Cinema One Originals 2019 just ended but it has extended screenings in micro cinema houses. Here's a short review-rundown of eight films in competition.
Each film's profile photo on their respective Facebook Pages
Utopia: 👌👌👌
Hindi panget, hindi rin super ganda; sakto lang. It tried to offend and be funny but it didn't work for me. Good thing, there's a comet.
Tayo Muna Habang Hindi Pa Tayo: 👌👌
A mix of Excess Baggage and That Thing Called Tadhana. Could've worked better if it was a short film.
Ano raw?! Cherie Gil shines and even the young Jana Agoncillo is promising. But again, ANO RAW?! Another film on my list that uses superstitions/mythical creatures but just won't match. (Though may mga reviews na they liked it. This isn't for me, obviously.)
Sila-Sila: 👌👌👌
Sa mga ganitong istorya, lagi kong naiisip na hindi kasi ako bakla o kaya a man who loves another man kaya hindi ako maka relate. Naguguluhan ako at napapatanong kung ganun ba talaga ang galawan sa totoong buhay. Ano raw sabi ko? (Side note: Medj naguluhan ako sa subs at sa bote ng alak na nabasag.)
O: 👌½
Jasmine and Sarah were oh so pretty, eye candies. Jasmine and Anna were great, props to Sarah and Lauren, too, but I was so lost. With a unique approach, kinda strong beginning but weak middle and ending. Sayang 'yung cast, lalo si Anna Luna.
Yours Truly, Shirley: 👌👌👌 1/2
Nothing special or peculiar. It talks about letting go and acceptance in the perspective of a baby boomer versus a Gen Z, and how the world of show business is defo a world of fraud and PR spin offs. Ensemble was awesome, even the newcomers, and SO to Romnick who didn't even say a single word but damn, his acting was flawless.
Lucid 👌👌👌👌½
Ang lungkot pero, What? sa dulo.
This movie was a mind fuck and sad. The mise-en-scène was done right, complemented by Alex De Rossi and JM De Guzman's great acting. Alex was brilliant. Her acting will transcend to the audience as if you are the one doing the everyday routine and feeling the lingering yet unknown depression. A strong beginning which was sustained until before the last scenes, but despite the downfall of emotions during the ending, it will make you question if reality is really better than your dreams. Are you dreaming? Are you awake? Or does reality even exist?
Edit: May claims na plagiarized daw ang film as the plot is the same with a Wattpad story entitled Lucid Dreaming then published as a book by PsiCom.
Metamorphosis: 👌👌👌👌👌
Lord, ang ganda.
It is such a shame that it was almost banned from the festival as MTRCB reviewed it as Rated X. Good thing, it passed the second review and there we have probably the best film of the year. Successfully stirring the conflict of religion and beliefs, overpowered by love, the film played around different symbolism with indirect but on point dialogues. More than showing the life of an intersex teen and how Adam was always placed at the middle, trying to figure out everything except the thought that he (using he) has to be fixed, it was about a joyful acceptance, having and making choices, embracing one's self, and bravery. Gold Azeron was indeed golden. I really thought it will bag the Best Picture and Best Screenplay.
Extended Screening in Cinema Centenario (Maginhawa):
Extended Screening in Cinema '76 Society (Anonas and San Juan):
Comments
What do you think, Awesome?