Movie Review : "Sin Island" (2018)

Star Cinema's latest Valentine offering is probably it's most risqué and controversial film to date. A titillating and suspenseful erotic thriller, "Sin Island" is a movie you will not expect from a big company outfit like Star Cinema which is known for it's family-friendly comedies and romance flicks. And that makes this movie even more exciting. 

Directed by Gino M. Santos, "Sin Island" tells the story of a picture-perfect married couple David (Xian Lim) and Kanika (Coleen Garcia) whose paradise in each other’s arms will be put to the test as she enters into a dangerous affair shortly after his career tanks into a downward spiral. As David discovers Kanika’s transgressions, he flees to Sinilaban Island where he meets and engages in a carnal affair with a girl named Tasha (Nathalie Hart). Despite their mistakes, the couple decides to rekindle their marriage, but Tasha refuses to let go of David.

The film starts off in a rather slow but effective introduction to the pitch perfect marriage of David and Kanika. As the story progresses, we witness David plunge into depression after his business falls down the drain. Because of what event, he eventually gave up on life and retreated into staying at home, cleaning the house and doing home based works. On the other hand, Kanika ends up feeling like she is the only one carrying their whole marriage and becomes exhausted of trying to bring back the old David. She ends up being attracted to a pilot (TJ Trinidad) which David soon discovers. This forced him to take the chance to getaway to Sinilaban Island (hence the title) where he meets Tasha whom he became close and ends up sleeping with her. But Kanika soon realizes that he loves her husband more so he goes after him and decided to fight for their marriage.

The film is basically a rip-off of other past erotic thrillers we have seen in he past like Fatal Attraction (1987) and The Boy Next Door (2015),. But what makes this film much more enjoyable than those mentioned is that the film knows how to have fun. And this is very evident with the laughter and screams inside the cinema when we watched the movie. Gino M. Santos is one of the most promising filmmakers of this country today. And so far, "Sin Island" is his most fun and entertaining film to date. 

Xian Lim took quite a big risk in accepting the role of David. It was so refreshing to see him in a character like this because we have been so accustomed to seeing him in romance comedies and dramas before. Coleen Garcia was really good in portraying the role of Kanika. She has definitely gone a long way when it comes to her acting since her first movie, the indie film #Y (also under the direction of Gino M. Santos). But the real break-out star of this film is Nathalie Hart who plays the antagonist Tasha. She is like the equivalent of Anne Curtis' Kara in "No Other Woman" and Glenn Close's Alex in "Fatal Attraction". Her character goes through a lot of transformation all throughout the film and she was able to be consistent in her character. She also gets to throw most of the film's funniest and unforgettable lines like "I only give my puta self to the man I love."

Technical-wise, this is one gorgeous picture. From the beautiful location of the island to the stunning cinematography, everything is just so pretty and perfect. The scene when David and Tasha first had sex was probably one of the most beautifully shot bed scenes I've seen. It's actually way better than the past "Fifty Shades" movies combined. The execution and direction of the scene was so artistic and sexy at the same time. Then, there are those zoom in shots of the characters which add some campy feel to the movie, like those films from the 80's.And don't start me with that alluring soundtrack featuring KZ Tandingan's cover of "Isang Linggong Pag-ibig".

 The film itself is made more fun because of the sudden shifts in tone from the first to the second half of the film. It change gears and turns into a "Fatal Attraction" type of thriller that will shock viewers and put everyone at the edge of their seats. People were really screaming during the final act of the film and it was so fun hearing them. I must say that Gino M. Santos definitively knows his genre because he maneuvers the film smoothly and very effectively. If he has other plans for a movie like this, then I am looking forward to it.

"Sin Island" is the type of movie best seen when you're with someone, with your partner of friends. It's a sexy yet fun and exciting roller-coaster ride of emotions. An intoxicating serving of a film that is worth the price of admission.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰  of 5

Movie Review : Mr. & Mrs. Cruz (2018)

After the surprise box-office smash hit of 2017, Kita Kita, director Sigrid Bernardo is back to give us another romance film that will surely give us the feels. Mr. & Mrs. Cruz stars JC Santos and Ryza Cenon as two strangers with similar surnames who cross paths during their soul-searching trip in Palawan. The film is produced by Viva Film who gave us last year's tearjerker, 100 Tula Para Kay Stella, together with Spring Films, the same team behind the movie Kita Kita.

The film follows two strangers, Raffy (JC Santos) and Gela (Ryza Cenon) who flew to Palawan to have some time alone and away from everything else. In a surprising twist of fate, both of them share the same surname: Cruz. This caused an assumption in every people they meet that they are a couple. Eventually, they decided to just pretend that they are a couple and started touring the province together, eventually learning one another's past heartbreaks and getting to know each other. The question is... will they still choose to stay together as Mr. and Mrs. Cruz by the end of their trip?

The film's premise may be a bit familiar to moviegoers as it will remind us of films like That Thing Called Tadhana (2015) or I'm Drunk, I Love you (2017). It features characters travelling around different places in the country as they try to find their-selves while on a road-trip. These road-themed romance films usually features one province, like Sagada (That Thing Called Tadhana) or La Union (I'm Drunk, I Love You) and incorporates the setting into it's story. This movie is no different from these films because the film's setting (Palawan, in this case) also plays a big role in the film's proceedings. Without spoiling anything, most of the movie (except some flashbacks) happened in Palawan-it starts and ends there. The film uses the amazing beauty of Palawan to it's advantage. Every scene is carefully framed and shot to make sure that it will highlight the beauty of the province. The film's shots of the Underground River are truly breathtaking. One can almost feel and taste the clear blue waters of Coron through it's majestic shots. The movie was indeed a great venue to promote the province of Palawan and it's tourist attractions.

The film had some weird moments where the two protagonist suddenly get isolated from the rest of the world. The two characters suddenly being left alone in a boat while cruising the Underground River. The two protagonists dancing while bubbles suddenly flew out of nowhere. As if everyone else around them didn't existed. But aside from these awkward moments, the film was really entertaining and is filled with scenes that will make audiences squeal.

The film's story is quite simple at first, but it gets complicated as we get to know these two characters more. There's more to their story before coming to the island, and this is where the film get's much of it's hugot. These two characters relive each other's past heartbreaks, bringing back all the drama and pain that they've tried so hard to forget. The good thing about this film is that the pain that these characters are experiencing felt so realistic. The actors are very capable in making us believe that these two characters are real humans like us and through them, we can definitely feel that pain. Anyone who has loved before can definitely relate to their characters.

There were some very short moments that admittedly was feeling a bit slow, but they're not that noticeable when looking back at the movie as a whole. The good thing about the movie is that director Sigrid made sure that it takes it's time in building up our two protagonists, Raffy and Gela. Each one's past is slowly revealed through the two character's discussions and conversations. At first, this setup might look boring but JC Santos and Ryza Cenon did a pretty good job in giving life to these characters that we are so hooked to hearing more of their stories and learning more about their lives before. Their self-aware characters were really fun to watch as they deconstruct different concepts of love and marriage and stereotypes of romance and relationships. 

The two of them make for a great pair onscreen. Ryza Cenon was amazing as Gela. This movie was a great way to showcase her acting prowess because her talent was on full display here. In one of the film's most memorable moments inside a bar where the two protagonist are discussing about their pasts while drinking, she shined in her character as she played it with full conviction. JC Santos always impressed me every time I see him in the big screen. From his heartbreaking performance as Fidel in 100 Tula Para Kay Stella last year, he was able to transform into a whole new character with Raffy. He has this great sensibility which aptly matches Ryza Cenon's.

Though not as impactful as director Sigrid's previous effort Kita Kita, the film's ending will still leave a mark in audience's hearts as we watch a fairy-tale come to it's conclusion. The realistic ending borders between sad and hopeful, it's as if the movie is asking us to think what are the possibilities long after the credits roll. It has this lasting effect on you, and it will keep you thinking: what will happen next? 

All in all, the film is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking. It is another great addition to director Sigrid's profile as a director, and a great showcase of talent for it's cast.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰  of 5

Movie Review : Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes (2018)

Star Cinema opens the year 2018 with a bang as they bring together two of the country's box-office queens in one big movie. Judy Ann Santos and Angelica Panganiban both star in Jun Lana's comedy "Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes".  The film marks the reunion of Judy Ann Santos and Angelica Panganiban, who first worked together in the hit 2001 ABS-CBN teleserye "Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka". The film also marks the return of Judy Ann and Angelica to the comedy genre.

In "Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes", Judy Ann Santos and Angelica Panganiban play devoted wives Lianne and Cindy, respectively, who got cheated on by their husbands who turn out to be gay. With their combined forces, they will make sure their exes don’t get what they took away from them: a happy ending. JC de Vera and Joross Gamboa plays Felix Reyes and Gary Reyes respectively, the cheating husbands of Lianne and Cindy. The film also features a star-studded ensemble, led by Gladys Reyes, Carmi Martin, Andrea Brillantes, Nico Antonio, Cai Cortez, Wilma Doesnt, Quark Henares and Kim Molina. The film is directed by Die Beautiful's Jun Robles Lana and is produced by Star Cinema, Quantum Films and IdeaFirst Company.

The film opens with Lianne and her friend discussing about the possibility that her husband, Gary, is having an affair with another woman. Lianne tries to get her husband's passion for their relationship by making herself sexier, even going as far as having a breast transplant. But it turns out that her husband isn't attracted to her anymore because he is already seeing someone else- another man, to her surprise. On the other hand, Cindy, is being pressured by her mother(monster)-in-law to have a baby already with her husband, Felix. Unfortunately, she wakes up one day only to find out that he has left her for another man. After a series of events, Lianne and Cindy discovers that their husbands are having an affair and decided to conjure a plan to make the lives of their exes to be miserable. 

At first glance, "Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes" looks like just another comedy film. But the truth is that the film is actually much deeper than you think. The film is perhaps one of the riskiest projects from Star Cinema in years, one that you wouldn't expect from the country's biggest movie company. The film bravely tackles different mature themes that are all relevant in today's society. Although most of the time, they use these themes to induce laughter from the audience, they are committed to discussing these themes in a serious and relatable manner to give lessons to the viewers. I love how the film tackles a different side of infidelity in marriages. Here, we are given two sides of the coin, the other is from Gary and Felix' point of view. They just want to be truthful to their-selves and they want to be free from everything that is keeping them from revealing their real identities. So they finally decided to come out of the closet so that the two of them can be together, which is what other people would always advise us. But on the other side of the story, we discover that their decision caused others to suffer, particularly Lianne and Cindy. Their wives are left heartbroken after learning that their husbands have cheated on them, and they are left asking themselves where did they go wrong. The film doesn't take sides between the two parties. Instead, it lets the audience realize the consequences of the actions of both parties involved and wants us to understand things from both perspectives.

The film also touches themes of the identification of the LGBT community. The film tackles the different gender identification of the LGBT to shed a bit of light to it's viewers. In one of the film's best moments - scene inside a noodle house - Gary and Felix explains to their wives their identifications. Gary sees himself as a woman while Felix identifies himself as a hetero-flexible, someone who is mostly straight but is still attractive to the same sex. This is probably the first mainstream movie that featured this type of topic in it's storyline. Aside from this, the movie also preaches audiences about the effects of social media and how one simple post online can cause negative effects to the people involved. It gives us an idea on how cyber-bullying can ruin someone else's life, if we are not careful and responsible enough in using social media. Regarding the film's humor, I must say that this is Star Cinema's freshest comedies to date. This is definitely not your regular Vice Ganda comedy. The film is infused with Jun Lana's absurd sense of humor. It pulls laughter from the audience through various aspects, one of which features Judy Ann Santos cursing out loud, a first in movie history. The movie's brand of comedy is very mature, hence the R-13 rating from the MTRCB.

The film's cast deserves a lot of credit in pulling off this film. All the cast were very effective in their roles. Joross Gamboa was believable in portraying Gary, who slowly transitions into a woman all throughout the film. This is probably his best performance to date, way better than the one from Deadma Walking. JC De Vera was also great in his portrayal of Felix. But the film really belongs to Judy Ann Santos and Angelica Panganiban, both who take great risks in their roles here. Angelica Panganiban's performance is reminiscent of her portrayal in Here Comes the Bride and Beauty in a Bottle. Her comic timing was on point and very effective. On the other hand, Judy Ann Santos breaks her reserved persona in this film to take on this very demanding role. Her character cursing out loud is probably the best moments of them. Every time we hear her, we can't help but break into laughter. But aside from their comic timing, Angelica and Judy Ann also manages to show off their acting prowess during the film's heavy moments, inducing a tear or two from the audiences.

Entertaining and thought-provoking from start to finish, "Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes" promises not only laughs but so much more.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰  of 5

MMFF 2017 Movie Review : Julius Alfonso's "Deadma Walking"

It's tricky and unconventional story makes this MMFF dramedy a stand-out against the rest of this year's film fest entries.

Based on Eric Cabahug's award-winning screenplay (second place, Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature 2016), this out-of-this-world musical dramedy is sure to give this year's MMFF a different taste. Directed by Julius Alfonso and produced under T-Rex Productions, Deadma Walking stars Edgar Allan Guzman and Joross Gamboa as two gay bestfriends who fakes the latter's own death to attend his own wake to hear his friends views on him. The film also stars Candy Pangilinan, Nico Antonio, Dimples Romana, Gerald Anderson and Vin Abrenica in supporting roles and is an official entry to the 43rd Metro Manila Film Festival.

John Samson (Joross Gamboa) and Mark (Edgar Allan Guzman) are two gay best friends- John is a successful businessman while Mark is a sales agent and a part time theater actor. John soon discover that he is ill, and has only a year or two to live. Because of this, he comes up with a plan and asks his best friend to help him: they will  fake his own death so that he can attend his own wake to hear his friends and other people's views on him. Everything turns out okay, until his estranged sister, Mary (Dimples Romana) who had misunderstandings with her brother John as she was not able to go home when their mother died, comes home only to see the wake for her brother. Tensions arise as more people from John's past comes back to pay their respects for him. Secrets will be revealed. Relationships will be tested. Can they complete their mission to create the grandest and most fabulous (fake) funeral the world is yet to see? 

At first, Deadma Walking's central plot may turn off viewers, especially to those people who are accustomed to the regular holiday themed comedies of the Metro Manila Film Festival. It's story revolves around death, or to be specific, about a man who is waiting for his own death. It's theme is very dark and off-putting for a film that is shown during the Christmas season. But it's unusual and unconventional story is what makes this musical dramedy stand-out among the rest of this year's film fest entries. And although it is being compared to 2016's Die Beautiful, I actually enjoyed and liked Deadma Walking more than the other.

Death is a very tricky subject, and when it's not done the right way, everything will turn awkward and uninviting to the film's viewers. Luckily, director Julius Alfonso managed to handle the material very well because everything turned out good. He was able to put enough balance of everything in the film. There's enough humor to entertain audiences. There's lots of drama to keep the audience engaged. There's also a bit of musical performances, adding more color and energy to this film. To it's credit, the musical scenes are really well done. Although Ang Larawan is still the best musical of the festival, Deadma Walking has the better song and dance opening sequence.

Regarding the film's humor, I must commend Eric Cabahug's screenplay. It's witty and full of laugh-out-loud jokes, particularly the ones thrown by Mark's character. Some of the jokes maybe hit-or-miss, but most of them were really funny. As for the dramatic aspect of the film, they were actually good. The way they handled the relationship between John and Mary was great, and they were able to make the audiences sympathize with them. And of course, the story of John and Mark's friendship is truly heartfelt and will pinch your heart. Everything was good in the film, except for the twist in the film's finale which I felt was done in haste. I think it could have been executed in a better fashion since it concerns one of the main characters. But in the end, what matters is that it was able to relay the context of the twist and move the story forward.

The film's cast is also one of the main reasons why this film works. Candy Pangilinan was really fun to watch despite the supporting role. Nico Antonio and Bobby Andrews were also great additions to the cast. It was really funny to see Gerlad Anderson and Vin Abrenica in this movie, as it was quite unusual to see them in mainstream projects that tackles homosexual themes like this. Dimples Romana was really outstanding as John's brother, Mary. She's definitely one of the most underrated actresses of this country. But despite getting just supporting roles, she manages to wow everyone with her heart-wrenching performance in this movie. The star-studded cameos were a delight to watch, from Eugene Domingo, Piolo Pascual, Sue Ramirez (although I'm not sure what exactly her purpose was), Jason Abalos, Matt Evans, and many more. But the most insane and probably the best and most unforgettable cameo was from Iza Calzado. I was laughing hysterically with her unexpected appearance in this movie (I knew she was in the film based on the trailer, but I did not expected how her cameo would be like).

But above all, this is Joross Gamboa and Edgar Allan Guzman's movie, and they definitely owned it. Joross Gamboa deserves praise for his committed performance as John. He nailed the character with flying (rainbow) colors. His best moment would be those with Dimples Romana, and this one particular scene in the film's ending as he was lying alone in a cemetery. Edgar Allan Guzman's award-winning portrayal of Mark is truly outstanding. He definitely deserves the (Best Actor, NOT just the Best Supporting Actor) acting award, no doubt about it.

So if you are looking for something unique from this year's Metro Manila Film Festival, this movie is for you. Deadma Walking is a unique, funny, witty and at times heartwarming surprise from this year's festival. Watch it, and give your MMFF experience a different flavor.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰  of 5

"Deadma Walking" (2017) Directed by Julius Alfonso, starring Edgar Allan Guzman and Joross Gamboa with Candy Pangilinan, Nico Antonio, Dimples Romana, Gerald Anderson and Vin Abrenica, produced under T-Rex Productions. An official entry to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.

MMFF 2017 Movie Review : Ian Loreños' "Haunted Forest"

Old school horror gets a millennial twist in this MMFF entry from Regal Films.

The annual Metro Manila Film Festival promises that there's a movie for each and every one. And for those seeking thrills and chills during the Christmas season, here's one movie that you may want to check out. One of the biggest participants of the annual MMFF, Regal Films, wasn't able to get a slot in last year's festival. But now, Regal Films is proud to present their latest horror movie offering and their official entry to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival. Haunted Forest, directed by Ian Loreños, stars teen horror princess Jane Oineza (from this year's Bloody Crayons) paired with Cinema One Originals 2016 Best Supporting Actor  Jameson Blake. They are joined by Maris Racal, Jon Lucas with Raymart Santiago and Joey Marquez.

Screenshots from the trailer

Haunted Forest revolves Aris (Raymart Santiago) and his estranged daughter, Nica (Jane Oineza). When Aris was reassigned back to his hometown, he immediately starts on a case investigating a murder which is staged similarly to the death of a childhood friend that haunts him. While his father is away, Nica, her cousin and her local friends went for an outing where she encounters a creature of local folklore, the Sitsit. The creature becomes very fond of her and soon, weird things start happening to her. She tries to shake it off at first, but it gets worse day after day, until the creature takes a hold of her. Can Aris save his daughter from the evil hiding in the woods? Can they stop the Sitsit once and for all before it gets to claim another life?

Back in 2015, Regal Films brought us Jun Lana's shockfest Haunted Mansion which starred Janella Salvador. And because of the similar titles, I can't help but think that Haunted Forest is that film's spiritual sequel. But Haunted Forest is very different from the Jun Lana horror flick. Unlike the 2015 film fest entry which focused on non-stop shocks and jump scares here and there, Ian Loreños' film is more focused on playing with audience's emotions through the movie's characters. It doesn't rely on shocks and jump scares to send chills to it's audiences. Instead, the film puts audiences into a roller coaster ride by placing it's characters into different, horrible situations. Although the film mostly follows a typical old school horror flick, they also had surprising turns in the story that I didn't expected.

Story wise, the film is more akin to the Regal's classic horror movies of the past. It follows traditional folklore and introduces a mythical creature as it's main antagonist. It's plays out like an old school monster movie, similar to Mark Reyes' Tiyanaks (2007), Rico Ilarde's Pridyider (2012) and the successful Shake, Rattle and Roll series. The film's premise is quite simple. But because of it's simplicity, the film was able to smoothly tell the story without any hiccups. It doesn't need any major plot twists to make it interesting because the film's weirdness is what makes it unique. The film also incorporates a bit of humor into the story, making it more fun all throughout.

The film's main antagonist, the Sitsit, is also one of the creepiest things I've seen in a local film this year, alongside the demon in the library in Katski Flores' Ang Pagsanib kay Leah Dela Cruz. Although it is obvious that the monster is just a man wearing a costume and prosthetic, it sure does  look pretty terrifying. The spirits of the creature's victims also looked so creepy with their make-up. The film's setting also looks good and suited the story, particularly the location of the woods where the gigantic banyan-like tree is found in the story. The only problem I had was the computer generated effects they used in the film. For the most part, they were okay. But there were a lot of moments when the CGI effects are pretty clunky and looked so fake. This is very evident during the film's final act. I wished they just stick with using practical effects instead of CGI because it kind of distracting.

The film's cast also deserve some praise in making the film work. Raymart Santiago was believable as Aris, Nica's father. Dido Dela Paz was an unexpected but nice surprise. Joey Marquez and Beverly Sarmiento were both fun additions to the movie. Jon Lucas and Maris Racal looked so great together as Andre and Mich respectively, although they weren't given enough screen time together. I wished their characters were explored a bit more. Jameson Blake is adorable in his role here as RJ. His charm is filling up the screen every time he's in it. With those dimples, he always makes the girls in the audience swoon over him. He is perfectly paired with Jane Oineza. She truly deserves some praise for her committed performance as Nica. After her head-turning performance in the recent horror thriller Bloody Crayons, it's really good to see her again in the big screen. Honestly, she is one of the most underrated actresses of this generation and I believe that she can do more. I am grateful that Regal Films gave her this chance to star in this movie. She was really able to display her acting prowess with this role, and for me, she deserves some nomination for Best Actress in this year's MMFF awards.

To be honest, the film isn't that scary especially for someone who have seen dozens of horror movies in the past like me (as I'm already immune to feeling scared), BUT I really had a good time watching it. I must say that this is one of the most fun local horror movies that came out this year. I particularly loved the final act of the film as the main characters try to fight the Sitsit. It was so exciting and thrilling, even the audience inside the theater where I watched it were screaming and cheering. It kind of reminds me of the final act of Hollywood horror film It that came out earlier this year.

Haunted Forest is one weird, but fun horror movie that is best enjoyed with family or friends. It has it's moments of creepiness, and is a highly entertaining ride from start to finish and promises audiences a good time in the cinema this holiday season.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰  of 5

Haunted Forest (2017) directed by Ian Loreños, starring Jane Oineza, Jameson Blake, Maris Racal, Jon Lucas with Raymart Santiago and Joey Marquez, produced by Regal Films. An official entry to the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.

MMFF 2017 Movie Review : Loy Arcenas' "Ang Larawan"

"Life, like art, is intricate." So is this beautiful big screen adaptation of one of the most celebrated plays by Nick Joaquin.

It's the time of the year again for the country's biggest and most anticipated film event, the Metro Manila Film Festival. And even though I am very disappointed with the MMFF focusing again on commercial viability for it's criteria this year and turning this festival into nothing but a money-making scheme, I am still excited to see some of the festival's entries, particularly this one. I used to have a tradition of watching only comedy films on Christmas Day. But this year, I decided to break away from that tradition to see this one.

Ang Larawan is the film adaptation of Larawan, The Musical which is based on National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin’s three-act English play A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. First published in 1952, Joaquin’s work has been depicted numerous times on stage on screen and in English and Filipino—making it one of the most pedigreed literary works of the Philippines. In 1997, Musical Theater Philippines (now Culturtain Musicat Productions Inc. ) headed by singer Celeste Legaspi and talent manager/producer Girlie Rodis staged Larawan, the first musical rendition of Joaquin’s great play, at the CCP. The elegaic play was transformed into a musical with a libretto written by National Artist for Theater Rolando Tinio and music created by iconic original Filipino music composer Ryan Cayabyab. This year, Culturtain with the help of supervising producer Alemberg Ang, shares Ang Larawan, The Movie with the global audience. Loy Arcenas, a multi-awarded Broadway theatrical set designer and director, was at the helm of the much-awaited film. The film had it's premiere last October 30, 2017 in Japan as part of the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival. Set in a mansion in Manila in 1941 just before the Pacific War, Ang Larawan is a romantic family-themed musical with brilliant singing by world-renowned musical stars.

Rachel Alejandro as Paula and Joanna Ampil as Candida
Source: Ang Larawan official website

Joanna Ampil and Rachel Alejandro with Sandino Martin as Bitoy

The film follows the Marasigan sisters, Candida (Joanna Ampil) and Paulo (Rachel Alejandro) as they struggle living in poverty in their ancestral home with their reclusive artist father Don Lorenzo. Their siblings Manolo (Nonie Buencamino) and Pepang (Menchu Lauchengco) who both live luxuriously kept on convincing them to sell the house, but they always reject the idea. The last painting that their father finished before he got into his "accident" can save them from poverty, but the sisters don't want to give up their father's final masterpiece. They try to find ways of earning money, like renting out a room to a piano player at a local vaudeville, Tony Javier (Paulo Avelino) who also tries to convince them to sell the painting. The sisters struggle to resist all the temptations around them, hoping to keep their father's final masterpiece, maintaining their family legacy and tradition.

To start off, this is probably the most stunning local film production this year. From the sets to the costumes that they've utilized in the film, everything is top notch. They really took the time and effort in maintaining the period setting of the story, even to the most minute detail. Despite being situated in a single location, the house of the Marasigans, the setting never looked boring or tiring. The costumes are gorgeous, especially when the scene involves other characters. The overall look of the film is a visual feast to the eyes.

Menchu Lauchengco as Pepang and Nonie Buencamino as Manolo

Paulo Avelino as Tony Javier

Another thing that I liked about the film is it's beautiful soundtrack. I loved all the songs that they performed in the film, which were all composed by maestro Ryan Cayabyab and were rendered by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. I loved the fact that unlike most musicals, the songs are not treated as musical numbers or set pieces. Instead, the dialogues were integrated/ blended with the music so that the introduction of the songs have a smooth flow, similar to Tom Hooper's 2012 adaptation of Les Misérables. I particularly loved the song number of the vivacious senator's wife Doña Loleng (Celeste Legaspi) upon her arrival at the house of the sisters, together with Conga Queen Elsa Montes (Zsa Zsa Padilla). It was one of the most fun and energetic performances in the film. 

Cara Manglapis as Patsy, Robert Arevalo as Don Perico, Celeste Legaspi as Donya Loleng

Aicelle Santos as Violet and Cris Villonco as Susan

The cast itself is enough reason to see the film. This is one of the best movie ensemble in a local production this year. With the likes of Cris Villonco as Susan, Aicelle Santos as Violet, Nonie Buencamino as Manolo, Menchu Lauchengco as Pepang, Robert Arevalo as Don Perico and Celeste Legaspi as Doña Loleng, the supporting cast is already packed with so much talent that fills up the screen. I especially loved Celeste Legaspi's fun portrayal of Doña Loleng. She lights up every scene whenever she's part of it. We also get to see Zsa Zsa Padilla and Ogie Alcasid in small yet fun roles in the film. I must say that I was really impressed seeing Sandino Martin and Paulo Avelino singing. It was my first time to see them sing and they were really good. Martin was really adorable in his portrayal of the Marasigan's family friend Bitoy Camacho. On the other hand, Avelino is perfect for the role of the charming but naughty Tony Javier. I don't know why but Paulo just look so good in every scene of the film, even during those moments when he's already beaten up. I guess that is one of his greatest assets: the camera loves just him.

Of course, the film belongs to Joanna Ampil and Rachel Alejandro. Their portrayal of Candida and Paula Marasigan were both amazing. One can really see their commitment to their roles. Each one of them were given their own moments to shine. For me, Joanna Ampil stood out during the part when her character was confessing something about her sister during the film's third act. On the other hand, Rachel Alejandro was able to showcase her talent during the scene when her character had a fight with Candida, leading to a sexy seduction scene with Tony Javier.

I have to admit. There were moments when I felt like the film could be a bit more than what it is now. There were production numbers that I think could have been bigger and more explosive in regards to the presentation. Something that can take the whole film into a much higher point. But given it's single location setting, the events are all contained in a smaller scale. It doesn't mean that the film isn't good though, because it sure is amazing as hell. But as a fan of musicals, I can't help but feel as if the movie needed something to push it into a more bombastic and extravagant. But then, we have to take the film as is. And no doubt that this is one of the best films of this year's film festival and is already running for the Best Picture award.

From it's rich visuals, outstanding music and bravura performances, Ang Larawan is a must-watch spectacle this Christmas. Pinoy musicals have never been this gloriously stunning and entrancing.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰  of 5

"Ang Larawan" (2017) Directed by Loy Arcenas, based on A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino by Nick Joaquin, starring Joanna Ampil Rachel Alejandro Paulo Avelino and Sandino Martin, with Nonie Buencamino, Menchu Lauchengco, Cris Villonco, Aicelle Santos, Robert Arevalo, and Celeste Legaspi.