Tagpuan (2020)

The last good Filipino film I felt compelled to write and have written was Sakaling Maging Tayo by Jaime Habac Jr. It was unexpectedly good.

Due to the reality of so many to watch, read, and listen – doing film reviews on my blog has taken a break. I opted to write short film reviews that will fit the finite space of Twitter instead. It was my goal at the beginning of 2020.

Yet, for a film made by Filipinos for which came as a pleasant surprise when I watched it, I feel obliged to write my thoughts on it even if its “unpopularity” brims in Twitter as of my random scroll in its early days of showing.

Written by Ricardo Lee, the script is crisp and at times poetic. It does not convince an ideology. Rather, it asks life questions that may be deeply stirring our hearts and minds or may have been hidden in the recesses of our subconscious. Either way, they are questions grounded in our inherent quest and pursuit for meaning.

Aside from its brilliant scriptwriting, the film’s cinematography is a sight to behold. Its choice of shots is intentional that each frame can be likened to a photographer’s portfolio or a well curated Instagram account. The film’s palette and style has a striking resemblance to Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation.

The artistic style of gradually unfolding the story through an intertwined panache of subtlety brought by shades to denote the past or present is commendable.

While a stress reliever is typical in most films (international or local), Shaina Magdayao’s candor works. She shines in the film. Alfred Vargas reminds me of any rich guy in most Korean series or movies where the expressions are mostly stoic. For my own taste though, he is not as dreamy as Kim Rae-won (Love Story in Harvard). I was hoping to see more of Agnes’ pain through the eyes or facial expressions of Iza Calzado who portrays her, but, it somehow hides behind her pretty face.

Director, MacArthur Alejandre’s skill in storytelling weaved a film that brought the best in the script that is cradled in the beautiful music by Von De Guzman.

Like its literal English translation, Tagpuan brings us to a place which may be pensively uncharted or commonly described as a love story for most. But, it is also a place of finding one’s identity, a pursuit of passions, where even if the journey’s consequences are far more likely to happen than the impossible dream, the chase for it will be undeterred.

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© rooks 2021

Alone/Together (2019)

The popularity of the love team and the first breakthrough work of the director gives a certain level of expectation. But as movies (popular, high earning, hyped, etc.) commonly fall victim to a very important element of storytelling, that is, plot development, I came to the cinema to hopefully be surprised with good filmmaking.

With our mentality that is heavily influenced by foreign artistry, the movie is a good introduction to Filipino art. May it positively awaken in us a sense of pride and appreciation of our world class ingenuity and support for local artists.

Alone/Together is generally engaging. It is an artistically weaved romance with a recounting of the past, the traps of the present, and the indeterminable future. The shots, colors, oily student faces due to daily commute, and other notable minute details in a montage are well executed.

However, the main actors are yet to be at that stage of acting maturity. While Soberano gave a better performance than Gil, the needed emotions to be evoked of an uninspired woman who is haunted by her shattered dreams, and the demeanor of an award winning doctor, are found wanting. Additionally, its methodic ending gives a message that it is a movie with an intended audience in mind rather than a movie that is aiming to convey a love story beyond the expectations of a fandom, an audience to delight.

Do I like it? I enjoyed it, but sharing the same sentiments with a friend… I like it with reservations.

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© rooks 2019

Sakaling Maging Tayo (2019)

A friend told me that there is a new interesting movie by JP Habac, Sakaling Maging Tayo, the director of I’m Drunk, I love you, for which we both love.

Sakaling Maging Tayo is organic, but sparks a lovely breath of juvenile attraction. Adults may find it awkward, shallow, and reckless, but that is precisely what young love is.

I did not have definite plans of watching the movie because I do not know anything about the lead actors. It shows much of my ignorance for local artists and shows.

The chance to watch the movie to fulfil a default duty as a volunteer movie assessor came this week. I obliged with no expectations. I only hoped that the kryptonite that most local movies succumb, that is, plot development, can take off like Kita Kita, Sakaling Hindi Makarating, etc. Most indie films have been able to develop their plot beautifully as compared with mainstream in recent years.

There is not much hype on Sakaling Maging Tayo as far as my social media feed is concerned. It must be too teenybopper that my peers are not interested. Maybe. But while the movie does not astound and I do not think it is intended to be so, it gives us a glimpse at the heart of today’s youth. It is carefree, fun, and pleasant but also hounded by the struggles of young love and the expectations of life that adults may ignore and perceive as frivolous.

For me, the plot was able to take flight. Feel good, creative, and down to earth.
Nice one, Habac. Take a bow.

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© rooks 2019