Category Archives: movies

movies, musings

oscar-time

posting my oscar winners wanna-win list.  i guess there are three ways to look at a list of nominees.  one would be who will win, the other who should win, and the one who must win.  and sometimes it doesnt really matter because politics in award giving bodies get in the way of the real winner receiving the trophy. sometimes sentimental winners take home the trophy instead of the best best nominee. and sometimes, the mass favorite wins the trophy when there’s really a better movie in the running (or out of it).  the selection process is trivial and i learned not to put my hopes on the oscar.  at least not anymore.

although benjamin button (CCBB) may have gotten the most nominations this year with 13, slumdog millionaire might actually run away with the top honors (picture, director, cinematog, writing). im rooting for kate winslet to win (finally), although she would be the year’s “sentimental” choice along with mickey rourke.  im thrilled anne hathaway got nominated and meryll streep gets another nomination but please make it kate this year. heath ledeger (+) hands down wins supporting actor for dark knight.

the supporting actress field is open, since kate in the reader is put in the lead actress category and she’s won in that for both SAG and GG as supporting. perhaps this time penelope cruz might actually get it. or amy adams.

there are ways on how to guess the winners for the oscars.  when they win at the GG (golden globes), that’s almost 50% sure they will win the oscar. if the same recipients win in their corresponding guilds (directors guild of american, screen actors, producers guild, etc) then it’s practically theirs. of course there have been upsets but that’s all part of the game. and dont think winning in the oscars mean youre the best in the lot. politics play a great deal in awards like this that’s why nicole kidman won in the hours and not moulin rouge, renee zellweger won in cold mountain the year after instead of chicago, steven spielberg and martin scorsese didnt win the oscar until schindler’s list and the departed respectively, brokeback mountain won directing and writing but not best picture, lord of the rings didnt win best picture until the release of return of the king, etc.

ive actually mellowed down and am no longer that ubber excited whenever it’s oscar season since i started working on movies. i outgrew my childhood heroes (spielberg etc) every since i learned there was a far richer film experience outside hollywood. but this tradition of guessing winners with cuzin tootsie, as ive said, will continue as long as there are films made.

below is the full list of nominees and my guesses. cheers!

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laundry therapy, movies, musings

movie marathon

i normally wouldnt have the time to watch movies nowadays. it’s something i actually miss. we were movie freaks in college doing wednesday screenings at FA, running to greenbelt for the cinemanila, hobnobbing with indie actors at the CCP and stuff like that. i buy a lot of dvds all the time and download a lot of movies i never see (and i know there are more like me out there; raise your hands, kids).

after tuesday’s shoot and carlo being in cebu, i found myself all by my lonesome the last few days, which afforded me to not just update my blog but to catch up on my movie list. here are the stuff ive been watching and a few comments on them, in chronological order of watching:
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movies

space chimps (2008)

downloaded this animated movie about the first chimps to space.  overall it was a cute movie despite seams of its CG showing at the sides, and i would have preferred a better texture for some surfaces.  kids younger than me would really not mind that so i guess this will still excite my niece and nephew.  a fairly low-budget endeavor that went straight to video, i think.  still ok to burn your weekday afternoons away.

i recognized kristin chenowith’s voice here as kilowat, the illuminating-head, high-c’s screaming alien character. stanley tucci of devil wears prada also lent his voice to the senator. 3 stars out of 5

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movies, musings

claim to fame

my friend ica just returned my jesus christ superstar dvd after a long time. we popped it on luna and watched ted neeley and carl anderson run away with probably the best performance of their lives. after discussing their singing on the movie, we decided to google up what they have been doing and found out ted neely is still doing jcs on tour. we ran up the video on youtube and well, im a bit perplexed on what we found. im not entirely sure i liked what i saw.


ted neely in the 2008 tour of jesus christ superstar

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filmmaking, movies

the thank you girls review

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i missed the opportunity to work as designer for this movie since it was shooting the same time with serbis. also, i was held back by tvc work from leaving for mindanao ergo i missed working on a fantabulous movie by emotistic centerstage colleague, charliebebs gohetia

yesterday was the thank you girls’ premiere at the UP and carlo and i headed for the theater on the invitation by writer-editor-director bebs.  we of course expected the tongue-in-cheek comedy fished out from gay beauty pageants and we were taken in for a roll!

haskang grabe ka-juker! bibo gyud siya, never laughed so hard at a movie in a long time. the great part of this film was how natural the dialogue, both scripted and impromptu, twittered out of the cast’s lip-shimmered mouths. of course in the beginning it takes a bit of time to get used to bisayan gay linggo. hearing them speak in their native tongues and acting out along the billboard-less highways of mindanao, the bantering and witty exchanges felt right at home as if we’ve worn red satin gowns everyday of our lives. lighting and sound technicals aside, this movie is fantabulous from fake diamond tiara to flattened-out yellow spartan flipflops.

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art & design, movies

urian 2008

FROM THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: A very indie Urian
By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—For the fourth straight year, independent movies dominate the Urian awards, given by the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino, the country’s oldest critics’ group.

The Manunuri, now in its 31st year, nominated only five mainstream works: Jinggoy Estrada in “Katas ng Saudi” for Best Actor; Judy Ann Santos in “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo” and Lorna Tolentino in “Katas” for Best Actress; Jose Javier Reyes’ “Katas ng Saudi” for Best Screenplay; and Liza Lorena in “Katas” for Supporting Actress.

Clean sweep

Since 2003, the Manunuri has picked indie movies for Best Film.

This year, all six nominees for Best Film are indies: Jerrold Tarog and Ruel Dahis Antipuesto’s “Confessional,” Jade Castro’s “Endo,” Dante Mendoza’s “Foster Child” and “Tirador,” Lav Diaz’s “Death in the Land of Encantos” and Jim Libiran’s “Tribu.”

“It’s the first time for indies to have a clean sweep of the Best Film category,” says Lito Zulueta, Manunuri member. Adds National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, founding member and former chair: “It’s an indication of the enthusiasm of indie directors. It’s a good sign… that the film industry is being revived by new filmmakers.”

Although it can be argued that “Foster Child,” produced by Seiko Films, can fall under the mainstream category, it is directed by Mendoza, known mainly for indie films.

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“Foster” received the most nominations, along with “Tribu” and Adolf Alix Jr.’s “Tambolista” which each got 10 nods. (But “Tambolista” is not in the Best Film race.) “Tirador” got 9 noms; while “Endo” and “Confessional” each has 7.

Mendoza isn’t the only one who scored double nods, for Best Director and Film (“Tirador” and “Foster”). Jiro Manio is nominated for Actor (“Tambolista”) and Supporting Actor (“Foster”); and Sid Lucero is in the race for Actor (“Selda”) and Supporting Actor (“Tambolista”).

Tarog has the most nominations for an individual—six (Sound, Editing, Screenplay, Actor, Director and Film) for a single movie, “Confessional.”

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movies, music

legally blonde the musical

LegallyBlondeTheMusical.jpgthis was a surprise. finished downloading the whole show a month ago and had a blast watching it. the film wasnt my favorite but the broadway show just became one. its music and the cast is infectious, it’s been weeks since i saw it and the songs are still looping in my head. the show’s audience clearly enjoyed themselves and cheered at every instance it’s contagious. ang kulit! laura bell bundy plays elle woods in the original cast and she got nominated for a tony award here.

fantastic choreography and staging in “what you want,” where elle applies for harvard, “chip on my shoulder,” and tracks 17 and 18 “legally blonde” songs. for more information here’s the wiki page of legally blonde the musical.

By Source, Fair use, Link

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movies

mamma mia

finally watched mamma mia. everybody knows abba and whether you like it or not, youre all familiar with their music. heard of the musical years back but had no idea how itd work out. all i know was that it was a hit so i was excited meryll was doing the film (exec produced by power couple tom hanks and wife rita wilson). meryll frontlined the casting of evita in the movie version (along with michelle pfeiffer) before madonna eventually got the role. everybody waited a bit before we could hear her sing her guts out in a musical.

the first part of the film was frivolous and i didnt get into the act so much. it was fun yes but may be a bit stretched. however, when it got to “voulez-vous,” to meryll’s heartwrenching rendition of “the winner takes it all” and all the way to the end, the musical was a winner. the people in the screening applauded at the end of the film (gateway LFS july 25 2008 ) and that was great. wonderful night cap playing “thank you for the music” at the credits. sweet!

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