Welcome. You are here because you made a choice. I do not wish to put words in your mouth by saying you prefer quality films, original and brilliant plots. Instead, whatever reason, or maybe even you agree with what I said - whatever works - you are well aware of the unsightly condition that has become a nuisance of the MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival). I do not wish to discuss further as it will only bring acidity in my words where in many instances, tirades I'm not particularly proud of and accustomed to. I piqued myself that happiness, and happiness alone is what keeps me optimistic about life, its victories and failures, dreams, both crushed and still hopeful.
Quality films channel, primarily but not solely, happiness in me. Temporary, yes, but at least it's recognized and does exist. Leave it to the experts, people who went to school for performing arts (debatable but cognitive) and film making, leave it to Hollywood.
On December 25 until next year, 8th of January, the cinemas will be flooded, unappealing poster after poster of the seven (7) official - more like off-ful - entries of the annual festival. I do not wish to enumerate them, so before I lose you altogether, here are the Top 15 films that were either set aside to give way for the ghastly event, or are independent films whereby its distribution is confined within US territory (it's almost always budget; I do not blame the country). In perfect order, get your Torrent ready to upload or stream, we begin.
15. Cosmopolis (2012)
Status: Promising, Golden Palm nominee
Star: Robert Pattinson, Jay Baruchel
Synopsis:
Billionaire Eric Packer (Pattinson) just wanted to have a haircut at his favorite hair salon when suddenly he doesn't think his life is worth shaving for. Shot entirely in a stretch limousine, a bad hair day is putting it lightly.
14. Playing for Keeps (2012)
Status: Promising
Star: Gerard Butler, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Synopsis:
He is truly a big fish in a small pond when he decided to teach his son's soccer team for a change of perspective. He was doing just fine until the soccer moms eventually find out who he was before.
13. Bachelorette (2012)
Status: Promising
Star: Isla Fisher, Rebel Wilson
Synopsis:
A female equivalent of The Hangover (2009), the "fat friend" Becky Archer (Wilson) got engaged. Her three best friends try their best to throw the best bachelorette party for her even it kills them that they're the ones slim yet they're still single.
RELATED REVIEW: Pitch Perfect (2012)
Status: Watched, Russovoir Recommended
Star: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson
Synopsis:
Premiered last October 10, The Bellas, a club for the vocally gifted, is a broken record to the collegiate competition of A Capella every year. Club president Aubrey Posen (Anna Camp) spites new club member and aspiring DJ Beca Mitchell (Kendrick) for changing accustomed song routines; she on the other hand, is made of titanium.
12. The Tall Man (2012)
Status: Watched
Star: Jessica Biel
Synopsis:
Abduction of children has been the final plague of the impoverished town of Cold Rock. Julia Denning (Biel) is the beloved nurse of an absentee husband that which his duties are now entrusted to her. A socioeconomic thriller, is a good deed still a good deed if you're the only one can see it?
11. Chasing Mavericks (2012)
Status: Promising
Star: Gerard Butler, Johnny Weston
Synopsis:
The true story of American surfer Jay Moriarity, internationally revered by fellow surfers for riding the Mavericks, the sink-or-swim destination point for aspiring big wave surfers of the world. Moriarity wanted to ride it like a fish needs water; all he needs now is a trainer as thirsty.
10. Deadfall (2012)
Status: Watched, Russovoir Recommended
Star: Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde
Synopsis:
Premiered last December 5, this edge-of-your-seat suspense will have your brain juice spilling in different directions. Two fugitives are on the run in the middle of the freezing forest, seeking refuge for the impending blizzard. When baby sister found her future, can she let go of her past?
9. The Words (2012)
Status: Promising
Star: Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana
Synopsis:
Writer Rory Jansen (Cooper) finally gets his name on the cover on every window display at every frequented bookstore in town. A walking question mark, his book: a bestseller or a freeloader?
8. Premium Rush (2012)
Status: Promising, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes
Star: Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Jamie Chung
Synopsis:
No, this isn't the newspaper boy behind schedule. This is about the persistent chase of bike messenger Wilee (Gordon-Levitt) for he holds an envelope with contents signed, sealed, and delivered to a conspirator. Whether to save a life or save lives, it's how fast he pedals his mountain bike decides.
RELATED REVIEW: Looper (2012)
RELATED REVIEW: Looper (2012)
Status: Watched, Russovoir RecommendedStars: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Synopsis:
Premiered last October 17, a looper is a futuristic term for a hitman, paid instead to kill someone from the future. Joe is as good as anybody else when it comes to killing strangers, but when he meets himself thirty years older, fire has never meant all at once of its possible context.
7. Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
Status: Promising, Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
Star: Jake Johnson, Aubrey Plaza
Synopsis:
There is an ad on the newspaper one morning that thought to be just for laughs, an effective stimulant. But not for one magazine company. They took it so seriously, they answered the ad with their pens and notepads tucked in, now uncomfortably as the seat belt secures no safety to one's man claim of a time machine experiment.
There is an ad on the newspaper one morning that thought to be just for laughs, an effective stimulant. But not for one magazine company. They took it so seriously, they answered the ad with their pens and notepads tucked in, now uncomfortably as the seat belt secures no safety to one's man claim of a time machine experiment.
6. Anna Karenina (2012)
Status: Promising, Top 10 Greatest Novels
Star: Keira Knightley Aaron Johnson
Synopsis:
Written by Russian writer Leo Tolstoy for which implies shot in the picturesque Moscow, Anna Karenina (Knightley) is the epitome of a love game where betrayal, infidelity, innocence, disappointment, insecurity, and seduction are the six bullets shot almost rashly, it's pathetic.
5. Ruby Sparks (2012)
Status: Promising, 79% on Rotten Tomatoes
Star: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan
Synopsis:
She was the product of her imagination. Determined to publish another best seller, penciled words look more permanent than the indecisive thoughts in Calvin Weir-Fields' (Dano) head. Ink has never looked boring when he finally wrote a promising book about a girl, and it somehow came to life.
4. The Sessions (2012)
Status: Promising, 2012 Sundance Breakout Film
Star: John Hawkes, Helen Hunt
Synopsis:
Getting laid becomes his priority for 38-year old Mark O'Brien (Hawkes) is incurably bed-ridden. Just bed-ridden. Thirty-eight years of virginity will soon be "cured" when boldly he goes calling a sex surrogate, paid to give pleasure to the disabled.
3. End of Watch (2012)
Status: Watched, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes
Star: Michael Peña, Jake Gyllenhaal
Synopsis:
Brian Taylor (Gyllenhaal), a police officer in South Central Los Angeles, notorious for drug cartels and savagery, fancies bringing a camcorder to amuse himself, and partner Mike Zavala (Peña); an unassuming method to arrest the public of the heroic missions they readily cock their guns for.
2. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Status: Multi-awarded, 90% on Rotten Tomatoes
Star: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence
Synopsis:
Based on the book by American writer Matthew Quick, in relationships, there's always going to be rain on your parade, calm waters turn agitated, and Pat Solitano (Cooper) is the eye of his own gathering storm. As if another storm is heading his way but in counter orbit, Tiffany (Lawrence) might have luckily parted a sunshine he eventually saw on her.
RELATED REVIEW: House At the End of the Street (2012)
Status: Watched
Star: Max Theriot, Jennifer Lawrence
Synopsis:
Premiered last December 5, the prying neighbors paid their two cents too many of a particular house where a massacre had happened, as if a dark attic filled with fear took away the good chi. Detour she went to the notorious house where she finds love with Ryan (Theriot); he survived. Darker the attic becomes.
Finally, the top 1 film you should go see because I personally think it's quality more than civic duty. I am proud of what I become, where I come from, how my morals and values from experience and preference are shaped, and it's through them that I know what I'm truly proud of, not because I have to but because I want to. The country has been flooded with pathetic low-quality films over the last couple of years that it's refreshing to see one that interests the wiser minds.
1. El Presidente:
General Emilio Aguinaldo and the First Republic (2012)
Status: Promising
Star: Cesar Montano, E.R. Ejercito
Synopsis:
Said to be a biographical epic of the life and perpetual influence of Philippines' first President, Emilio Aguinaldo. The knitting of the first Philippine Flag, the composition of the National Anthem, and the seething for freedom; there's a war brewing, and they're coming in hot.
Let us welcome 2013 with patient excitement and a continued passion for quality films of which define the true exercise of art in film making. There are so much in store for us next year; to name them all will only strain the anticipation - I'm biting my lips! To me, wherever life takes me, quality films are what I'm looking forward to.
Synopsis:
Based on the book by American writer Matthew Quick, in relationships, there's always going to be rain on your parade, calm waters turn agitated, and Pat Solitano (Cooper) is the eye of his own gathering storm. As if another storm is heading his way but in counter orbit, Tiffany (Lawrence) might have luckily parted a sunshine he eventually saw on her.
RELATED REVIEW: House At the End of the Street (2012)
Status: WatchedStar: Max Theriot, Jennifer Lawrence
Synopsis:
Premiered last December 5, the prying neighbors paid their two cents too many of a particular house where a massacre had happened, as if a dark attic filled with fear took away the good chi. Detour she went to the notorious house where she finds love with Ryan (Theriot); he survived. Darker the attic becomes.
Finally, the top 1 film you should go see because I personally think it's quality more than civic duty. I am proud of what I become, where I come from, how my morals and values from experience and preference are shaped, and it's through them that I know what I'm truly proud of, not because I have to but because I want to. The country has been flooded with pathetic low-quality films over the last couple of years that it's refreshing to see one that interests the wiser minds.
1. El Presidente:
General Emilio Aguinaldo and the First Republic (2012)
Status: Promising
Star: Cesar Montano, E.R. EjercitoSynopsis:
Said to be a biographical epic of the life and perpetual influence of Philippines' first President, Emilio Aguinaldo. The knitting of the first Philippine Flag, the composition of the National Anthem, and the seething for freedom; there's a war brewing, and they're coming in hot.
There you go. Now the Top 14 quality films you will miss out because of the MMFF onslaught. There are also films that were moved next year, 2013, for the same reason: Les Miserables, Life of Pi, and Hitchcock.
A meager mention, really.
Let us welcome 2013 with patient excitement and a continued passion for quality films of which define the true exercise of art in film making. There are so much in store for us next year; to name them all will only strain the anticipation - I'm biting my lips! To me, wherever life takes me, quality films are what I'm looking forward to.
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