Film Review: Miss Nigeria, “What Happened to Miss Colombia and Miss Philippines?” (In Alphabetical Order)

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In Miss Nigeria, “What Happened to Miss Colombia and Miss Philippines?” (In Alphabetical Order), a beauty pageant blunder causes a media frenzy when Miss Colombia is mistakenly crowned, only for the title to be retracted and given to Miss Philippines. Forced into a global press tour, the two rivals are kidnapped by The Alphas, a group promoting regressive gender roles. While held captive, they form a bond and devise an escape plan, embedding coded messages in their forced confession videos. Their daring breakout turns them into global heroes, with Miss Nigeria joining them to challenge outdated ideals. The film critiques beauty pageants, media manipulation, and patriarchal control, transforming the contestants from victims to empowered leaders, and highlighting solidarity over competition. Through humor and satire, it exposes the complexities of feminist struggles in a world obsessed with performative activism.

Kritisismo: "Heneral Luna," Pelikula ni Jerrold Tarog

The English translation is below this post.

Walang duda, may nabasa ka na kahit isa lamang pagsusuri tungkol sa pelikula ni Jerrold Tarog na “Heneral Luna.” Ang pelikula ay usap-usap ng karamihan. May mga ilang mga tao na pinupuri ang katapangan ng pelikula at ang matagumpay nitong pagtangka na makuha ang interes ng mga kabataan sa kasaysayan. Sa ibang dako, may iba na pinupuna ang pelikula sa malambot nitong pagtalakay sa imperyalismong Amerikano at mga ilang kamalian sa kasaysaysan. 

Anuman ang iyong mga saloobin sa pelikula, hindi kaila na isang napakabubuting anomalya ang "Heneral Luna" sa larangan ng kasalukuyang pelikulang Pilipino. Ang "Heneral Luna" ay isang pelikula na bahagyang tumatalakay sa tunay na kasaysayan o isang bahagyang katha batay sa tunay na kasaysayan. Prinodyus ang pelikula ng parehong uri ng elitista na kinabibilangan nila Luna, Aguinaldo at Rizal subalit hindi natin maaaring tahasang pulaan ang katotohanang ito. Magastos ang paggawa ng pelikula at sino pa mismo ang may pera para pangtustos sa isang napakalaking pelikula tulad nito, at isugal ang milyong-milyong piso para sa isang uri ng pelikula na karaniwan ay linalangaw sa takilya.

The 15 Outstanding Performances in Filipino Films in 2014

Greek theater mask (First century BC) Louvre Museum 
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While mainstream movies and television dramas offer actors big money, independent films often showcase the talents of actors. In 2014, this is no exception. Fourteen out of 15 outstanding performances came from independent productions.  Here are the 15 outstanding performances according to our resident critics.  We forego the division between lead and supporting roles because “there’s no such thing as small parts, only small actors,” as the saying goes. We also combined male and female actors because we espouse gender equality. Do you agree with our critics? (For the 10 BEST FILMS OF 2014, click this)

The Top 10 Outstanding Filipino Films of 2014

The critics of Brun Philippines Online Magazine have voted and here are their Top Ten Outstanding Filipino Films of 2014. Choosing the best films is a subjective exercise, and we are certain that some of you may not agree with our critics but the important thing is we celebrate excellence. Do you agree with our critics? What are your choices? 

Not ranked (In alphabetical order)

The Judge: “A Middle Child Syndrome Story” (Film Review)

RATING: 5/5
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Reviewed by Roghadal Saint-Michel

(Toronoto, Canada)

Directed by David Dobkin; starring Robert Downey, Jr., Robert Duvall and Vera Farmiga

A hotshot lawyer comes back to a small town where he grew up to attend his mothers' funeral, carrying with him loads of baggage from a past that is about to unfold.

A seemingly short planned weekend turned into an agonizing excursion of family drama that has now crept up on him when his father, a highly regarded judge gets involved in a murder.  Hank (Robert Downey, Jr.)  is now compelled to defend his father (Robert Duvall) when Hank realized that a small-time attorney would most likely lose the case and put his father in jail.

This courtroom drama has been told a gazillion times in Hollywood films. Of late, films like “On Golden Pond,” “August: Osage County,” “One True Thing” weaves a tale about children who are forced to confront their own demons by revisiting their relationship with their parents.

Lav Diaz’s “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon” (From What Is Before): a TIFF Film Review

Reviewed by Roghadal Saint-Michel

Brun Film Correspondent at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival

Warning: Spoiler alert

I have to admit that I had reservations venturing into another Lav Diaz film. The last time I sat through his 11-hour opus, “Ebolusyon ng Pamilyang Pilipino,” I felt that I "evolved" in not wanting to watch another gratuitously long film. I am all for long takes if they are warranted it but not when I am subjected to them just for the heck of it.

Thirty minutes to Diaz’s new film, it is very clear that he himself has evolved. The cinematography in crisp black and white is akin to any Ansel Adams photography. If the famous photographer had gone to the Philippines and photographed parts of the country, his work would have resembled this film. Not a single shot was wasted. I have never seen rural Philippines photographed so beautifully.

Chris Martinez's "The Gifted" (Film Review): "Fake Never Looked So Good"

“The Gifted” begins with stereotypes, fills the middle with more stereotypes, and ends with stereotypes, then the film cleverly pulls the rug out from under you when you least expect it. Boom! I love it. That says a lot, considering I started hating the film after just fifteen minutes. Anne Curtis's campy performance kept me engaged in the middle, but in the end, writer and director Chris Martinez delivered his coup de grace.

Revealing too much of the plot would spoil the pleasure of watching it. My only advice is to stay in your seat even after the credits start to roll; otherwise, you'll miss the best part. Leaving early is like "doing it" and running off before you climax.

"Mariquina" (Film Criticism): An Allegory for the Rise and Fall, and Potential Resurgence, of the Romualdez-Marcos Dynasty?

"Mariquina" is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship. Every element seamlessly aligns: from its concise screenplay to music that enhances scenes without overpowering them, and from fitting production design to smooth editing and stellar cinematography. Anchored by a powerhouse ensemble cast, the film's ambition may not reach the heights of some independent productions, but therein lies its beauty—it thrives in its intimacy, skillfully encapsulating the struggles of a single family as a microcosm of Philippine society over the past two decades.

At the core of "Mariquina" is Mylene Dizon, whose nuanced performance grounds the film. Eschewing melodrama, Dizon portrays her character with restraint, mirroring the quiet strength of her role. Without her remarkable portrayal, the film wouldn't wield the same impact. The ensemble cast, likewise, delivers impeccable performances, infusing "Mariquina" with depth and drama devoid of sentimentality. Credit is due to director Milos Sogueco and screenwriter Jerrold Tarog, the latter also responsible for the evocative musical score.

Cinemalaya 2014: "The Janitor - A Fresh Face in Filipino Action Cinema or Just Another Cliché?" (Film Review)

Since the commercial and critical success of On the Job (OTJ), reviving the once-dominant Filipino action genre has shifted from a distant dream to a tangible possibility. While mainstream cinema had occasionally released action films prior to OTJ, audience reception was often tepid. The Janitor, however, signals a new wave of action cinema creeping into the mainstream through the independent route. This film is polished and boasts an ensemble of A-list actors, making it the OTJ of 2014—at least for now. It’s clear that while the era of FPJ and Robin Padilla-style action films may never fully return, we’re likely to see more sleek, sophisticated, and perhaps even sexier takes on the genre.

At first glance, The Janitor may seem like a breath of fresh air, but it still carries the hallmarks of the action films of the 20th century: cliché characters, over-the-top machismo, and familiar tropes. The cast of strippers and prostitutes, the corrupt officers colluding with criminals—it’s all there. Yet, both OTJ and The Janitor introduce something new: a breed of action stars with the chiseled, supermodel looks we now associate with leading men. Gone are the pudgy physiques of classic stars like Joseph Estrada, FPJ, and Rudy Fernandez. Instead, we get the more sculpted physiques of Piolo Pascual in OTJ and Raymond Bagatsing, Derek Ramsay, and Richard Gomez in The Janitor. In fact, The Janitor might as well be mistaken for Dennis Trillo’s personal workout video or a Derek Ramsay fitness ad. While the male bodies are on display, the female characters still manage to steal the show when it comes to showing more skin, down to the most explicit details.

Stranger By the Lake (Film Review): "Finding Love in All the Wrong Places"

RATING 4.5 out of 5

Reviewed by Roghadal Saint-Michel (Toronto, Canada)

[Alert: Contain spoiler]  In a nondescript part of France, a lakeshore becomes a playground for homosexual encounters. The lead, Franck, routinely heads to the area and hopes to find a long-term relationship among the various men participating in anonymous sex.

A mysterious man, Michel, tall, dark and handsome (a very Castro Street circa '70s-look) catches Franck's attention and pursues him after befriending a new regular, Henri, who in turn is a brooding, recently divorced man.

The Legend of Hercules (Film Criticism): “The Cult of the Perfect Male Body”

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Captain Phillips (Review): "Superpower Mentality"

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Paul Greengrass's "Captain Phillips" is based on the harrowing experience of Captain Richard Phillips who was held hostage by Somali pirates in 2009. Greengrass skillfully took the helm and created an outstanding action thriller that would satisfy mature audiences who favor intelligent suspense thrillers like the Bourne series and young viewers who are more attuned to superhero action-packed movies like Iron Man.

However, if we forgo the real-life events in "Captain Phillips," and scrutinize the film on an ideological level, the film tackles a more political issue.

 

“Captain Phillips” revolves around the captive as the “innocent victim,” and the villains as “soulless amoral individuals” whose only agenda is to steal money and they have no qualms about taking human lives to accomplish their goals.  It is the classic template of the “evil” preying on the “good.” Luckily, Greengrass managed to insert certain scenes and dialogues to make the audience understand the motivation of the so-called “soulless captors.”  Still, the audience only gets to see snippets of the Somali side, but without those snippets, “Captain Phillips” could have easily been simplistically black and white, literally and figuratively.

 

"A Nun's Movie Review" (The Nun’s Story, 1959 Film)

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Note: Sister asked us not to put her name. She may be shy but I think she is just humble.  Yes, she is real and not fictional. She is a former student of mine)

Life is different for everyone.  Even if we have different lifestyles, everybody has strong aspirations when it comes to love. As there are many faces of people in the world, so too are there many different kinds of love. Every kind of love is beautiful and noble if we can discover ourselves through our journey looking for love. However, the search for love is a difficult journey. In spite of that, we should not give up. Only love can complete our lives.

One day, my teacher recommended that I watch a film entitled “The Nun’s Story.” It was directed by Fred Zinnemann and it starred Audrey Hepburn and Peter Finch. It was based on the 1956 novel of the same title by Kathryn Hulme.  The story is about a woman named Gabriel who enjoys studying medicine because her father is a rich doctor but she would later enter the convent. She has ended her relationship with her boyfriend and she wants to find true love.

Black Swan Review Series: “Where is Your Mother, Nina?“ The Nonexistent Mother Theory and the Female "Psycho"

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By Rob San Miguel       

(First published on February 16, 2011 in “The Chair.” Updated: 2012)

(Spoiler Alert) 

One of the most intriguing interpretations of Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” is that Nina’s mother, Erica Sayers (outstandingly portrayed by Barbara Hershey) does not exist.  She is Nina’s creation along with all the other doppelgangers inhabiting Nina’s psyche.  This theory may be a stretch for some but Aronofsky’s tricky and calculated direction laid open the film into various interpretations.  The film has enough ambiguities to entertain even far-fetched notions.  If Nina’s mother truly did not exist, then “Black Swan” may be darker than it claims and Nina may be more psychologically splintered than most of us earlier speculated.   What proof do we have to substantiate this theory?

Black Swan Review Series: Dark Perfection, “The Internal Process of the Performer”

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First published on February 16, 2011 in “The Chair.” Written by Rob San Miguel

“Art is a guarantee of sanity. That is the most important thing I have said.”

Louise Bourgeois

“She’s insane,” as many moviegoers may assume.  Within the confines of dark theaters all over the world, some of us may take the easiest explanation and simply place Nina, the Swan Queen, in the loony basket along with her putrid eggs and frayed white and black feathers soiled with blood.  Nevertheless, if you dare to see Nina in the eyes of an obsessive perfectionist artist, Nina is nothing but insane. She is, in fact, the most rational of all the ballet dancers in the “Black Swan” ensemble because she knows exactly what must be done to get everything “perfect.”  Put yourself in her shoes, figuratively speaking, and you might comprehend her motivation.  One must understand that a true artist is brazen and has no sense of self-preservation for the sake of his or her craft.  Most artists, especially performance artist like actors and dancers, rely on superficial camouflage to highlight their transformation into their characters. Sometimes, the deceit works and we see more of the mask rather than the real transformation.  I am sure you have watched countless actors who thought that by merely looking like the characters, their job is done.