Just watched `METRO MANILA' at SM North. Twas a Friday night, and this is a nominee for the Oscars Best Foreign Film, yet there were only 5 of us in the theater. Regrettable, since folks are missing out on very fine performances by pinoy actors.
It was great to see actors I have been in films with in the past, that are cast here (Johnny Barnes and Angelina Kanapi from `Layang Bilanggo', Jake Macapagal from `Pi7ong Tagpo'). I had last seen Angelina and Jake perform together in Ingrid Lausund's `Slipped Disc'. In `METRO MANILA', they're in separate scenes, and they both deliver superbly. When I auditioned for GMA7's upcoming `Katipunan', I had been the 1st in line, and it was here that I met Moises Magisa (2nd in line), whom I was delightfully surprised to see in the film as the big boss known as the `laughing Buddha'. Throw in John Arcilla and Althea Vega, and you have a grand showcase of pinoy acting talent (including Leon Guerrero in a pivotal role!).
Sean Ellis is Director, Cinematographer, and writer. He captures the city's urban trappings with profound perspective - the traffic, the billboards, the struggles to eke out a living, the deceptions. The script tackles themes familiar to us - How far will your loyalty go? Where do you draw the line? How far will you go to give your family a decent life?
The plight of Oscar' (Jake's character) is likened to a real-life incident some years ago of a deranged man named Alfred Santos, who, out of desperation, single-handedly hijacked a passenger plane, and parachuted off from almost 2000ft - Kapit sa Patalim. Yet Oscar's situation differs in one major aspect - watch the movie to find out!!
Certainly, this film deserves more viewership (as do the films in Indie filmfests like Sineng Pampansa and Cine Filipino), if we are to mature as a discerning movie audience. I hope `METRO MANILA' makes it to the final Oscar nominees for Best Foreign Film, together with Hannah Espia's `Transit' (Philippines) and Anthony Chen's `Ilo Ilo' (Singapore).
`METRO MANILA' is NOW SHOWING at Cinemas in...... Metro Manila! Take time to watch it. You'll be glad you did! =)
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