Movie Review: Vince and Kath and James

What if Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto won the best actor and the best actress trophies in the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night because of their portrayals in Vince and Kath and James?  I guess that’s really remarkable, hindi lamang baka ito ang first acting awards nila o dahil bata sila, kundi dahil oo mahuhusay na artista at pelikula ang kanilang nakalaban.

The weak sides of Vince and Kath and James

Actually wala naman akong halos makitang flaws sa kaisa-sang movie na produced by a major film outfit (Star Cinema) na ito sa 2016 MMFF.  In fact, tama nga iyong suggestion ng friend ko na mahirap din naman paglaba-labanin ang acting ng mga artista na nasa magkakaibang genre. Dapat magkaiba ang nanalo sa best actress sa comedy,  drama, at musical.

·         It has the usual rom-com formula – Naiiba ang VKJ ngayon  dahil sa variety ng klase ng mga 2016 MMFF entries.  However compare to other romantic comedy films it has a minimal chance na mag-shine especially na napaka-predictable ng story. Note:  Alam ko lang na may pinagbasehan ito (online  series Vince and Kath) pero di ko  nabasa o alam ‘yon.

·          Ronnie Alonte and Ina Raymundo – I don’t think walang edge ang characters nina Ronnie (James) at Ina (Vince’s Mom) para hayaan o 'wag nilang ibigay ang kanilang makakaya. Ang maiisip ko lang na  magandang excuse dito ay bago pa lang si Ronnie.  Si Ina magaling naman sa ibang acting  gig n’ya like sa The Millionaire’s Wife (GMA) pero dito ang napahanga n’ya lang ako na na-maintain n’ya pa rin ang kanyang seksing pangangatawan ( inggit lang hehehe). Pero sayang talaga yung roles nila dahil mahahalaga sa kabuuan ng movie. Ang bago-bago ng dating pero pagdating sa acting kanila para akong nanonood ng isang old film.  Kay Ina,  okay naman s'ya dun  sa ilang eksena n’ya with Josh sa restaurant pero the rest waley lalo na sa school.  Bigay na bigay pa naman si Joshua dun.

The strong sides of Vince and Kath and James

·         Joshua Garcia - this is just the second time na mapanood ko si Joshua. Na-introduce s’ya sa akin ng movie nina Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, ang Barcelona: A Love Untold.  Doon pa lang ay trip ko na ang acting n’ya na maloko pero kapag tinamaan ng kadramahan, maaantig ka rin.   Nadala n’ya yong ganoong feel sa character niyang si Vince in a right and effective way.  Ang kulit-kulit n’ya pero hindi siya nakakabuwiset, kundi hahanap-hanapin mo kasi iyon ang nagpapakulay ng mag-hapon mo.  Tapos kapag nalaman mo yung kwento n’ya mas mapapalapit s’ya sa  puso mo. Kasi sa askyon  at paraan n’ya ng pananalita ay parang ang lapit ng loob n’ya sa iyo.  Hindi ko alam kung ganoon talaga ang pagkakahulma sa original version ni Vince pero magaling ang portrayal dito ni Joshua.  Gusto ko ang scene n'ya sa school at nung nalaman na ni Kath yung totoo na siya ang ___ n’ya :p

By the way, may hinahambing siya kay John Lloyd Cruz.  IMHO, maaaring meron pero kurot lamang at baka sa kahawig pero mas nakikita ko s’ya as siya talaga. May potensyal itong batang ito at sa mga  male young stars na nabigyan  ng makulit na role, s'ya pa lang yung malakas ang dating sa akin.

·         Julia Barretto – ito naman ang unang pagkakataon na mapanood ko si Julia pero siempre aware ako sa background n’ya. Kung may kumukwestyon man noon sa kanyang pag-arte, hindi ko sila pinaniwalaan at paniniwalaan lalo na ngayon.  Ang kanyang pagganap bilang Kath ay hindi naman sobrang level up kumpara sa ibang young stars (pa) PERO she can deliver at ito pa lang ata ang major role na nasungkit n’ya.  Noong una medyo nahihirapan ako na tanggalin sa isipan ko na parang Claudine Barretto din. Pero bilang Kath nailalabas niya sa kanyang  pagganap na "hey, I am Julia Barretto and this is how I portray my role.  

·         I like the settings/ locations – Nakarating na ako sa Maginhawa Food Park, pero parang gusto ko na sugurin soon ang Commonwealth Food Park. Gusto ko ang arte ng #Feels Café que totoo iyon oo tsika lang sa film na ito. Gusto ko rin ang pagka-ragged sa Tessy feeds chuvaness, aura sa School façade, at talyer ng tito daw ni Kath.

      Maris Rascal -  May pagka-common din ang role ni Maris sa film.  Alam mo yung Kikay na babae na nagkataon na kaibigan na minsan kairita. Pero  sa version ni Maris at sa kanyang pagganap, ang nakakatuwa at nakakatawa. Parang  kapag nagkataon na nagkagustuhan sila ni Vince, boboto rin ako e.

·         Cool yung visual effects and cinematography - Bago kami nanood ay medyo kinondisyon ko na  baka medyo boring iyong palitan ng text.  Sorry di ko ugali ang magbasa ng text ng iba, charrot! Pero hindi naman pala, cool and artistic naman ang visual presentation kasama na ang looks, background, and graphics.

5 Reasons Why You Should Watch 2016 MMFF

Oh boy the Metro Manila Film Festival never fails to gather controversies. This year it’s about (labelled) independent outscoring mainstream movie filmmakers. Incidentally, there’s also no particular one intended for kids.  Despite of these, there many reasons to watch and support the 8 selected entries of 2016 MMFF movies.

It’s the change that will benefit the Philippine film industry!

I, myself, like to watch feel good movies especially romantic and family oriented comedies.  It’s natural because every day we’re exhausted of daily works. We all need breather from serious matters, right? However watching films is not only pang-aliw, it also offer many benefits both for moviegoers and filmmakers. It's not just a guilty pleasure, but  an investment if a movie provokes you to think and do something better in your life. 

Let me explain futher the possible implications of changes in 2016 MMFF: 

1.       Variety is very good - In investing diversification and black swan are reasonable steps to secure profit. It’s because if one investment (company) doesn’t perform well, the other investments will cover your losses.  In the film industry, not all moviegoers are into popularity of artists or rom-com. That’s why if they want to watch drama, horror, fantasy, animated or others they most likely go for Hollywood movies. In 2016 MMFF entries it’s not about limitation and division, instead about variety.  We can still produce romantic story naman pero puwedeng animated, horror, action or suspense thriller.  Kaya naman curios akong mapanood ang Saving Sally because its unique features (animation with real actors). Nalala ko tuloy ang RPG Metanoia na kasama sa 2010 MMFF.

2.        We encourage local actors to become world-class talents.  IMHO, TV and Movie Personalities who don’t hone their skills because they’re popular anyway should not be called talents and actors. But of course, how come others will strive to improve their talents if they don’t have outlets to showcase their efforts anyway?

Sorry to tell but it seems “arts” now are only defined greatly by idolism, fanaticism, and commercialism. Eh may lumalaki ang ulo at nagiging complacent sa ganyan.  This is also why I commended actors na tsina-challenge ang sarili like Enrique Gil in Paul Soriano's Dukot . They tried to do something else na beyond sa comfort zone ni Quen.

3.       A number of producers/filmmakers/ movie companies will grow and create jobs.  When I was a kid, I didn’t mind film credits before or after a movie. What important was if the story had beautiful story or not.  Puwedeng dagdag factor if I know the actors and IMHO, ganun pa rin naman ang mga bata.  They don’t bother if it’s Studio Ghibli, Pixar, Warner Brothers, or Walt Disney behind a movie basta okay at saka nila magiging favorite ang film after manood.   Ilan na nga lang ba ang alam nating production company ngayon? Isa pa naman sa magandang outfit noon ang di ko alam kung gumawa pa ang Unitel Pictures na gumawa ng Crying Ladies ( 2003 MMFF), Santa Santita, at  La Visa Loca etc.)

 

4.       To end the division between independent and mainstream – I don’t deny that I have also something with independent films.  I tend to expect less in the cinematography and other technicalities (alam mo yung akala mo docu lang ng reality show yung kuha). However, I expect more when it comes to acting, story, and direction.  It’s like there’s certain ambiance that independent filmmakers can do that either a limitation or artistic feel.  Eh hello, a film is more sensible and worthy if it has beautiful story and superb actors, than mere cool effects.

 If 2016 MMFF can break the wall between mainstream and indie film especially in the eyes of the audience, then

·         Most likely small players will earn more and upgrade their film equipment. 

·         No discrimination, but equal treatments and opportunities not only for the filmmakers, but also actors

·         More films to watch

5.       Do you know what happen if only few run an industry? Monopoly and mediocrity!  If the big players become greedy they tend to do power tripping, exploitation, dictators of what or what not whether that those are good or bad, and condition the audience that their mediocre products is their only choice.

Pipila ka ba sa sinehan para makapanood lang ng kung anong available na movie o manonood ka kasi maganda ang palabas?

Note:  This is post is not a rant or against the mainstream, it’s just a sentiment and plea to my fellow audience.