Showbiz Periscope

LOVE AND HORROR IN TWO MMFF ENTRIES

By Pablo A. Tariman
Manila
December 26, 2015


 

       What she did not expect was that the interviewer would dwell on past loves and what she hoped to accomplish in the future.

          As she recalls her past, a complicated love life unfolds. She thought she was through with one chapter of her first taste of love until she realized she wanted to be with her man whatever his status was at the moment.

         Happily, the team up of Mercado and Rosales has a special brew to it that keeps moviegoers in varied state of romantic trance.

         Rosales remains a leading lady’s dream partner and lives his part with a good blend of romantic substance.

        But it is Mercado who remains a very engaging performer. She is a natural in whatever state her character finds herself and the good part is that she lives and breathes the character with a high degree of credibility. On top of that, she remains as fresh as springtime adding a few more “kilig” factor to her role.

          Director Villegas allowed the story to flow freely and never for once tried anything for effects. He is perfectly in control but doesn’t show it. To him, the story is the thing. And it is just as well because “#Walang Forever” has a damn good story that we heard was an idea from director and storywriter Tonette Jadaone.

         As the movie plumbs through the present and the past of the main character, you see a movie imitating life and vice versa.

         Ethan realizes that his conversation with his loved one was copied word for word from his past love encounters.

        The film has excerpts from films written by Mia and through it all, we see a writer trying to be human, trying to find detachment from her writing life and her love life.

        In the talk show, she confronts her past and decides the future. She will re-allow love in her life and will live with it no matter what it takes.

        To be sure, the story is nothing new but Villegas and Sta. Ana gave it a new twist and a new package fit for both the millennial and non- millennial crowd.

       In the end, love triumphs and how Mia copes with it is another stroke of good writing.

      Indeed, there is no original story in the world of romantic movies. It is how the writer and director deal with it that makes a lot of difference.

      For this kind of creative collaboration, “#Walang Forever” was rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board.
       Quantum Films’ “Buy Now, Die Later” is another fairly good entry in the MMFF and there is a lot in it that will keep millennial screaming.

     There are a lot of elements in it reminiscent of the spiritual saga of “Faust” and “Mephistofele” but in layman’s lingo, it is a film that warns you: careful what you wish for or else suffer the consequence.

        Indeed, Trinidad’s performance is one of the most satisfying, if, unifying elements of this film with director Randolph Longjas giving it his best. There are moments when you thought the horror film had turned into comedy but you quickly realize the nature of the character called for it.

        If there is one lesson this film can impart, it is to be happy with what you have and don’t even attempt to sell your soul to the devil.

        Again, Trinidad is one hell of a devil in this horror film.

       “#Walang Forever” and “Buy Now, Die Later” are now showing in cinemas.