The name of American filmmaker Brian Yuzna might not ring a bell to the mass audience of commercial films, especially from Hollywood, but he is a master in his own right. Come to think of it, Yuzna is on a par in innovations with such legends as Alfred Hitchcock or Brian de Palma, or even...
Category: Entertainment
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The extraordinary Cherie Gil
Cherie Gil came across in varying ways—imperious and intimidating; funny, warm and open; beguiling and sexy. Writing this, thinking about her and my time with her, I realize I probably really knew only one facet of a woman I love dearly and hold in great esteem. I’m certain her family, her barkada (the women—and man—who I fondly...
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‘Katips’: Martial Law 101 on dramatic steroids
“Katips” is not for those looking for a nuanced, layered, complex movie about martial law. It caters to a less sophisticated crowd—those who have not yet seen a martial law film, those who have zero to little knowledge and appreciation of martial law, and those who deny martial law atrocities altogether. That’s a wider net,...
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A tale of two int’l film festivals
BUCHEON CITY—The saying “You can’t be in two places at once” no longer holds water given one’s overwhelming presence, literally, in this era of cybertechnology. On the visceral level, one can virtually recreate manifold characters by way of cloning (computer image generation) in multiple time zones. (A tale of two …) This I learned when...
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‘I won’t let politics ruin my beauty’
Unlike in her previous defeats in electoral contests in Laguna, the actor-comedian known as “Miss Flawless” now sees no need to cry a river.”It’s impractical to cry anymore. What for? At least I know my constituents love me,” Angelica Jones, now 39, said in Filipino shortly after the May polls.“I won’t let politics ruin my...
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Staying high on K-drama
These days it’s either you watch K-drama or you don’t. The latter is an unpopular stance but some are unfazed, like Harriet Limbo who just isn’t keen on watching. This sentiment runs counter to that of K-drama fans. Fistri Abdul Rahim is, like me, a relative newcomer to K-drama, tuning in only in August 2020...
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Pride Month: Ice calls for street marches for gay rights
Not only is June a season for weddings and romantic unions; it is Pride Month as well. As part of the celebration, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has launched a film festival showcasing LGBTQIA+-themed audiovisuals in cinema houses nationwide until June 26. I was among those invited by the FDCP Channel to...
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Thank you, National Artist ‘Sir’ Ricky Lee
Thank you, Sir Ricky Lee. For going all the way to UPLB (University of the Philippines Los Banos) back in 2012 for the original staging we did of your novel “Para Kay B.” It was a small production. You didn’t know any of us but there you were gracing us with your presence. When I...
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K-dramas undead as social commentary
Christine Ang-Buban and Ni Kadek Eta will never watch “All of Us Are Dead” (AOUAD) or any other zombie show(K-dramas). Ang-Buban’s love for Emma Stone didn’t move her to watch “Zombieland” (2009), and Eta tried but couldn’t get past Episode One of AOUAD. They’re the opposite of sister-entrepreneurs Anna Clarissa and Angela Javier, who’ve included...
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Here come the heartstopper(s): 6 BL shows to binge on
BL (boy’s love) became a familiar genre to us Filipinos during the pandemic. Confined to our homes, we looked to the internet for things to get us through the uncertainties. BLs provided a mental health break. Two years later, the pandemic is still with us. And thanks to recent political events, some of us may...