IT’S 2014. It’s New Year and everyone’s hopeful na maganda ang hatid sa atin ng Bagong Taong ito. Sabi ko nga, after what we’ve gone through last 2013, nothing can scare us anymore –kumbaga, whatever this year and the next years bring us ay tiyak na mas delightful and mas exciting.
In short, puro positive na ito, sa lahat ng pagkakataon sana pati sa paghusga ng mga pelikula lalo na sa katatapos lamang na Metro Manila Film Festival. Sobrang lungkot kasi nang dinanas ng pelikula naming “Boy Golden” sa kamay ng mga buwitre sa industriyang ito.
Surprising para sa amin na ang bumubuo pala ng mga hurado ay ilan din sa mga iginagalang natin sa industriya like Ms. Laurice Guillen, Emmanuel Borlaza, Edgardo Vinarao, among others pero bakit hindi nila nakita ang kagandahan ng entry nina Gov. ER Ejercito at KC Concepcion.
Mas nakitaan pa nila ng katinuan ang “My Little Bossings” na tinanghal na 3rd Best Picture and ‘Girl Boy Bakla Tomboy”, ang 2nd Best Picture, leaving “Boy Golden” bokya in the festival’s entirety.
Ang pakonsuwelo na lang sa “Boy Golden” ay ang lalong paghataw nito sa takilya after ng awards night, kabaligtaran sa usual na pangyayari that when a film wins awards ay umaarangkada ito to its maximum.
Kaya siguro lalo itong tinangkilik ng mga tao dala na rin ng word of mouth that “Boy Golden” actually is the best movie to watch this MMFF season.
Kaya dala ng disappointment nila, the more silang naging curious na panoorin at hindi nga sila nagsisi. For one, topnotch lawyer Atty. Ferdie Topacio took time out of his busy schedule to watch some of the films and here’s what he has to say: “After having seen two well-made – but hardly outstanding – festival entries (Pagpag and 10,000 Hours), I was pleasantly surprised at how ‘Boy Golden’ was head and shoulders above the said two, and most of the Filipino films I have watched lately, for that matter.
“The opening scene alone, including the long, tracking shot of the lead driving down a neon-lit city block to a cabaret, is well worth the price of admission. And did I mention that the street is a faithful recreation of a strip of a red light district in the 50’s?
The movie starts with a bang, literally, and segues effortlessly into the opening credits wallpapered with a choreographed cabaret dance, which gives you a taste of things to come.
“The movie is a visual feast. Through the creative use of lighting and innovative camera angling, the movie projects a warmth of temperature and a refinement of texture not usually seen in local movies.
Its stylized scenes, surrealism and precision-choreographed right scenes appear to be homages to John Woo, but with a touch unique to its director, Chito Roño.
The production design is picture perfect, no mean feat considering that the production designer had to recreate the look and feel of the 1950’s, from big objects such as cars and architecture, to the smaller details such as wardrobe, fashion accessories, firearms, furniture, and other minutiae.
Even the colloquialisms used in the dialogue have been well-researched to make the period-correct, an attention to detail that earns the movie extra points.
The ultimate gun battle inside an ice plant, far from being random, underscores the film being a period piece: ice plants are practically extinct in this day and age of two-door refrigerator-freezers and tube ice.
“The cast made sure all the work that went into production were not wasted. KC Concepcion should earn new respect for the way she attacked her role as the titular character’s moll.
Her hard-edged portrayal of a cabaret dancer who vows revenge after having been wronged by the protagonist, was masterful and sublime, although her proficiency in unarmed combat was not explaned at all in the film.
“Concepcion, in her Betty Boop-inspired persona, was sensuous and tough at the same time. She also acquits herself well in the fight scenes. John Estrada gave a controlled performance as the main villain, even giving us a glimpse of his character’s humanity at rye proper time; and his sidekick was played by Baron Geisler with typical competence.
“Veteran Eddie Garcia showed once again the secret of his longevity in the business with his spot-on reading of the devious yet principled lawyer for Golden.
Dick Israel gave the movie a short yet important support as an aging, paraplegic gangster who has accepted the fact that the old ways are over and who resignedly meets his death in the hands of Boy Golden, again proving the ‘no-small-roles-only-small-actors’ cliche.
“Special mention must be made of Gloria Sevilla, as a female gangster who is tough as nails on the outside, but mushy on the inside, who harbors long-nurtured feelings for Boy GOLDEN’s lawyer.
“And what of Ejercito? Admittedly, he does not exude the same kind of charisma and elan that Padilla did in 10,000 HOURS, and his age and his far from hunky physique removes him from the usual action star category.
The way he attacked the role of the lovable rogue that is Boy Golden, however, was intelligent and adroit, making the audience sympathize with him without losing sight of the fact that he is a ruthless killer.
“Chito Roño once more created a masterwork, keeping the promise he made since be megged a remake of Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara in 1995, where he successfully updated a classic while staying true to the spirit of the original.
“Roño truly has a talent for clear narrative told through unconventional styles, using a mainly linear process interspersed at the right times with flashbacks. In BOY GOLDEN, he gives us a wild, heady romp into alternate reality.
“The film is a classy, stylish addition to the local action genre populated by memorable characters who have their own stories to tell, animating a multi-faceted bygone world of their own, a world in which the audience ends up wanting to be part of.
Now to me, THAT is movie magic,” papuri pa ni Atty. Topacio. Wala na akong masasabi pa. He said it all. Kayo na ang bahalang humusga. Any comment, Laurice, Maning, Edgardo at ng kung sinu-sino pa?
Kasi baka iba na ang mga pananaw ninyo ngayon at baka kailangan niyo nang magpahinga sa industriya. Suggestion lang po.
( Photo credit to Google )