What to watch at the 2017 MMFF
Film The Festival 2017 Metro (MMFF) Manila starts help the today. local You movie may industry not just one by watching or two but, if permit, possible all and the entries, logistics showcased below: • Deadma Walking (T-Rex Productions). Directed by Julius Alfonso based on Eric Cabahug’s Palanca-winner script, starring Joross Gamboa and Edgar Allan Guzman in an irreverently LOL (Laugh Out Loud) story about two beshies (gay best friends), one of whom (Joross) stages his own fake death and wake to find out what the “mourners” will say about him.
• Meant To Beh (OctoArts Films, M-Zet Productions, APT Entertainment). Directed by Chris Martinez, this return-teamup of Vic Sotto and Dawn Zulueta (paired in the TV show Okey Ka,
Fairy Ko 30 years ago) shows how their children (Baste, et al.) find ways to stop them from breaking up.
• Siargao (TEN17P). Directed by Paul Soriano, starring Jericho Rosales, Erich Gonzales and Jasmine Curtis-Smith in a love triangle set in the beautiful, romantic island of Siargao, a favorite surfing destination. • Haunted Forest (Regal Entertainment). Directed by Ian Loreños, the only horror entry in the MMFF tackles a teen romance about two pairs (Jon Lucas, Maris Racal, Jameson Blake and Jane Oineza) who wander into and get lost in a strange haunted forest.
• Ang Larawan (Culturtain). Directed by Lou Arcenas based on National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin’s classic play Portrait of the Artist as Filipino, starring Rachel Alejandro as Paula and Joanna Ampil as Candida, with Paulo Avelino as Tony Javier. • All of You (Quantum Films, MJM Productions). Directed by Dan Villegas, starring Jennylyn Mercado and Derek Ramsay whose 2014 MMFF starrer English Only, Please (EOP, also directed by Villegas) emerged as top grosser with major awards to boot. This time, Jennylyn and Derek engage in passionate scenes not seen in EOP.
• Ang Panday (Star Cinema, Viva Films, CCM Productions). Directed by Coco Martin (using his real name Rodel Nacianceno), it’s the seventh resurrection of the iconic superhero created by
Komiks King Carlo J. Caparas, starring Coco who also produced it, with beauty queens Mariel de Leon and Kylie Verzosa as Coco’s leading ladies. • Gandarrapiddo: The Revenger Squad (Star Cinema, Viva Films). Directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal, starring Vice Ganda and Daniel Padilla as brothers who discover that they have secret powers that make them super heroes out to save the world. Also in the cast is 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach in her first starring role.
(E-mail reactions at ent
philstar@yahoo.com. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar. com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)