Viewfinder
Jolina’s successful transition
By Nestor Torre
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:53:00 10/07/2008
Filed Under: Celebrities, Cinema, Entertainment (general)
MANILA, Philippines—For many years now, Jolina Magdangal has pegged her performing career on a deft and daft combination of singing talent and perky, kooky comedy, with a big heap of “kilig factor” thrown in for good measure.
The formula also includes a playful attitude when it comes to clothes, hair coloring and accessories, which has endeared her to teen fans, if not to their astounded parents.
Now in her late 20s, however, Jolina has realized that her eccentric teen persona has had its day, and it’s time to grow up. She has opted to do this by way of her latest film, “I. T. A. L. Y.,” which casts her as a cabin girl on an international cruise ship.
In the comedy-travelogue production, Jolina is still perky, but has let go of the ditzy acting style and look that characterized her performances in the past. Her new persona becomes her, and is better suited to her young-adult status.
Also an interesting change is the fact that, while Jolina flips over Dennis Trillo’s character, the film ends on a distinctly unromantic note—not just for Jolina, but also for the production’s other leads. A Pinoy film without a happily-ever-after denouement? Now, that’s revolutionary!
It’s also a welcome departure from the knee-jerk norm, and one of the reasons why “I. T. A. L. Y.” turns out to be a generally pleasant viewing experience.
We still feel, however, that Jolina’s singing talent would be given its due—not just by way of a new album like the one she recently released, but also with an all-singing and all-dancing TV special or film production.
We say this because, years ago, Leo Rialp directed Jolina in a musical-comedy TV special which showcased the young star’s unique combination of talents. Jolina needs another superlative musical production to help her catch up with her now more popular contemporaries.
60th Emmy Awards
Is it just us, or were the recent 60th Emmy Awards a relative drag? The female stars looked great on the red carpet (for the most part), but the awards rites’ opening salvo featuring five reality-show hosts was more fizzle than sizzle. In addition, the succeeding portions generally failed to rise much higher in terms of novelty and excitement.
That’s a distinct pity, because the US TV industry is a past master at entertaining the socks off its viewers, so it was expected to make the awards show a real humdinger. What went wrong? Did the writer’s strike traumatize and enervate TV people that much?
One bright spot that perked up the awards show was veteran comedian Don Rickles’ participation. Younger viewers may not know Rickles from Pickles, but mature fans remember him as one of the “nastiest” comedians on the tube in the sassy ’70s.
Rickles, in fact, was a prime exponent of the “school” of comedy that used insults to make people laugh (after crying, “Ouch!”). He would razz both celebrities and nobodies to within an inch of their lives and self-respect, and viewers would howl.
The veteran comedian has toned down his pungent and “vicious” act, but the sass is still there, and that’s what made him stand out over all the tepid types at the Emmy awards rites, even if he’s already “ancient” by comparison. Rickles still tickles!
NVC acting workshop
From Oct. 11 to Dec. 6, the New Voice Company is holding an acting workshop every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at its studio in Makati (Call 896-5497). Students 13 years and older will have classes in acting, movement and voice, with particular emphasis on a solid acting approach using the Stanislavsky system, as devised by Uta Hagen. The workshop director is Rito Asilo.
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