Because of Netflix and their influx of old and new pinoy made movies, I have thankfully been able to revise my outlook on pinoy movies...for the good.
With the advent of new young film-makers and Tony Gloria's Unitel having the courage to produce these movies, the future for pinoy films might be a bright one...
I have watched both "Crying ladies" with Sharon Cuneta and "Blackout" with Robin Padilla, and i have cued "Magdalena" with Angelica Panganiban...all curently showing on Netflix. As an added bonus, Netflix is also showing vintage Lino Brocka movies...must watch movies...
What all these bold movies have in common is they are about pinoys being pinoy.
Which for pinoy movies is a novelty. Alot of our movies try to mimic other films or are just downright bad. Bad because they are not well thoughtout or planned. I have been told alot of movies shoot with no real working screenplays, and are just made up on the spot. Too bad because anyone who spends even a little time in Manila can see there are millions of interesting stories to tell...
"Crying ladies" especially, is a movie filled with characters every pinoy is familiar with. I caught myself saying again and again I know someone just like the Cuneta character. I tip my hat to director Mark Meily for his observant eye in bringing this brilliant screenplay to life. It reminds the viewer that Manila is not the cleanest most organized city in the world, but boy is it filled with human characters that you are interested in. The whole cast in this movie leaves you with the feeling they really are characters that live and grow with each other in real life. Which is the Philippines best asset...its people...
"Blackout" on the other hand is the dark side if Manila. It is a story about a man on his own trying to cope with an event he doesn't want to cope with. It shows us an extreme sample of what darkness can befall any of us. Which is why the casting of Robin Padilla in this role is brilliant. The director, Ato Bautista opts to go against casting and place a handsome action star in a meek, confused, weak character. Thruout the movie you expect, like in lots of Robin's movies for him to suddenly get up and solve his problems. Instead Ato breaks his lead character and chooses to give us a more realistic character, a character we can all identify with.
Another added plus for this movie is the moody cinematography of Lyle Sacris and the real-time slow paced editing which allows us to fully feel the characters thoughts and consequences. Very refreshing to see a pinoy director not afraid to take his time and let a scene breathe. I warn you tho' it is not a cheery movie at all, but it is purely pinoy.
For me movies must be a slice of what life really is like, or what the main character feels life should be like...so, for me, truth is the main power behind a good film.
I have seen the trailers for "Tik tik Chronicles" and "OJT" and am even more hopeful that we will soon see a pinoy movie hit the international big screen. For that to happen local Manila producers must take chances on letting new and seasoned talent follow their creative instincts and especially give them the time and space to really plan and thinkout their screenplays...then one day, one day the world will get a cinematic taste of what life is really like in our beloved Pinas....
I am just a person who loves film and the Philippines, I welcome people guiding me to other films already in the can or still in production...I will give my honest opinion good or bad in an effort to keep the craft going forward....Whilce...
