Rosario

Hi you've probably notice that I haven't posted any movie reviews for a while now. Well this year was really busy for me personally and professionally that I hardly had any time to do this stuff. Anyway, what really inspired me to write again is after watching a couple of films in the Metro Manila Film Festival. It disgust me to learn that until now the film fest award body jury looked over the supposed to be real winners of this film event. The movie that I think was snubbed of the best Picture is the film Rosario.

The film Rosario was directed by veteran Filipino actor and experience film enthusiast Albert Martinez. Set in the Philippines during the early 20th century (American Occupation), the story is about a woman named Rosario who grew up from a very affluent Filipino family, but due to the crucial decisions she made during the span of her lifetime, the course of her life suddenly turned to a different path. From an easy going life as a Haciendero's Unica Hija Rosario was awakened to the harsh realities of life.

Rosario is probably the best MMFF film I've seen since the movie Rizal starring Cesar Montano. Unlike the usual Filipino films, Rosario is more detailed and colorful because of its sophisticated costumes and props. The cinematography and the technical quality was just fair though, but I believe that with a better budget and a more experience Albert Martinez direction, it would have been maximize and place into greater heights. This did not diminish the overall quality of the film though since the story was also great and intriguing, my only complain , is that I wished it stand another 30 min. as it narrated more about the life of the estranged character.

With a Philippine movie Industry congested of Slapstick, Horror and Romantic Comedies, the historical value of Rosario is something rarely seen in Filipino films nowadays. No disrespect to Ai-Ai delas Alas, she is a very good actress and for the years of experience and great contribution to the industry she also deserves this award. But I think that if there was a more experienced and apolitical jury with a better criteria in giving out such awards, the Actress Jennelyn Mercado should have won and director Albert Martinez should have at least been nominated best Director. Also, No disrespect to the best picture winner "Tanging Ina Mo: Last Na to" but I feel that Rosario is a more artistically and socially relevant film. It is what Filipino films should be.

 I don't know for what reason, is it education??, corruption?? etc.??, but if we want to revive this Filipino film Industry and compete Internationally, one great start would be the improvement of our award giving bodies.

It is a sad fact that the same people who thrive and make a living from the Filipino Film Industry are the same people who bring it down.

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                                               3.5 Very Happy Onions

Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (You Have been Weighed and Found Wanting)

In a small provincial Isolated town in the Philippines reside a neighborhood of townsfolk and very interesting individuals with their life stories waiting to be unfolded. A Mentally disturbed woman named Kuala roams around town and seems to have a dark past that caused her illness. Junior is a young man experiencing the life of adolescence as he tries to kindle a relationship with another conservative yet complicated young girl named Evangeline. The father of Junior, Mr.Cesar Blanco is a consistent womanizer that is married to Junior's strict and stubborn mother Mrs.Carolina Blanco. A leper named Bertong Ketong also roams around town. Even with his good intentions and selflessness, he tries to find compassion and love from his townsfolk, The town in itself and its locals is corrupted by Gossip, lies and Old traditions that has the potential to pull the town back instead of it moving forward. With that in mind, What is now in store for this small Philippine town??

Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang is Lino Brocka's masterpiece of all his masterpieces. It is a film that shows the harsh realities that some people experience in the Philippine culture. I should also give credit to Mario O'hara for writing a great script  and a story. It was very moving and detailed as he is able to write very good socially significant stories relating to the Filipino. Mario O' Hara is one of the greatest Filipino cinema writers of our time. The movie was also blessed with some of the greatest Filipino artist in Christopher De Leon, Hilda Koronel, Eddie Garcia, Lilia Dizon and Lolita Rodriguez who played a very exceptional role as the mentally challenged Kuala. Mario O'Hara himself was in the movie and was moving and influential as he played Bertong Ketong. Though his role was quite disturbing at times, you will definitely feel for the leper that O'hara played. With the movie's story, the vision of Lino Brocka and a group of exceptional Filipino talents, Tinimbang ka ngunit Kulang turned out to be a great piece of art caught on camera.

Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang is a movie that reminds us about a lot of moral issues. It criticizes the negative aspects of not only the Filipino culture but also the negative aspects of human behavior so that we could turn it into positive ones to change for the better. The film taught me that at times, it is better to do the right thing than to do what's popular specially if the popular is morally incorrect.

Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang is one of the Best Films ever made in Philippine Cinema, and probably the best ever.

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4.5 Very Happy Onions

The Stoning of Soraya M.

I know its past holy week and it is actually Easter. In any case, I still want to catch up with a recent film that I just saw last Friday. This film has a certain effect on me and I want to share this effect with the people who plan to purchase the film and  to the people who might have seen the film on Television. The film's title which you could read above is The Stoning of Soraya M. which is based on  the novel written by Freidoune Sahebjam. The movie  is a true story that discusses about a very significant issue in our world today, Women's rights.

The story  starts in a secluded small Iranian Village where a French/Iranian journalist named Freidoune Sahebjam on his way past the border broke his car. Freidoune due to this had to ask for help in the small village for his car to get fix. In an odd manner, a mid-aged woman named Zahra approaches him with a dark secret to tell about the village and its inhabitants. One by one the secrets are revealed by Zahra to Sahebjan as he learns that because of the little village's negligence and corrupt leaders, a woman named Soraya M. died unjustly because of a radical execution of stoning the day before. This alarms Freidoune as he vows and promises through his journalism to tell the world about the unjustly customs that happen in Iran and most specially its women.

  The Stoning of Soraya M. is a very good film. The film was produced by the people behind the Passion of Christ and directed by Iranian descent Cyrus Nowrasteh. It discusses about the suffering and the inequalities of the women in Iran. The film even with a meek budget and a simple setting exceeded my expectations. Just by watching you could have a feel of being in a remote Iranian province. The costumes were descent, All languages were mostly spoken in Iranian and the characters as well are mostly from an Iranian heritage. The cast was made of great performers and veterans in Academy nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo, TV-Movie veteran actress Mozhan Marno and veteran actor James Caviezl who played Jesus in The Passion of Christ. Added to that is a group of  other talented Iranian artist. It is sad though that Stoning of Soraya M. didn't do  well in the box office as it only got around $650,000 on its first week of showing but Ironically  some films that get bad financial gains are the ones that turn out critically acclaimed. In fact if this movie was nominated for an Oscar in any category, I would not protest.

Stoning of Soraya M. is a highly significant film that would open your eyes on what is happening to Women not only in Iran but to other parts of the World. It is actually disappointing to learn that until now, some women in other countries are still maltreated and are not seen as an equal with their male counterparts. Some women specially in countries like Iran are not given a fair trial in court, they are seen more by men as sexual objects and infant producing machines, and worst they can be easily be stoned to death just because of committing adultery even when her husband  has committed it before her or 10X as much as her. I'm not justifying women not to be punished for committing adultery, I'm just saying that they should be given a fairer treatment instead of getting punished inhumanely by stoning or by any other cruel means of execution.

I think some old traditions regarding women's rights don't apply in this present world. I'm actually glad that with my simple blog, I can actually tell the world about the story of Soraya M. I hope that this simple review of mine could help open some people's eyes.  For me women should be treated equally as men weather what culture you are from. Women to me might not be generally physically strong as men yet in all other aspects women can be as great, In fact women can be even better. As human beings we should not just protect the  women in society but also give importance to their rights.

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4.0 Very Happy Onions

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

Judah Ben-Hur is a rich and influential merchant from Judea. After meeting his childhood friend and the present new Roman Tribune Messala, Judah finds himself choosing sides. Messala is an ambitious individual who would do anything advantageous for the glory of Rome and one of them is asking Judah to round up the opposing Judeans and incriminate them. Ben-Hur refusing to betray his own people had a very personal argument with Messala and with this instance Judah's life changed as his family is now persecuted by the Roman Army and he is sold to slavery. As years go by Judah's life seem to get bitter and more hopeless for him yet one day as he was walking on a mountain gathered with people, Judah meets a man. This man has a certain aura and radiance that made Judah and a lot of people listen to him and be at ease with his presence.

The man's name is Jesus and through him Judah would learn that in life even though how worst it could be, in the end there is always Hope after all. 

Ben-Hur was directed by The great William Wyler and is a film that I would consider of epic proportions. During the 50's, the film Ben-Hur could be equaled to the visuals, settings and budget of a  Lord of The Rings or of an Avatar. Ben-Hur at its time was one of the most high budgeted films at $15 Million Dollars and through this film you can definitely see how it was utilize with its great camera angles, the technicolor, the number of extras which was probably more than a thousand, the costumes, the great  props and equipment, the great cast and the magnificent settings. All of this contributed to the film's success during the 50's. This garnered Ben-Hur a Historical 11 Academy Award wins including Best Picture and is matched only by films like Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: Return of The King.  The film also garnered the Best Director award for William Wyler, Best Supporting actor award for Hugh Griffith and a Best Actor award for the Legendary Charlton Heston. When I see Charlton Heston, he reminds me of one of a few actors that could play epic roles with brilliance. A performance that you'll remember for a lifetime.

If you would compare Ben-Hur to the visuals and the stories of the movies of today, you would find Ben-Hur probably cheesy and out of date and with that is probably a very dragging and time consuming screen play. Yet, I would argue that because of Ben-Hur movies of today have to reach a certain standard because of standards that epic movies like Ben-Hur has achieved. Epic Movies of today were benchmark from the likes of Ben-Hur and constantly improves through the years. 

Ben-Hur is a movie that would not only give the audience great value for it sights and setting but also give an individual great values of morality. Ben-Hur is a great movie. Though action packed, and blended with eye catching extravagance, It is very moving and Spiritual. It is the story not only of a great adventure but also of a great being which is Jesus Christ. It is one of the best epics ever made. 

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4.5 Very Happy Onions

Holy Week with Ooh!!

It is a very special week again. It is Holy Week and like most people in this Nation, we are looking forward to quite a lengthy vacation. A lot of us will be going to the provinces, some are spending their long summers hanging by the beach cooling themselves with sea water and the breeze and Some of us in the other hand will be at home with their families doing simple house clean ups or just resting and watching T.V.
 
Though full of extra curricular activities, let us not forget  the real purpose of Holy Week. It is the time for celebrating Christ's life here on earth and the sacrifices he made for us. Let us give a little of our spare time to reflect, to pray, and to Thank the Lord for all the blessing he has given us whether it is in the present or the pass.

In accordance with the Holy Week Ooh Movie Reviews is one with our Nation in celebrating the life, the death and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Messenger (2009)

 

The Messenger is not your typical war or soldier movie. It is not set in an oriental country like the ones in the movies Platoon or Apocalypse Now. It is not set in the 1940's World War II like in Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan and most of all The Messenger does not contain the violence, the gunshots, the splattering guts and gore of a typical war movie. The Messenger's war is different, it is a war against emotions and terrorizing experiences of two soldiers who've been there and share it to the viewers by the means of an unusual military duty.

Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery after a recent deployment to Iraq was sent back home after getting hit by an explosive device that was in close range to him. Back in the States, Will faces some morality issues, having an affair with an engaged woman which in turn brings him  in the realization of trying to find his real purpose in life as a person and as an American soldier. Coincidentally, Will  is assigned to a new assignment that would change his life forever. This assignment requires a different kind of skill that relies on mental toughness, patience and understanding. With this in mind and under Capt.Tony Stone, Will learns that though this assignment is not fought with guns nor grenades, this assignment has its own dangers and fall backs.

Directed by Oren Moverman, The Messenger is a good movie and depicts the US/Iraq war on a different light which is unusual in soldier movies nowadays. It does not have hi tech equipment or hi tech effects. It just has two powerful characters in Staff Sgt.Will and Capt. Tony Stone who gave you a feel of what it is like experiencing the aftershocks of a war and a very good story to go along with it. Both Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson played exceptional roles for this movie. Woody Harrelson was powerful as Capt. Tony Stone as he played the role with conviction. He was nominated for best supporting actor in the 82nd Academy Award for this film and was a favorite to win it. Though Ben Foster was not recognized for this film, I still think that Ben played his role well and has a potential to be an A-Lister in Holywood.  I feel that all that Ben Foster has to do is play more roles of this caliber and eventually with his perseverance and patience, he will get his share of the limelight for his future films. 

Again if you are looking for an action packed, content heavy war film I would not recommend  The Messenger. Yet as a drama  with good and exceptional content that shows war's negative effects and downfalls, The Messenger is up there with the best of them. 

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4.0 Very Happy Onions

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

Claireece "Precious" Jones is not an ordinary 16 year old. Besides being overweight, she has a lot of other intricacies in life. At a very young age she was rape by her father and with him bore a child with Down Syndrome. Tragic though, it did not stop her father  from raping  and impregnating her the second time around. Aside from that, Precious never felt that much love at home or outside. At home she is constantly Physically and emotionally abused by her mother.  And outside, people pick on her because of her looks and weight. Yet, after being invited by the school to join a GED program called "Each One Teach One" Precious learns that a more fruitful life for her is never impossible, as she given hope to bounce back from a terrible crossroad. 

Produced by Ophrah Winfrey and directed by Lee Daniel's Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire broke barriers this year as it was nominated for 6 Academy Awards in the 82nd Academy Awards last March. It was nominated for four major awards which was for Best Picture, Best Director for Lee Daniels, Best Actress for Gabourey Sidebe, and the Best Supporting Actress which was won by Mo'Nique. I was actually hands down with Mo'Nique's performance as Precious mother, Mary Lee Johnston. She really did deserve her Oscar. Mo'Nique's performance was so powerful that  you would end up hating  her movie character but loving her for her role and acting talents.  Gabourey Sibide's Oscar story in the other hand is very inspiring itself, she was a 27 year old college girl who had  to skip school one day to audition for the part of Precious and the next thing you know she ends up being nominated for Best Actress with the likes of Meryll Streep, Sandra Bullock and Helen Mirren. Sibide was just great for her part as Claireece "Precious" Jones as she exceeded all expectations even though she was a newcomer. You'd feel and sympathize for her role as Claireece in the movie and in a way you'd find her character adorable.

Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire is a very inspiring film. It shows us that one must not give up and always move forward in life no matter what the cost. All of us has a "Precious" inside of us. Yes we might not be overweight, we might not have an unhappy family, we might not have experienced being bullied just like and  we might not feel that we are the most attractive and likable individuals just like Claireece yet still all of us have are own weaknesses and insecurities. And just like Claireece those weaknesses and insecurities should not stop us from achieving our goals and dreams. We should never give up no matter what obstacle.

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4.0 Very Happy Onions