MANILA, Philippines?Last year, we urged acting greats Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos to go out of their way to each make a movie in 2008. Well, Vilma has just made our day by agreeing to star in the indie movie ?Independencia.?
What about Nora? She?s asked us to look for a good script for her, so hope springs that we will also be seeing her on the big screen soon, after an absence of too many years.
While we?re at it, and with our fond wishes affirmed so well, let?s add to our list of cinematic druthers and hope as well that the similarly gifted and underutilized likes of Gloria Romero, Susan Roces, Laurice Guillen, Tirso Cruz III, Bembol Roco, Ricky Davao, Mario O?Hara, Tommy Abuel, Charo Santos, Johnny Delgado, Tita Muñoz and Nikki Ross will also play significant roles in movies this year.
The emphasis is on significant, because some of our best thespians? abilities are wasted on bland, small or gargoyled roles they are forced to play.
Playing support
This, by the way, is particularly dismaying to see on television, which often makes even our best actors look ridiculous. Even more depressingly, they are reduced to playing support to vapid young stars who can?t act their way out of a paper bag.
Incidentally, another veteran star?and award-winning actor?who?s announced his return to the movies is?Joseph Estrada! Yes, the former president is back to doing what he does best, acting in a 2008 action-comedy production, with Ai Ai de las Alas for his leading lady (and comic relief?)
Having written quite a number of scripts for Erap, we can vouch for his acting ability. We hope, therefore, that his comeback movie won?t be done completely as a blithe diversion or tongue-in-cheek production, but will include some scenes which he can remind everyone that, given the right material, he?s one of the best actors we have. Remember ?Geron Busabos, Ang Batang Quiapo??
New films on view
?Vantage Point? fields a gifted stellar cast to add acting muscle to its search for the elusive truth behind the assassination attempt on the president of the United States. Imagine savoring the performances of Forest Whitaker, William Hurt, Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox and Sigourney Weaver in one movie? A should-see in our book.
?There Will Be Blood? is figuring strongly in film award derbies, so try to catch it on its local run. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis in his searing portrayal of a self-made oil tycoon, the period film will be shown exclusively at Gateway Cineplex 10 starting Feb. 13.
Nominated for eight Oscar awards including Best Picture, Director, and Actor, ?There Will Be Blood? is a sprawling epic about family, faith and power set against the racial frontier of California?s turn-of-the-century petroleum boom.
?The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford? features two strong portrayals?by Brad Pitt as Jesse James and Casey Affleck as Ford, the ultimate fan whose hero-worship has gone sour.
Landmark project
But the film is more than just a tragic take on celebrity. As Affleck points out, ?It?s also about ambition and regret, life and death.? For Ben Affleck?s younger brother, this film is a landmark production because it validates him as a thespian and star, and has led to his being nominated as Best Supporting Actor in this month?s Oscars.
?The Bucket List? pits veteran actors Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman against each other in a story about living life to the fullest in your sunset years.
Nicholson and Freeman play old men who meet in a hospital room?and decide to spend the time left doing everything they wanted to do before they ?kick the bucket!?
