MANILA, Philippines?The recent victory of Ishmael Bernal?s ?Himala? as online voters? Best Asia-Pacific Film of all Time has stirred up a cinematic teapot tempest, with movie buffs of different persuasions and loyalties coming up with their own, ?more definitive? notions of the film that ?truly deserves? the coveted title.
Expectedly, a Lino Brocka loyalist pipes up to remind us that ?Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag? is the only Filipino movie to be included in critic Tony Rayns? list of the world?s best 100 films of all time. Hence, it deserves the ?Best Filipino Movie? title, at the very least?
Wrong!, choruses another group of movie aficionados, who believe that the ?rightful? winner should be Gerry de Leon?s ?Noli Me Tangere.? They argue that the combination of significant and influential original novel (by Jose Rizal) and visionary director spells exceptional cinematic greatness on the movie screen.
Trouble is, De Leon?s movies were made a long time ago, and not many retrospective screenings are held these days. That has also limited the impact of other exceptional 1950s and ?60s productions, like Manuel Silos? ?Biyaya ng Lupa? and Bert Avellana?s ?Badjao? and ?Kundiman ng Lahi.?
That?s why most other nominees for ?Best Filipino Film Ever? are of less period vintage, like Marilou Diaz-Abaya?s ?Jose Rizal.? Incidentally, the film is marking its 10th anniversary this month by way of a retrospective screening at Marilou?s film institute in Antipolo.
Eddie Romero?s ?Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?? is similarly cited, because one of its themes is the essence of being Filipino.
And what about the exceptional cinematic products of the current alternative and indie film wave? Surely, there are gems among them that deserve consideration for the title.
Trouble is, indie movies suffer from limited distribution, so they don?t enjoy mainstream popularity. Hence, most of them can?t compete significantly in online polls, thus limiting the chances for their quality to be acknowledged and honored.
New films on view
?Seven Pounds.? Will Smith plays an IRS agent with a fateful secret who embarks on an extraordinary journey of redemption by changing the lives of seven strangers.
?The Year One.? Jack Black looks at the early civilization, using Genesis, the first book of the Bible, as an emotional psycho-social template!
?Julie & Julia.? Nora Ephron directs this comedy about the real-life story of Julie Powell, who takes on a year-long culinary challenge: Cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child?s ?Mastering the Art of French Cooking.? While doing so, she chronicles her trials and tribulations in a blog that catches on with the food crowd.
?Obsessed.? A suspense-thriller about a successful manager who is blissfully happy with his career and his marriage to his beautiful wife (Beyoncé Knowles). But when a temp worker starts talking to him, everything he?s worked so hard for is placed in jeopardy.
?The Stepfather.? A ?good? man (Dylan Walsh) comes into the life of a single mother (Sela Ward), but her teenage son begins to suspect that his stepfather isn?t the dream man he pretends to be.
Christmas wishes
Stars are supposed to have everything, but Christmas is the season for gifts that are way beyond mere materialistic possessions, and thus much more meaningful. So, let?s give our Yuletide wishes wings, and hope that they?ll help their recipients and their careers soar even higher:
Judy Ann Santos has been working hard to get her drama ?Ploning? to at least make the short list of five finalists in the Oscars? Best Foreign Film category. Our wish is that her and her team?s efforts will soon be rewarded by success. If ?Ploning? does get into the finals, it?ll be a first for a Filipino movie?a signal honor.
Laurice Guillen and Robbie Tan have been hard at work to make sure that the 2009 Cinemalaya alternative film festival will field new filmmakers? features that will at least match the high level set by some of the festival?s past grantee productions. We wish them all the best and trust that the new writer-directors they help discover will appreciate the hard work and TLC they have put in.
For Rayver Cruz, a musical film in which he can really showcase his cool dance moves. Come to think of it, why doesn?t he also join a celebrity dance tilt on TV to blow the competition away?
For Karylle, better luck?and pluck?at her new mother studio. And, let?s hope that she can soon rise above the messy controversy involving her breakup with Dingdong Dantes, and her teapot tempest with Marian Rivera. Real stars don?t get bogged down in other people?s messes, they make their own news?and waves.
