WATCH LIST: PH Showing Slated February 19

Alessandra de Rossi stars the movie WATCH LIST, a very powerful international film that has gained the nod of several international film festivals and won he hearts of cinema fans worldwide. It’s directed by Hollywood based American-Indian film maker Ben Rekhi which he also co-wrote with Rona Lean Sales. It’s a story about a woman recovering from drug use. Her husband got killed and stands now as breadwinner and protector of her kids which Rekhi dubs as “A very human story as it talks about how a mother would go the lengths to protect her children.” Together with Alessandra, she stars here with Jake Macapagal, Art Acuña, Lou Veloso, Jess Mendoza, Angeli Abayani, Micko Laurente and Timothy Mabalot. 

It’s a little disturbing to see how it talks about matters close to home. The drug campaign by the government, politics, poverty, the who enchilada of things that are so taboo to talk about in the country. All of which may or may not be fiction. 

Working also with Ben is Executive Producer Anjay Nagpal who is also co-executive producer of the film Joker. Aside from that, he also has international cinematographer Daniella Nowitz and world class production designer Ericson Navarro. The film has already participated in Deauville American Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, Bahamas International Film Festival and won Most Disturbing Fiction Film Award at Tournai Ramdam Festival in Belgium. 

Ben says “I’m excited to be here, to finally be able to see the release of it in the country. I spoke to Alessandra and she apologized she couldn’t come. I came across a photo of a woman who held her husband dead. I called the journalist and she told me stories she was covering and I couldn’t believe and understand it. I came to Manila and there were a lot of emotional things, I have never felt this before, I felt there was a higher presence that was compelling me to do this. I realized more and more to make this film. Yes there were challenges, but the community was welcoming to tell me about it. Wether the film was in English, Tagalog or Hindi, they were all good in English so it was east to communicate. The cast and crew were very supportive, sometimes the universe conspires this to happen and I have worked with talent in the US and I think Alex can win an Oscar one day. They are crazy talented. Early on I partnered with Reality Entertainment and Erik Matti suggested to me these actors including Art Acuna.  I have done films in India, shooting outside the US meant it just got a lot of talent elsewhere. Shooting in the neighborhoods itself like the violent places was an intense labor of love. Truth was the guiding principle, living in these circumstances made me a foreigner have to do tremendous amount of research. We shot this over 16 days and a lot of post production. A year at most. Originally I wanna pick someone older for a role, but I found the most talented people and it will break hearts to see talents like these (Micko). The Oscars and Parasite film makes it possible do hybrid style movies to open doors of conversations, everything is possible. I was here for 6 months and haven’t explored the country except Caloocan City’s 2nd Avenue. This is my fifth film, but I’m most proud of. Not knowing what people would want, but regardless hope this connects to an emotional level.”

Micko Laurente says “Finally, I am so excited to see the film in the Philippines. I just heard now that he watched my previous movie. It was very memorable for me (Bambanti) and I miss Alessandra a lot, when I learned there was an audition about it, I was happy just to see she was the Mom playing the role. Thank you for making me a part of it. In all the films I made, he’s one great guy. He picks the angles, the shots, he knows how to attack it before we do it on set. He’s not like a local director who screams at his actors. He’s very cool, even if he’s running out of sunlight, he was very calm about it. I have worked with Alessandra in two other films, when we did this she was funny, but when the work comes, she’s on cue to work with me and do it fast and efficient. I don’t usually do bad things so we get along quite well.”

This will show on theaters starting February 19, and is released by Reality Entertainment.

Through Night and Day

This Alessandra De Rossi and Paulo Contis movie had so much to give. It’s a heartwarming story amidst the cold nights, days which they all shot in Iceland. The couple is cute, best friends when they were kids, neighbors too, sweethearts in highschool, got engaged and went to this absolutely gorgeous place in Europe. 

Here’s a couple of things you could find interesting about this film.

Iceland is majestic - the trees, the flowers, the hills are all dreamy. Going around while bare, rustic and freezing, it didn’t matter as long as they are together. They also have weird weather, but the Aurora Borealis is just the perfect setting for romance. They will show that and a whole lot more unbelievable spots in the country.

Paulo’s timing is legendary. He’s funny, we all know that but his inserts here are reminiscent of the boyfriend girlfriend relationship we all wanted.

Alessandra is annoying, but the kind that is cute and if ever she does ask for something impossible, or bad, but she still gets away with it. 

There will be small fights, the kind that hurts and builds up, when you think that you already know each other but when you rely on each other while traveling, you get to measure how much you are willing to sacrifice with each other. Half of the film is funny and heartwarming. In a way you will get to question that coming to the latter part of the movie.

When you get to see the same face everyday, when you find out all the flaws in relationships and the ways of finding your own happiness, do you give up? Do you lose all patience? How do you love? Where will you find yourself if you were in their shoes?

Go figure out by watching Through Night and Day in theaters starting November 14. This is produced by Viva Films, Octoarts Films and is graded A. Maybe that would convince you to watch this film. Don’t cry though, I have to warn you.

KUMAGCOW

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Through Night and Day

A new movie starring Paulo Contis and Alessandra de Rossi is going to be shown in theaters this November 14, 2018. This is produced by Viva Films and Octoarts Films and talks about couple Ben and Jen who went on to a journey in Iceland. This is a real change in venue, real change in scenery, so just imagine how that would look like on screen. It’s called Through Night and Day.

Their director Ronnie Velaso says “It is difficult to shoot these kind of things because of the weather, the cold was just negative levels so you can just imagine. I appreciate her inputs because as an actor it was character driven. They have really long scenes because their come backs are real and insulting, it’s like cariño brutal and the producers didn’t know how good it looked like on screen. I hope you help is promote this because it is good. We had so much scenes in things that you would love to see, it is expensive, each water bottle is Php150, grocery a few pieces would cost Php3,500, it is difficult getting food and traveling around. We thank you for being here, this movie is worth watching and I hope a lot of people would get to watch it.”

Paulo says “While you are young, you’re both good but you grow and change priorities. Iceland was just a place where I propose and both know each other even more. 20 years being friends and 13 years being together but you have funny, more natural things to discover with each other and hopefully it is something you’ll learn to love. We went to Iceland, to Baguio, we had different films in Octoarts, there are no new things to say because we have no limits when we are paired up and hopefully this translates to the screen. I bought something day 1 and still ate it on day 8. Alex and I are okay at work and when we meet we go no holds barred. It’s just trust and we have issues against my big ears. I am thankful they got me in this movie. I hope you get to fall in love with Ben and Jen as we have too.”

Alessandra says “Jen fails the bar twice, but one who always wants to pursue her dreams to be a lawyer. Paulo and I are okay, we had 3 hours of sleep each day and didn’t get to tour around because of work and the weather. You can feel the wind move the vans literally that it almost toppled the van while we were shooting. It is not a film you can take scenes from because it is dangerous and we had limited time. Paulo and I have been classmates in school, he bullied me a lot in the past but we made movies already, he realized I was perfect. I wrote the story and conceptualized it in my mind, Paulo added a lot and green jokes because he’s good at it. When we got there it was just so cold to write about it, so I stressed Laureen so she could write about it and my story suddenly felt boring versus what she came up with. I have my everything here, I have never been so excited about something and this it.”

Again, make sure you watch this romcom on theaters come November 14, 2018 as both of the stars promise it will be worth your while.

KUMAGCOW 

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The Slapping Contest Between Good and Evil That Is ECHORSIS

I was a little hesitant to actually watch a Filipino film as I've seen a lot of fails in the past. The title itself is crazy so I wasn't really thinking of enjoying myself and didn't think this was actually a smart idea. A little dated on some details but overall, ECHORSIS deserves your attention. Let me try to state a couple of reasons why.

I've known Chris Cahilig in the PR industry and he's been doing quite good. In fact, I was a little dumbfounded on why he's actually producing a film. He's already managed talents, did a lot for OPM, believed in the brands he's representing but it was always at the back of his mind. He dreamed of making films. The opportunity was just there when he talked to the film's director Lem Lorca. The material was just waiting to be produced so when they met, it was like serendipity. It didn't felt romantic but everything seems to have been falling into place. Chris just grabbed his bag and said "Yes! We're going to produce this film!"

During the premier night, we spotted the film's stars and right in front of the theater was beauty queer Francine Garcia. Yes, she's from Super Sireyna and plays one of the friends of John Lapus' character. I could sense they probably are trying to represent the norms of gayhood (if there was a term for that) in the film and tell the story how when one fails to come out when everybody else  was.

There's actually three lead stars in the film and it includes hot Alex Medina and equally good looking Kean Cipriano. The story and climax will actually spin with these two so pay attention how their relationship came about. I don't want to spoil it for you so I'll stop there. I like the confrontation scene between the possessed Alex and the priest Kean, you probably have seen that in the trailers. It's a lot funnier when you see it in the big screen so invite your friends to see this on April 13!

You'll also get schooled by popular Bekimon and have to connect the dots if you don't know what he's saying. He's part of the posse of John Lapus. In the film, he plays the loud and flamboyant friend who wants to get the "coming out" part over with. Unfortunately John Lapuz' family is super strict, not to mention Odette Khan is his mother. She didn't get to slap him though. Aside from that, I'm sure somewhere in the death scene, Bekimon and Francine Garcia enjoyed their time. You would need to research on that.

Alex Medina, Kean Cipriano and John Lapus didn't hold back in this film. Although I have to admit, the role of Mich Liggayu wasn't executed well. You'll love the scene with Alessandra De Rossi because no matter how small and confined that scene was, you'll remember her even when the film finishes. Add to that the little neighbor that enjoyed the car wash. Nico Antonio is here too and is part of the gang of John Lapus. He's basically the serious one and you'll get a ton of laughs from the situations he's gonna get into. Improvements should be done on the special effects, more so on the spinning head scene (which you'll know when you watch it). For the production limitations (as this is independently produced), they did good though.

I think I might have given this movie and the character too much praise, but really, I did enjoy it. It's the quintessential eye opener for those who are still boxed up in slapstick gay comedies. This is dark, but still had time to change shape and become analogous to a border-less translation of queer love, hope and betrayal. If you're straight, you'll learn about the homosexual capacity to communicate unfathomable romance and how rejection can lead to outright evil. For those yearning for flesh, you'll get a chok-full of abs in the film and might even consider it essential. So eat that up - and enjoy the movie!

Make sure you line up on theaters this April 13th in these cinemas as they are also Graded B PG 13 by the MTRCB!

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Piolo Pascual for "A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery" (Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis)

We had the chance to interview one of the lead actors of "Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis" (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery) Piolo Pascual, the Silver Bear Winner (Alfred Bauer Prize) at the Berlinale Film Festival in Germany. Bringing pride and fame to the country in an international stage was just phenomenal. Lav Diaz the film's Director, Writer and Editor felt like a rockstar, and was treated like one in the yearly film festival held in Berlin.

Piolo Pascual, one of the film's lead actors said "Why are the Filipinos so consumed with elections? This is really timely because it tells the story of the revolution. More than the students, it's the one outside that might be able to benefit from this. There's no difference in making this than the ordinary 2 hour films. Actors were challenged, Direk Luv didn't explain things to us but the content is already there and it's very poetic." 

"The way he writes, you feel it when you're saying it like the character. We had to do our homework, we ask small instructions but it's madness. He just says rock and roll! We were told a day before that we were going to win an award, he was very celebrated even though the one that won the golden bear was a documentary. It was between that and us. We didn't have a chance to take selfies, but Meryl Streep was in the stage in an hour so I got to decipher her, and understood she's larger than life."

Dahling Nick for Cinema One Originals Festival 2015

He's a Filipino historian, prolific writer and journalist. He's one of the best there is when it comes to short stories and novels made with the English language. He's also received the distinction as a National Artist of the Philippines for Literature and there's no contest to that fact that he's probably next to Rizal and Claro M. Recto. The current generation though barely knows him and this particular movie called Dahlin Nick will undoubtedly tell his story, together with his selected works, realism and his literary classics. This is also directed by famed Manila based Sari Lluch Dalena who's works Ka Oryang (2011) earned her a Best Director Award for the 7th Cinema One Originals Film Festival back in 2011. Cinema Originals 2015 will happen this November 9 - 11, 2015 at Trinoma, Glorietta, Resorts World Manila and SM Megamall.

Present during the unveiling of the movie's poster were National Artist F. Sionil Jose (who by the way told a very compelling story of his friend during the presscon). Other works and characters include Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, award winning pen artists Gemino Abad, Greg C. Brilliantes, Erwin E. Castillo, Butch Dalisay, Jose Lacaba, Marra Pl. Lanot, Jose Maria Sison and Krip Yuson. It will also include archived images, works and blood tingling poetry. It will make you proud to know that you knew a person like Nick Juaquin existed and made the country proud. 

You must be thinking why there are bottles of beer on the table. Nick Juaquin was known to carry around one during occasions, it was like a signature thing and on record, he was the only one allowed to carry one during stints in CCP and in other formal occasions. You'll understand that part while watching the film. Sionil F. Jose says Nick Juaquin was always seen having a bottle or two with or without occasions but he knew what he was thinking about, or every detail he's saying eve if he was drunk. People noticed it made him somewhat better with words in that state.

Raymond Bagatsing says he feels honored to have been able to do this portrayal of Nick Juaquin. The chance to work with Sari Dalena was already a dream and with this character, he had to study quite a lot so he could stay inside Dahling Nick's persona.

Coming back from a 15 year hiatus is beauty queen Dindi Gallardo. She'll play the role of Madame Imelda Marcos whilst good looking lad Lance Raymundo will play husband Ferdinand Marcos. Lance says "I could see this film be a medium of information, to be seen in schools, film showings, international screenings. It was hard to do because you're there for information since it's got historical facts and not to impose your personal views." Dindi added "I was surprised to have received a call telling me I'd work with the good people behind the film, plus it's not just any role because it is Ms. Imelda Marcos. I had to do research, go to libraries and read off specifics about the former first lady. Asking why me, they told me they needed someone who could do grace under pressure because it's hard to do a character like that." 

Nick Juaquin's own family encourages people from the film industry and academe to work with them so they too would know more of his work. I've personally read some of it during high school and college specifically May Day Eve (1947), The Woman Who had Two Navels (1961) and A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino (1966). You'll get to see bits of it on the movie Dahling Nick, his life and his work.

The film also stars Alessandra de Rossi, Nick Lisazo, Emmanuel Dela Cruz, Bernardo Bernardo, Ronah Adiel Rostata, Bong Cabrera, Rica D. Abad, Paul Cedric Juan, Banaue Miclat Janssen, Che Ramos Cosio, Ping Medina, Adrian Cabido, John Agustin, Christian Del Mundo, Nitey Hernandez, JM Bernandino, Roli Inocencio, Karla Pambid, Karl Medina, Thea Yrastorza, Ross Persigan, Opaline Santos, Darwin Gordon de Roxas, Aba Lluch Dalena, Kris Lacaba, Nico Bagsic, Rica Abad, Nina Torralba, Kiko Matos, Ma. Isabel Lopez, Gabby Padilla, Hazel Faith Dela Cruz, Faye Alhambra, Johnny Regana and a lot more. This is produced by Ronald Arguelles.

Dahling Nick will be screened in Trinoma on November 11 at 9:40PM (Gala), in Glorietta Cinema 2:30PM and Megamall 7:30PM on November 12, 5:20PM in Resorts World Manila and 7PM Glorietta on November 14, 9:40PM Megamall on November 15, 2:45PM Megamall and 4:40PM Glorietta on November 16, 12:30PM Trinoma and 4:10PM Resorts World Manila on November 17. This is part of Cinema One Originals Festival 2015.  

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