Favorite films

Recent reviews

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  And the Breadwinner Is... 2024

  ★★ Watched 06 Jan 2025

  Jun Lana made this movie for Vice Ganda. That was supposed to be a good thing. Until it was not.

  From the get-go, it was obvious that this was a movie about Vice Ganda being an OFW breadwinner, not the story of an OFW breadwinner portrayed by Vice Ganda. These are distinct options, and the choice they made proved to be catastrophic.

  For a movie headlined by the top comedienne of the country, their jokes disappointingly did not land. While…

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  Green Bones 2024

  ★★★★ Watched 06 Jan 2025

  National Artist Ricky Lee joins the power duo of Zig Dulay and Angeli Atienza in this another Best Picture-winning MMFF film.

  Telling this very personal story from two contrasting narratives reminiscent of Flipped (2010) was a compelling choice. Yes, it was predictable, had plotholes, and came off as preachy or oversentimental at times, but it commendably remained grounded to justice and redemption sans overt politics. I'd argue that, sometimes, the most effective subversive voices are the least repulsive ones —…

Popular reviews

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  Road Trip 2024

  ★★½ Watched 05 Feb 2024

  Despite its title, this felt like a ride lost in the woods and dire of direction. A huge chunk of its screen time is filled with a cacophony of rowdy noise not making any point. Conflicts come and go without any satisfying conclusion. Flashbacks and plot twists weren't of help either and have only led the film astray from its destination.

  However, if you're looking for a genuine portrait of friendship, look no further, as this film delivers just that.…

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  Isang Himala 2024

  ★★★★½ Watched 04 Jan 2025

  Ang turan ni Elsa, tayo ang gumagawa ng mga himala. Ang sabi ko naman, si Pepe Diokno at Sir Ricky Lee ang gumawa ng isang himala.

  This musical film, adapted from the 2003 theatrical play of the same name, was a more pointed social criticism than their parent material, the Ishmael Bernal classic Himala (1982). Sensible adjustments to plot and language were made to polish an already sharp screenplay from Lee.

  Thanks to its lighting and set design, each scene…