calvento's Nabubulok feels like a throwback to the 90's heydays when crime movies were a popular genre in the country. But instead of just telling a straight-forward re-telling of the crime itself, he decided to tell a story where we see different versions of the truth and how it changes our own perspective on what's real and what's not. To quote the legendary Robert Evans, "there are three sides to every story; your side, my side, the truth." The story shifts focus from one character to another, telling their own versions of the truth. This is all the information we get from the characters, and the audience is left to build the truth with these pieces of information through our own imagination. This allows for a much more interactive experience as the audience themselves become investigators on their own, trying to deduce the truth behind the disappearance of Luna. The movie plays like a murder mystery where the audience are given clues that at first, feels like it will lead you to something. But then, eventually we discover that most of these are just red herrings, aiming to misguide you and lead you to the wrong direction. Then, there's the satirical take on the governments attitude towards the Americans. But we won't be focusing on that anymore.

Back to the film, it's gritty, disturbing atmosphere is felt from it's first until it's final frame. The movie opens with sounds of something cracking (like bones being broken to pieces) which sets the unsettling mood of the film. The cinematography also adds up to the overall atmosphere of the film. The shaky handheld shots gives the scenes a realistic approach which is reminiscent of Brillante Mendoza's "Ma' Rosa" (2016). With it's darkly lit scenes, even the daylight moments, you'll immediately feel the gloomy and depressing tone of the film. Also, I can't help but notice the color coding of the three acts of the film which reminds me of Chito Rono's "The Healing" (2012). In the first act, as suspicions starts to rise amongs the people around the Harper family, we see the color red in almost every scene, from paint to a design on one character's shirt. I thought it was just a coincidence at first. But then the second act began and the color blue starts to appear everywhere, from the background to the filters of the shots. It's as if it's representing the agitation felt by almost all the characters as we starts to learn more of Luna's secrets. Then, the color yellow splashes all over the final act signifying desperation and hopelessness of the characters. It was actually intriguing and interesting as it adds uniqueness to the way the story escalates from one act to another.

The film's ensemble of actors and actresses also added to the film's strength. Most of the characters here are flawed, just like normal people, and the casts were able properly translate that into the film. Ms. Gina Alajar was really fun to watch as her character Ingrid is driven to the edge with her suspicions and fears about what happened to her cousin. It's a delight to see the very talented JC Santos again on screen after his stint in "Sakaling Hindi Makarating" (2016). Lito Pimentel and Sue Prado were also great additions to the powerhouse cast. But the one that really got my attention was Billy Ray Gallion and Jameson Blake. Billy Ray Gallion's portrayal of Luna's husband Jason Harper was perfect. He is menacing in every scene, adding more reason to suspect him as the film goes along. But then the second act, we see his character's softer side as a father trying to protect his children and we starts to doubt our own suspicions. Jameson Blake has wowed everyone in his first indie stint with last year's 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten. Here in this movie, though we don't see him in a lot, he still amazes me whenever he is present in the scene. His character don't talk that much, and he is left the challenge of projecting his thoughts and feelings through his eyes and it is very effective. There's something unsettling with the way his eyes projects. It's as if his stares are piercing through you. There's sadness in him, but you'll also  feel the fear and desperation slowly eating him up.



The film ends with a title card stating what happened to the Harper family after the events depicted in the movie. But despite that, the audience are still left wondering: did they actually solved the mystery behind the disappearance of Luna? There's doubt lingering in me long after the credits roll. And until now, I am still curious what really happened to her. This is what makes Sonny Calvento's Nabubulok memorable. Part crime drama/ part satire on the country's status towards the US today, the film is a finely tuned, slow burn true crime story with an effective mystery that sticks with you long after the movie ends. It leaves a bittersweet aftertaste in you, a realization that just like the characters in the story, there is darkness present in everyone of us.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰ of 5
Nabubulok (2017)
Directed by Sonny Calvento, starring Gina Alajar, JC Santos, Jameson Blake and Billy Ray Gallion.

Featured: Jameson Blake of NABUBULOK (2017)

Jameson Blake plays Paul Harper in "Nabubulok"

Sonny Calvento's Nabubulok, an official entry to the 2017 Cinemalaya Film Festival, kicked off it's screenings last August 7, 2017. The true crime drama is based on a story that happened in 2002 in a sleepy town in an island in Panay, where a Filipina went missing. But the neighbors didn't need to look far for a suspect. They believed that her American husband killed her. But there was no body. No evidence. No proof. Only speculations.

The film features a powerhouse cast led by Gina Alajar, JC Santos, Billy Ray Gallion and Jameson Blake. During one of their first screenings in Trinoma, I was able to catch one of the film's lead stars Jameson Blake and was lucky enough to have a short interview of him.

Q: After winning the Best Supporting Actor award for your performance in 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten from last year's Cinema One Originals film festival, was there any pressure in you getting another acting award this year with your next film?

Jameson: Well, actually, di naman ako umaasa. And actually, after I got the award, it motivated me na to do more acting,. So it doesn't really matter kung mananalo ako ng award o hindi, pero you know, I'm always aiming for that. But I'm not hoping. I'm not keeping my hopes up for the award.

Q: What attracted you to join this film project Nabubulok?

Jameson: Well, kase yung director namin sa 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten, tapos yung director namin dito (sa Nabubulok) si Direk Sonny, friends sila. Habang nagte-taping kami for 2 Cool, biglang in-invite niya ako para sa audition for Nabubulok. So I went there. Para siyang private go-see. So ayun, after kong manalo ng Best Supporting Actor, kinuha nila ako. It was confirmed na.

Q: What's the difference with your character Maxim from 2 Cool, with your role here in Nabubulok as Paul Harper?

Jameson: Both of my characters dito at sa 2 Cool, they're both dark. Pero ito, dark in a secret way. Si Maxim naman was dark in a... a heroic kind of way. It was more of the dark side talaga. Si Paul naman, he's just a really passive person. And he's very quiet.

Q: So how does it feel that after your successful stint in 2 Cool, you immediately got three new film projects: Nabubulok for Cinemalaya, Nay for this year's Cinema One Originals and Haunted Forest, a mainstream horror pic with Regal Films?

Jameson: Sobrang nakakatuwa kase I never really expected na magkakaroon ako ng ganito kadaming projects after sa first indie kong 2 Cool 2 Be 4gotten. Tapos biglang dalawa agad and it's upcoming na. It's a blessing. I just have to focus, work hard. I'm happy. I'm happy sa mga dumating na projects sa akin.

Q: Describe Nabubulok in three words.

Jameson: Uhm... Mysterious. Dark. And... Unexpected.

Catch Jameson Blake as Paul Harper in Sonny Calvento's Nabubulok, an official entry to the 2017 Cinemalaya Film Festival.