THE FABULOUS FILIPINO BROTHERS

Released:  2021

Director:     Dante Basco

Writers:       Arianna Basco, Dante Basco, Darion Basco

Actors:        Liza Lapira, Dante Basco, Solenn Heussaff

 

Upfront, I hereby disclose I came from Pittsburg, CA., the locale of this movie and, in fact, I grew up with the parents of the Basco brothers’/sister’s  family.  One of my own sisters lived next to the grandparents of the Basco brothers.  From her window, I’d watch the youthful brothers practicing their skills in their back yard.

 As director, Dante does a creditable and professional job in infusing the screen with the boisterous and passionate energy of family culture.  I read in a review that the actors were guilty of overacting in this film.  I totally disagree.  I knew this family and their characters are EXACTLY reality-based.  In an old-fashioned Filipino family culture, stoicism and forbearance are rare.  Only “Lola” (grandmother) types keep their lips tightly shut, and that’s because they have too many family secrets to keep hidden. 

There is charm and joy in this movie.  Dayo (Derek Basco) does a fine comedic job of embodying “eldest” syndrome… willing to live on the fringe of lawful behavior in order to fulfill family obligations.  On the other hand, David (Dion Basco), the youngest, demonstrates a natural physical comedy talent, as demonstrated in the suggestive food scene.  Yes, that scene might have been too much for underage viewers, but I laughed uproariously through it all.  

My favorite scene in the movie is the “first date” between Darion Basco (the depressed electronic geek) and Liza Lapira (a long-time denizen of many American TV series).  Despite the awkwardness of that first date, both talented actors brought a believability to their romantic meetup which added an endearing warmth and charm to the movie.

Directing yourself in a movie ain’t easy, so kudos to Duke (Dante Basco) for pulling it off.  However, I must admit I wished he had a bigger reason for hooking up with his ex-girlfriend in the Philippines.  While there was a nostalgic regret in their hook-up, it lacked sufficient drama to justify his unfaithfulness to his wife back home.  For instance, if she had had his child, and he discovers it during the hook-up when she has an emotional moment of regretful confession… then the resulting pathos would have been more deeply meaningful.

Ultimately, however, this film is a loving and respectful homage to the Filipino culture, to the many members of the Basco family, and to Pittsburg, California itself (which has a large Filipino population).

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10810850/

TAGS:  FABULOUS FILIPINO BROTHERS, Arianne Basco, Dante Basco, Darion Basco, Derek Basco, Dion Basco, Liza Lapira, Solenn Heussaff

 

 

 

 

 

A QUIET PLACE (2018) - Emily Blunt, John Krasinski

A QUIET PLACE

Released:  2018

Director:     John Krasinski

Writers:      Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, John Krasinski

Actors:       Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe

Now available on Hulu and other TV cable shows, this film received 109 award nominations and 34 wins, including a SAG Best Supporting Actress win for Emily Blunt.

The movie has a very simple storyline.  A family must survive against killer monsters with super hearing abilities.  Their only tool of survival is silence.  It is brilliantly conceived, masterfully executed, and powerfully acted. 

Along with the danger, what is immediately established is that this family is glued together with love and loyalty.  The directing is clean and no-nonsense, without indulgent interludes.  Indulgence wasn’t necessary.  The emotions generated by the events in the scene are built by so clearly that we can only identify with the terrible horror at what’s about to happen.

This is good clean directing.  Krasinski knows exactly what needs to be established to predict the outcome ahead.  What adds to the power of the story is that we understand so clearly how the progression of events leads to the inevitable result.

The acting is also top-notch.  We expect it of Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, but the children prove themselves equal to the task.  We identify so powerfully with each character’s dilemma we are engaged to maximum capacity.  In an unforgettable scene, we watch John Krasinsky (who plays the father, as well as directing) make an inevitable decision and our hearts break because we know he has no other choice.  Truly heroic stuff.

This is destined to be a classic for all the reasons noted above.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6644200/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3

TAGS:  A QUIET PLACE, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Bryan Woods, Scott Beck

PARASITE (2019) - Kang-ho Song, Sun-Kyun Lee,

Director:     Bong Joon Ho

Writers:      Bong Joon Ho

Actors:       Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo, Woo-sik Choi, So-dam Park, Hye-jin Jang

Director/writer Bong Joon Ho received Oscars for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Writer on this one.

All the actors who portrayed the Kim family members were entirely credible.  I felt like I was given special 3-D glasses to witness a real slice of life.

Parents Ki-taek and Chung-sook are utter failures as parents to clever son Ki-woo and quick-on-her feet daughter Ki-jung.  But when it comes to taking advantage of opportunities, the parents have taught their children well.

With charm and friendly ease, the Kim family con their way into becoming welcome fixtures in the wealthy Park family home.  To watch how brilliantly this is achieved is a lesson in sheer strategy.

Despite how much we like them, because of their ruthless exploitation of the Park family, we begin to see the Kims as villains with no ethical values.  Then suddenly they become the victims themselves.   The scene which creates this twist in momentum is not only hilarious, but we suddenly find ourselves sympathetic to the villainous Kims again. 

What first appears as a sitcom becomes a horror story and finally morphs into a complete tragedy.  Bong Joon Ho is not only a master storyteller, he’s a brilliant manipulator of audience response and engagement.  He takes us on an experience which generates our sympathy, charms us, captivates us, entertains us and then ultimately horrifies us.

Most films focus on a specific genre, but this film covers them all.  At first I thought this movie was another disease-disaster story.  On a metaphorical level, it is, but on a human-condition level, it’s an all-encompassing journey destined to be considered a classic of its time.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6751668/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
TAG:  Parasite, Bong Joon Ho, Kang-ho Song, Sun-Kyun Lee,

TERMINATOR: DARK FATE (2019) - Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Natalia Reyes, Gabriel Luna, MacKenzie Davis

Director:     Tim Miller

Writers:      Screenplay:  David Goyer, Justin Rhodes + 1

Story By:  James Cameron, Charles H. Eglee, + 3

I love this return to the original “Terminator” franchise.  The writers have done a magnificent job melding the old story with this new one, and director Tim Miller sews it all together into a totally believable story. 

However, it’s Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger who make it a brilliant, epic return.  Despite the many excellent versions of the “Terminator” concept, including a television version, nothing engaged me like the first one, written and directed by James Cameron, co-written by Gale Ann Hurd.  

There is such an iconic implacability about the Schwarzenegger Terminator (“Carl”), I can’t help but love him and I’m so glad he’s a “good” guy in this latest version.  When Sara Connor steps into frame, my heart swelled with relief… I just knew she would save the day.  Neither of these actors are in their prime physical shape now, but, ultimately in the end, they prove it’s not “muscles” or “skills” which get things done; rather, it’s pure unrelenting, unforgiving, unmistakable commitment to their cause.

Natalia Reyes is adequate as the new Savior-of-the-World, and I suspect she will eventually rise to fill her heroic shoes.  MacKenzie Davis is effective and wonderful as the new version Protector-of-the-Heroine.

Implacable as all Terminators must be, Gabriel Luna makes a formidable foe because he has the same commitment as Sara and Carl, but he doesn’t prevail because he lacks the fuel Sara and Carl have in abundance.  That fuel is love.  Make no mistake, Carl has “learned” this concept well enough to act it out.  Whether a cyborg can really “feel” it… well, I don’t even think it’s relevant in this brilliant return to the original franchise.

I predict a successful new franchise arising from this movie version.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6450804/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

TAGS:  Dark Fate, Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Cameron, David Goyer, Terminator, MacKenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes, Gabriel Luna

 

CHERNOBYL (2019) - Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgard, Emily Watson

Creator:     Craig Mazin       

Actors:       Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgard, Emily Watson

This HBO limited series won 10 Emmys and had numerous other nominations for excellence.  Still, despite the accolades, I didn’t really want to watch people going through the horror of radioactive contamination.

But I was curious, so I made myself comfortable in front of the TV and watched it.  What an experience!  Folks, this story is not about the resulting horrors of a nuclear blast.  Rather, it’s about how humans, no matter their livelihood, age, ethnicity or character, step up to the plate and become heroes during times of inescapable danger.

After the Chernobyl nuclear explosion, the Russian government decides not to reveal the potential horrible outcome of the blast. Meanwhile, people begin to die.  It is an ugly, painful way to die.

Three people decide they will do whatever it takes to expose the true story behind the explosion, not so much for the sake of truth itself, but because other countries must be warned of a flaw in the system which will ultimately result in an explosion.  The area is so contaminated that staying in the blast vicinity for any period of time is guaranteed contamination.

Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgard and Emily Watson portray the three people who are determined to get the true story out. As each episode reveals more and more of the real danger, we see how each character accepts the inevitable truth of the situation.

 For the volunteers who go back inside the building to prevent an even greater blast, it’s a suicidal act for which their families will only receive a few dollars as compensation.  For the miners who agree to strengthen the building’s foundation to withstand pressure buildup, it’s a guaranteed case of death by radiation.

This is a beautifully written story about the depths and heights people reach when disaster strikes.  People make heroic choices every day.  What kind of coward would I be to deny myself the chance to honor it?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7366338/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

TAGS:  Chernobyl, Stellan Skarsgard, Emily Watson, Jared Harris, Johan Renck, Craig Mazin

THE LION KING (2019) - Voices: Donald Glover, James Earl Jones, Alfre Woodard, John Oliver

Released:  2019

Director:     Jon Favreau

Writers:      Jeff Nathanson (screenplay)  

Voices:      Donald Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, James Earl Jones, John Oliver, Alfre Woodard, Seth Rogen, Beyonce, JD McCrary

What a charming, delightful version this is!  The animation technology has advanced so much that the animals are as real as African wildlife featured on any TV documentary.  Then, there’s JD MCCrary (as young Simba)  whose voice and style sound so much like Michael Jackson, it’s downright chilling.

Disney certainly knows how to make movies.  This one features animals in the leading roles, but make no mistake… this is an educational experience about how to be an ethical, responsible and loving human being.  Kudos to director Jon Favreau and all the actors for making it so real.

James Earl Jones’ voice is perfect for Mufasa, Simba’s father.  Integrity, honor and love resonate whenever he speaks.  Alfre Woodard’s voice, so tender and soft, becomes a powerful surge when she raises her voice to challenge villainous Scar.  Basically, image and voice are so well aligned, you forget this is just-pretend reality on a screen.

What I congratulate most about this movie is that it isn’t afraid to show the harsh realities of life.  Animals prey on other animals.  They kill and eat other animals.  Children watching this do need to be aware that loved ones die and it’s important to honor their passing, but it’s just as important to learn how to move on.  The song “Hakuna Matata” is so joyous we get that it’s a matter of “life” and not burying our pain to avoid dealing with it.

All in all, this is a fun, educational and emotional adventure.  The children of yesterday who saw the first version should definitely bring their own children to enjoy this movie now.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6105098/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1
TAGS:  LION KING, James Earl Jones, Alfre Woodard, Beyonce, Jon Favreau,  Jeff Nathanson, JD McCrary, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Seth Rogan, Donald Glover

 

LEAVING NEVERLAND - 2019 (HBO TV - 2-part Documentary)

Director:     Dan Reed

Cast:          Wade Robson, Jimmy Safechuck, Michael Jackson Footage

This documentary focuses on two men who now admit during a filmed interview that Michael Jackson sexually abused them. 

What makes this film so powerful and credible is that it doesn’t focus on Michael, the pedophile.  It focuses instead on the experiences of two men who survived the abuse and who, to this day, are recovering from the trauma of their experiences.

Kudos to director Dan Reed who uncovers the truths in this film with respect and dignity.  It makes clear that at the time the two boys were actively involved with the superstar, what they felt for him was overwhelming love and loyalty.

Michael’s charisma was so powerful even the boys’ families fell under his spell.  Watching the footage of Michael’s interaction with them, we see proof of his generosity and kindness.  We hear Michael’s voice ending his conversations with, “I love you.” 

Today, it’s hard to imagine why a mother would allow her young son to share a bedroom with Michael Jackson.  It becomes a little more believable when we see how Michael so sincerely cares about them.

As Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck, now fathers of young sons themselves, honestly share their experiences with us, we see their pain, vulnerability and bewilderment.  They KNOW Michael’s love for them was genuine, but the confusion and trauma of being loved, then rejected and discarded… that too is real.

As fathers whose sons are now the same age they were during their time with Michael, they see the vulnerability and innocence of young boys. They understand the ultimate cruelty of planting seeds in a garden made of Michael’s type of inappropriate “love.”  They know now that seeds thrown into that type of garden create plants which are psychologically and emotionally malformed. 

This is a difficult film to watch.  Nevertheless, its hard-core truths present an important aspect of reality which all parents should understand for themselves. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9573980/?ref_=nv_sr_2?ref_=nv_sr_2

TAGS:  Michael Jackson, Wade Robson, James Safechuck, Dan Reed, Neverland