Showing posts with label Year's Best. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Year's Best. Show all posts

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Pinoy Indies: 2013


We had it easy this year. There's so many good films to choose from it's easy to go beyond 10. Cinema One Originals surprised everyone with its diverse lineup (from the crowd-pleasing Shift to the somber, experimental onslaught of Bukas Na Lang Sapagkat Gabi Na). Despite Cinema One's strong showing, Cinemalaya still rules the roost. One word: Transit. But then again, Cinema One has Islands.


Top picks from 2013

Babagwa (Jason Paul Laxamana/Cinemalaya)
Ekstra (Jeffrey Jeturian/Cinemalaya)
Island Dreams (Aloy Adlawan, Gino M. Santos/MMFF)

Islands (Whammy Alcazaren/Cinema One Originals)
Ang Kwento ni Mabuti (Mes De Guzman/CineFilipino Film Festival)
Ang Mundo sa Panahon ng Bakal (Mes De Guzman/Cinemanila)

Quick Change (Eduardo Roy Jr./Cinemalaya)
Sana Dati (Jerrold Tarog/Cinemalaya)
Shift (Siege Ledesma/Cinema One Originals)
Transit (Hannah Espia/Cinemalaya)

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Pinoy Indie: 2012


Pascalina never had it easy. After visiting a dying aunt, her life takes a turn for the worst. It's not money her aunt wants to give her. It's something else.

Director Pam Miras' Pascalina is very raw. While the Digital Harinezumi camera she used for shooting complemented the movie's dark, somber tone, it left me frustrated. Watching it is like sitting through an undergrad's film thesis. 

Despite its rough visuals, Pascalina surprises when you least expect it. It gives a fresh twist to the typical aswang movie, something many people will find memorable. 

Last year's lineup is probably the best for Cinema One. As the festival's dark horse, Pascalina broke expectations and nabbed the top prize when everyone least expected it.  

•••

Here are some gems from 2012. It's been a good year for debut feature filmmakers Dwein Baltazar (Mamay Umeng), Whammy Alcazaren (Colossal) and Marie Jamora (Ang Nawawala). Alcazaren, in particular, shows great promise.


Stills from Mes de Guzman's Diablo, Teng Mangansakan's The Obscured Histories and Silent Longings of Daguluan’s Children, Dwein Baltazar's Mamay Umeng, Arnel Mardoquio's Ang Paglalakbay ng mga Bituin sa Gabing Madilim and Loy Arcenas' Requieme!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Essential Quotes: 2012

"Everything is a risk. Walking out of your house in the morning is a risk."
Marc Webb (Little White Lies, 2012)

- • -
George Clooney: I grew up in Kentucky. We had drive-in theaters and I remember watching Last Tango in Paris, and it’s still amazing to me that they did Last Tango in Paris at a drive-in. In Kentucky. You can imagine.
Christopher Plummer: What an erotic state that is!
George Clooney: Look at that sheep!
Newsweek, January 23, 2012

- • -

On Colin Farrell's eyebrows: "Those eyebrows pretty much live in their own ZIP code."
Jessica Biel  ("The Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Colin Farrell," Details, November 2012)

- • -

“When you work in a different language, your emotional state changes. In Spanish, my mother language, words not only have the meaning they have, they also have a personal meaning. For me, it is more difficult to say ‘Te quiero’ than ‘I love you.’ ”
Antonio Banderas ("Best Performances," W, February 2012)

- • -

"In great art, the more you find out, the deeper the mystery is."
Guy Maddin (Little White Lies, 2012)

- • -

"If you see a thing which you call 'sad,' you find beauty immediately. In the middle of the big sadness, you could find something which is truly beautiful."
Bela Tarr ("The Last Laugh," Little White Lies, 2012)

- • -

"The weather of England is in me. I will never lose those clouds and gray skies."
Gary Oldman ("Best Performances," W, February 2012)

- • -

"There was a wonderful old cinema called the Lumiere. It was underground like a whale's stomach. You used to go down those stairs into this cave and the movie would finish and you'd climb the stairs into the light and noise of the street. That is an amazing thing to me, that feeling of pure inspiration. Now it's a fucking gym. That's modern life."
Steve McQueen (Little White Lies, 2012)

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Actor of the Year: Tom Hardy

"If I am duly compared to Marlon Brando at all, well, I can only think of The Teahouse of the Shanghai Noon. That, they're comparing me to that!"


_______
Quote from "A Candid Tom Hardy at Cannes on Beards, Beer, Batman, and Brando" by Kyle Buchanan

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Uggie

A pocket-sized canine gets a whole page in Time's "Great Performances" feature, a tribute to this year's standout actors. Uggie, a trained Jack Russell Terrier, is fast gaining recognition for his scenestealing turn in The Artist. In photographer Sebastian Kim's "Great Performances" series, he stole the limelight from fellow honorees Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Brad Pitt (Moneyball) and George Clooney (The Descendants). Even the great Iron Lady herself, Meryl Streep, is no match for the lapdog's woeful demeanor.

Every dog has its day. This year, Uggie has the world by the tail.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Tobey Maguire for Prada


Miuccia Prada, queen of geek chick, has found the quintessential dandy in Tobey Maguire. The 35-year-old actor dressed up, wearing the designer's slim sweater, savvy turtleneck and tailored three-button jacket.

Tobey was the poster boy for Prada's 2011 fall-winter ad campaign. Shot in New York, photographer David Sims showed us another side of Maguire: a refined, cool sophisticate cut from the same cloth as Carey Grant.

The new look fits him like a tee. It echos his upcoming role as Nick Carraway, an Ivy League bond salesman, in Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (2012). 

It will be a good year for Maguire. In the works is Ang Lee's Life of Pi (2012) and a producing stint for Rock of Ages (2012): a film adaptation of the 2006 Broadway musical. The cast looks promising. Russell Brand. Alec Baldwin. Catherine Zeta-Jones. Paul Giamatti. Anne Hathaway.... Oh, and some guy named Tom Cruise.


Saturday, February 18, 2012

Actor of the Year: Michael Fassbender


It takes balls of steel to boldly go where few actors have gone before. We take our hats off to Tom Hardy, Ewan McGregor and Vincent Gallo. With Hunger (2008) and Shame (2011), Irish-German actor Michael Fassbender joins this elite circle of luminaries—bold actors who's never squeamish when it comes to flaunting their lightsabers. 

"The idea of male frontal nudity baffles me: Women can parade around naked, but the guy conveniently has his pants on. I remember my mom saying, 'It's always the women who are naked.' So this [one's] for you, Mom!"

He went the whole nine yards twice. Luckily, they paid off. Critics gave him best actor awards for Hunger (British Independent Film Awards, Stockholm Film Festival) and Shame (Venice Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards).

Although Hunger established Fassbender as a major talent in the UK, it was Jane EyreX-Men: First ClassA Dangerous Method and Shame — all released in 2011 — which jumpstarted his acting career. It seems every major director, from David Cronenberg to Steven Soderbergh, wants a piece of Fassbender. In the works is Ridley Scott's Prometheus with Charlize Theron and Guy Pearce, followed by Steve McQueen's Twelve Years a Slave with Brad Pitt. No word yet if he'll walk around in his birthday suit in any of these movies—not that his mother would mind (God bless her).


____________
Photograph by Sebastian Kim from the February 2012 issue of Interview

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Essential Movie Posters: 2011

Its metallic blue-gray tint, in-your-face tagline, and dark, sinister silhouette all add up to a progressive, riveting marketing tool. For all its perfection, it falls short of originality. We've seen it before (check out the Social Network's glum movie poster). There's no bigger turn-off than a rip-off, but if it's light years better than original, that's a different story.

Scottish actor Gerard Butler is a low-life drug dealer (Sam Childers) who, through the grace of God, finds himself a changed man. A solid gray cross frames Sam, emphasizing the influence of religion in his life and the Sudanese society he finds himself embroiled in. Strife and faith rarely make good bedfellows, but in this particular case, they're a match made in heaven.

It's one of the more unconventional movie posters of 2011, taking "quirky" to a whole new level. By using a jigsaw puzzle as its canvass, it gives us something to think about. Is Septien a documentary about graffiti? A film about drug abuse? A short on unruly juveniles? 

Its hard not to love this poster. Its raw, organized chaos defies logic and convention.  

It has no tagline. No discernible pattern. No clue whatsoever. It's green. It's huge. It's an impenetrable cipher. It's like staring at a blank wall—the only difference is, this one's actually pretty. You'll never guess what you're missing unless, of course, you watch the trailer. 

Making the Boys is a 90-minute documentary on The Boys in the Band, the world's first gay-themed play which eventually was made into a movie in 1970. The poster makes clever use of the vibrant, jolly colors gay pride has been associated with. Each color is represented by an outstretched arm with the hand and fingers reaching upwards. The vivid colors provide an endearing contrast to the black, stolid background, downplaying what we already know—life without the gay community is a, dry, sordid affair.

The poster magnifies the mystery lurking in the German film, Sleeping Sickness. We see a man with his back turned against us. Who is this person? A doctor? A civilian? It's hard to tell with the dense, impenetrable vegetation looming in the background. 

The poster provides a nice contrast between man and the environment. We may think otherwise, but in the ultimate scheme of things, we know who always has the last say.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Essential Movies: 2011


To celebrate its fifth anniversary, youTube asked fans to film a day in their lives. The videos were shot on the same day, July 24, 2010, and they followed the three themes set by the producers: 1. "What's your story?" 2. "What have you got in your pockets?" and 3. "What do you fear?"

Film editor Joe Walker and his team edited 4,500 hours of footage into a two-hour movie. The resulting documentary, directed by Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland) and produced by Ridley Scott (AlienGladiator), is an eye-opener: an amalgam of the hopes, dreams and aspirations of people from the four corners of the world.

Life in a Day is a fitting end (and a great beginning) to a New Year that will, fingers crossed, be better for everybody.


2011 was a memorable year for Cinemalaya, local stalwart of independent filmmaking. Festival goers were treated to a deluge of unforgettable showstoppers including Jade Castro's likable ghoulish horror romp (Zombadings 1: Patayin sa shokot si Remington), Benito Bautista's understated thriller (Boundary) and Alvin Yapan's exquisite opus (Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa).


Of course, 2011 wouldn't be complete without Raya Martin's psychedelic time caper (Buenas noches, España), Wim Wenders' kinetic dance-fest (Pina) and this year's best martial arts movie (Peter Chan's stylized Wu xia).  

Here's to risque movies, maverick filmmakers and ballsy actors willing to cut their paycheck for independent filmmaking. Bottoms up.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Essential Magazine Covers: 2011

He produced and directed a documentary (Saturday Night), smooched Sean Penn in Gus Van Sant's Milk (2008), wrote fiction (Palo Alto), dabbled in hosting (twice for "Saturday Night Live" and once for the Academy Awards), took an MFA in Columbia University's writing program, and capped 2010 by posing as a transvestite for photographer Terry Richardson on the cover of Candy—a fashion magazine for transsexuals. 

A fearless subject, a maverick, and a photographer's darling,  he was featured in several magazine covers. The most notorious is the one he did for Flaunt, a progressive magazine known for its dual covers. Scroll down for a preview. 

Before doing so, check out some of this year's most memorable magazine covers.
  

. 1 .
Alexander Skarsgard 
Interview, June 2011

. 2 .
Penélope Cruz
V, July 2011

 . 3 .
Robert Pattinson
Vanity Fair, April 2011

. 4 .
Spider-Man
The New Yorker, 17 January 2011

. 5 .
Granta, summer 2011

. 6 .
Alexander Skarsgård
Out, November 2011

. 7 .
Freida Pinto
Interview, August 2011

. 8 .
James Franco
Flaunt, 2011

Friday, December 23, 2011

Essential Trailers: 2011

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's trailer is everything a trailer should be—short, thrilling and surprisingly engaging. It's hard to warm up to a spy movie populated by senior, aging actors (Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, John Hurt), but the trailer's tight editing and superb music (Danny Elfman's Wolf Suite Pt 1) assert that this movie will easily hold up against any wham-bang, big movie out there. You hear that, Mr. Tom  Mission-Impossible-Ghost-Protocol Cruise?

Here are five standout trailers from 2011. The other one's unofficial, but who cares right?


. 2 .
Carnage


. 4 .
Pina

. 5 .
Drive
(unofficial trailer)

Essential Track: 2011

The Chromatics' addictive, techno thumpin' track, "Tick Of The Clock," sets the tone of Drive to a tee.

Time to boogie, Mr. Gosling.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Essential Photography: 2009

Actor Andrew Garfield and model Lily Cole

Inspired by the Metropolitan Opera's production of Hänsel und Gretel, Vogue Creative Director Grace Coddington and photographer Annie Leibovitz give the classic fairy tale a sublime twist. Hansel and Gretel are no longer children, but adults. The wicked witch, likewise, ages backwards.

These photographs were published in Vogue's December 2009 issue, the year Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus was released. Two of Imaginarium's young stars — the eternally boyish Andrew Garfield and the doll-like model, Lily Cole — were cast as Hansel and Gretel.

As for the wicked witch, they got a feisty lady named Lady Gaga. Good choice.

•••





Sunday, July 3, 2011

Essential Movies: 2009

Agrarian Utopia (Thailand)
Director Uruphong Raksasad Won UNESCO Award (Asia Pacific Screen Awards) Plot A rural farmer loses his job, forcing him to look for work in the big city Beauty Shots Cinematographer Uruphong Raksasad's lingering takes of rural landscape and gorgeous sunsets Extreme Gastronomy Insects? Check. Dogs? Check. Snakes? Double check.

In the Loop (UK)
Director Armando Iannucci Won Best Screenplay (New York Film Critics Circle Awards) Plot A fictionalized version of events that lead to the 2003 invasion of Iraq Golden Line "You sure you're working as hard as I am? I'm sweating spinal fluid here!" What's the 411? The role of Malcolm Tucker, sharp tongue and all, is allegedly based on Tony Blair's former director of communications and strategy, Alastair Campbell. Scene Stealer Peter Capaldi. 'Nuff said.

Mother (South Korea)
Director Joon-ho Bong Won Best Actress (Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards) Plot A whodunit crime flick involving a mentally unstable young man and his stubborn, iron-willed mother Indelible Scene Actress Hye-ja Kim's surprise dance sequence. She's no John Travolta, but she definitely has the moves down pat.

Eyes Wide Open (Israel)
Director Haim Tabakman Won Grand Prix (Ghent International Film Festival) Plot A Jewish man's affair with a young male drifter results in social estrangement and isolation. Essential Actors Ran Danker is the perfect foil to Zohar Shtrauss. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain don't even measure up.
The Breath (Turkey)
Director Levent Semerci Won Best Film (Yeşilçam Awards) Plot A small group of dedicated soldiers defends a relay station against terrorists. What's the 411? The film is based on the 1992 PKK terrorist attack. Twenty-two soldiers died.

Moon (USA)
Director Duncan Jones Won Outstanding Debut by a British Director (BAFTA Awards) Plot A family man yearns for home after being stationed in the Moon for three straight years. Indelible Scene Sam Rockwell dancing. Forget Travolta. When it comes to swing-till-you-drop moves, Sam's the man.

A Serious Man (USA)
Directors Ethan Coen and Joel Coen Won Best Original Screenplay (National Board of Review) Plot A Jewish man's faith in God and in himself is tested as his professional and domestic life go down the drain. Essential Actor A Serious Man wouldn't be as good as it is without theater pro Michael Stuhlbarg. .

Boy (Philippines)
Director Auraeus Solito Plot A young boy falls for a male hustler. Essential Scene On New Year's eve, Aeious goes to bed with Aries. Afterwards, his mother bangs on his door and shouts,"Bilisan niyo! Putukan na!" What's the 411? Although invited to compete in the Silver Screen Awards, the film was banned by Singapore's Board of Film Censors (BFC). Surprise, surprise.

The Limits of Control (USA)
Director Jim Jarmusch Plot A solitary assassin tracks his target, following leads from strangers prone to discussing philosophy, cinema and the metaphysical. Essential Actor Isaach De Bankolé's face is a landscape of restraint and immobility. Sheer brilliance. Beauty Shots Every scene, every angle is achingly beautiful. Kudos to Cinematographer Christopher Doyle.