Movie Digest # 009

BREAKING AND ENTERING
Glorietta 4, Cinema 4, March 25, 10:30pm

OK, it’s a Michael Minghella film. For sure you’re expecting an epic film like “The English Patient” or “Cold Mountain” but his latest opus is more of a “small film” (Scorsese once called “The Departed” an small film as well). Pati sa oras at lugar ay limitado rin ang pelikulang ito tungkol sa pinagtagpi-tagping buhay ng may buhay sa kasalukuyang London (specifically, sa King’s Cross, isang lugar na hindi malinis ang imahe). If you’ve seen the Sandra Bullock – Ben Affleck film “Forces of Nature”, the theme for “Breaking and Entering” then is not, though vaguely, new to you. Tungkol ito sa isang pamilya, teka, dalawang pamilya, na pinatibay ng sundot ng tadhana. Ang unang pamilya ay stereotype na merong ama, ina at anak, pero hindi pa ganap na matatag. Ang ikalawa naman ay binubuo lamang ng isang ina at isang anak na unti-unting nilalamon ng mga pangako ng isang dambuhalang itago na lang natin sa pangalang “London”. Nagustuhan ko ang storytelling part. Na-appreciate ko si Minghella bilang manunulat dito (maliban sa ilang eksena na masyadong “eksena”). Naikwento n’ya ang isang materyal na parang ikinukwento lamang ng kapit-bahay mo. But the film is not satisfying. Merong kulang o merong hindi na-heighten. O kung na-heighten man, sa isang banda naman ay nalusaw ang believability factor.

Friends who might appreciate it: those who had/are having/interested in having a taste of slice of life in the UK.

ANG M.O.N.A.Y. NI MR. SHOO-LI
Market! Market!, Cinema 3, March 27, 7:10pm

The intention is two-thumbs up (climaxed by a teary-eyed Mr. Shoo-Li delivering a monologue on our mistakes and the possible cure for improvement). But as a film, no, it’s no good. Even the jokes are mostly off and unrecyclable. Maybe the problem is with how the project could stand on its own given that the extras could only contribute their time and talent as, hmm, extras! If these generous artists (including the 90’s pop icon Jeric Raval) could commit more scenes like Leo Martinez as Congressman Manhik-Manaog, then the film could have been far more cohesive. But we can always blame Jun Urbano for not watching “Borat” (this is just a brave guess). And where are the Cumbacheros?

Friends who might appreciate it: those who miss “Mongolian Barbecue”.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
Glorietta 4, Cinema 6, March 31, 9:20pm

Predictable but visually surprising. I thought it was so-so but I was compelled by how the film was framed and angled. Pampelikula ang vision at atake. Hindi nakakahon sa mala-TV na scope. I can say that some scenes are fresh and appealing to kids and adults alike.

Friends who might appreciate it: those who miss the cartoon series.