Essential Movies: 2008

Waltz with Bashir (Israel) • RocknRolla (UK) • Happy-Go-Lucky (UK) • Entre les murs/The Class (France) • Jay (Philippines) • Vicky Cristina Barcelona (USA) • How to Be (UK) • Rachel Getting Married (USA) • Next Attraction (Philippines) • Frost/Nixon (USA)

Jamie Dornan + Eva Mendes for Calvin Klein

Photographer: Steven Klein Models: Jamie Dornan and Eva Mendes Location: Palm Springs, California

After years of drab, dowdy print ads, Calvin Klein goes back to its roots selling what it sells best: denim, underwear and sex. For its fall campaign, we're given a generous serving of skin, lust and youthful abandon. Joining hottie Eva Mendes in an amorous tete-a-tete is Irish actor Jamie Dornan.

Proceed with caution: sweaty torsos, body hugging jeans and flimsy black underwear ahead.

Smells Like Heaven

I'd like to think I have qualities that outweigh my crummy personality. Sadly, tact isn't one of them.

Several months ago, we noticed a bottle of vinegar in our washroom.

"Whose vinegar is that?" someone asked.

"What vinegar?" I replied. "That's not vinegar. That's my vaginal wash."

"Eeew," she cringed. "Quit it!"

My indiscretion stretches all the way to Google Talk, a stripped down Yahoo! Messenger with no emoticons and conference feature. We use it for internal communication and we're obliged to remain professional by avoiding offensive and/or provocative messages at all times. I try my best to comply, but sometimes, my recklessness gets the best of me.

When our washroom reeked of solvent, I typed in "Smells like heaven" in my status box.

"How do you know how heaven smells like?" someone messaged me.

"Jesus and I are kindred spirits," I replied. "I visit him as much as I could."

I got a smiley post-haste.

Dinig Sana Kita (2009)

Genre Drama Director Mike Sandejas Cast Zoe Sandejas, Romalito Mallari, Adriana Agcaoili, Robert Seña

Rome Mallari is an actor from the DLS-CSB School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS). In Dinig Sana Kita, he plays a role close to his heart: a deaf young man who loves to dance.

Director Mike Sandejas avoids the pitfalls commonly associated with romantic dramas, giving his movie a fresh, distinctive approach. For starters, stomach-churning kissing scenes were thankfully avoided.

Dinig is this year's Cinemalaya crowd favorite, winning a number of awards including the National Council for Children’s Television Award, Audience Choice and Best Musical Score. Although it doesn't have the technical finesse of Sanglaan and the nail-biting urgency of Engkwentro, it unfurls an earnest left hook that hits the audience where it matters most: their heart.

Dinig Sana Kita delivers, blazing a new trend for mainstream, locally made independent films.

_______________
• Dinig Sana Kita screens from August 26 - September 1, 2009 at Robinsons Galleria
•• Click here to view the trailer
••• Picture from http://www.facebook.com/dinigsanakita?v=photos&viewas=0#/dinigsanakita?v=wall&viewas=0